18 Weeks, and it's a...

GIRL!!!

Little Lily Addison

This is her face- her nose is to the left (the white streaks), then you can see that her mouth is open & her lips are around it, & her chin is to the right.

Her head- it looks so big!!!

On September 23, we went to see both our obstetrician & perinatologist. That's the day we found out our little Lily was a girl! But in all of our excitement, we do ask for prayers. The perinatologist found a cyst in her choroid plexus, which is the area of the brain that makes fluid to protect the brain & spinal cord. He said that they occur in 3-4 percent of all children, & that he's not too worried about it. He said that we would watch it, & he expects it to go away. Here's a link if you want more information: http://www.babyzone.com/pregnancy/health_wellness/prenatal_tests/ultrasound/article/choroid-plexus-cyst

After examining the brain & working his way down to her heart, he said that everything looked great there! We were really excited about that news, because that's what he is following us for. He said that they look to make sure that her heart is developing properly through her different stages of growth. He'll check her again at 30 weeks, & she'll only need to be followed after her birth if he detects a problem at that ultrasound, or if the doctor hears a heart murmur when she's born.

He did a full examination of her body, & was all the way at the bottom at her little feet. He was examining them for a long time when he finally got a good picture to show us. Her feet were turned in & we asked him about that. He said that he had been trying that whole time to get her to move her feet around & that she wouldn't. He said that babies at that age are very flexible & that it's very possible for her to turn her feet in that way, but that with stimulation, she should turn them back & she didn't. He said that because of that, he was concerned that she would be born with club feet. It can be a genetic or developmental condition- if she were to consistently lay inside me with her feet turned in, then they would start to grow that way. He said that if she is born with club feet, that there are two common treatments, casting or surgery. He said that with either treatment, the condition is totally fixable & she will go on to develop normally & live life without any problems. Here's a website for more information: http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00255

We were devastated when we first heard this news, because we were preparing ourselves to be followed for a heart defect & not expecting any surprising news. But after a little while to process everything, we are ready to face the challenge if it is in fact presented to us. We did a little research & found out that both Mia Hamm & Kristi Yamaguchi were born with club feet, & they're both doing completely fine (on their feet!!!).

So we'd like to ask our obstetrician if they'll do another ultrasound at our next appointment, so that we can see if her feet are still turning inward, or if she was just being really stubborn. We'd like to prepare ourselves as much as possible for the possibility. So please say an extra prayer for little Lily, & that everything will work out fine.

18 Weeks!!!

Jeff finally gets to start painting- his dream come true!

Her bedding

We bought these letters to paint & hang in her room

Her Auntie Lou Lou bought her these outfits when we went to Babies R Us.

Munchie really likes them!

A more close-up picture of her outfits

Munchie says "Peace please!"

Her crib all made up- it's so sweet!

A closer look

Her little quilt that we're going to have her name monogrammed on

Polka dot bumper, floral sheet, & striped crib skirt

They're so helpful!

He's in his element when he gets to design...

It's so girly!

Over her crib we put a saying- "Shhh...baby dreaming"

Jeff painted her name & the polka dots!

A close up of her crown molding, chair rail, & beadboard. In the corner are 3 shelves that we're going to hang up there.

LILY!!!

We applied polka dots on her molding!

This is a saying we put on her wall- "Such a big miracle in such a little girl"

(It's a little dark because the flash whited out the saying, so I turned it off)

We appreciate all of the thoughts & prayers you send our way. We are really excited for our little girl, & we just want her to be healthy & happy!

Love, Ashlee, Jeff, & Lily