Sapling
When we were early pregnant with Rowan, and after we had the very first ultrasound that revealed on the screen what appeared to be no more than a sea monkey, we quickly dubbed the squiggly speck “Scuttlebutt.” Longtime readers will remember this detail, I’m sure. For months, even after we found out it was a him and we gave him a name only to be revealed after we met his face, we referred to Rowan as Scuttlebutt. I kind of worried the nickname might stick, that he’d forever be known by this silly moniker, but it didn’t. He instantly became Rowan, a name we still love to this day, a name that’s proving hard to top, actually, in our early discussions of what to name Baby #2.
What we have decided upon, however, is that this squiggly speck, which is actually more like the size of a medium shrimp by now, or so says my pregnancy app, shall in utero be known as Sapling. See, it all started back when we went camping with Kerri and Matt. I’d just found out I was pregnant, and after telling Kerri the news, we started discussing names. One meaning for Rowan is based on the Rowan tree, and we’ve always loved that connection to nature. A young tree is called a sapling, and therein the nickname was born.
Sapling seems to be doing just fine so far. Two weeks ago we had a second ultrasound and verified that the baby is progressing as it should, measuring a few days ahead of what the calendar tells us. My blood work came back negative for any birth defects, too. I’m still grappling with first trimester nausea and exhaustion, but at almost 14 weeks, I hope the utopia known as the second trimester is just around the corner.
Speaking of names, this time around we’re having to choose two names, as we’ve decided NOT to find out the sex of the baby. I’ve been surprised by how people react to this news. It seems this is Not Common, us not wanting to know if it’s a he or she until the baby is born. Even the nurse practitioner at my first appointment seemed keen on convincing us to find out so that in case it’s not the sex we hoped for, we can “get over the disappointment” before the big day.
Uh, first of all, I would not be disappointed if we end up with another boy. Actually, I’d be quite delighted seeing as our first boy is pretty much the most awesome boy who ever lived. Secondly, yes, of course we’d love to have a girl. Imagine how much cooler the reveal will be if indeed it’s a girl? Sure, this doesn’t allow us to prepare a pink nursery or buy a bunch of bows, but based on experience, the baby will be wearing a lot of white onesies and gender neutral jammies and sleeping in our room anyway for the first few weeks. So, should this Sapling be of the female variety, the grandparents will have ample time to buy all the girly things. Or not. I have no qualms putting a baby girl in blue jammies.
I have to say, though, that based on this ultrasound pic, Roth is pretty convinced Sapling is a girl. He says he can tell by the less pronounced brow bone, as this was the tell-tale sign in Rowan’s ultrasound pic from around the same gestational time.
Old wives’ tales would have us believe that it’s a girl, too, based on how much sicker I’ve been than I ever was with Rowan. Who knows, though. We’ll all find out in about 26 weeks. In the meantime, we all just get to wait …
… and wonder.
Posted on October 22, 2012 | Category: Uncategorized | 9 Comments
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I have so many thoughts about this! First, love the nickname. We don’t have an in utero nickname for ours. Mostly it’s just “the baby” and occasionally Baby Z-M. But I do remember that Rowan used to be Scuttlebutt, and I loved that. And Nanette’s Em of course has stuck for years. I kind of wish we had a fun story to tell the kid someday about what we called him or her at the very beginning.
Second, I’m so excited you’re not finding out the sex! Of course you know we didn’t either. And even though I love when other people do, I think it’s fun that you’re not this time. People really do react strongly though don’t they? Some people seem downright mad that we don’t know! But really, other than making the name-narrowing more stressful (I’d love to know if we didn’t have to prepare a boy’s name because we are really struggling), it has been pretty easy for us. We prefer gender neutral clothes and stuff anyway, so that’s no problem. And even when I sometimes wish we just knew already, I think it will be so fun to find out at the birth.
October 22nd, 2012 @ 6:09 pmMy second ultrasound tech was quite surprised that we didn’t want to know the sex. Then she was even more surprised we didn’t find out with the first, either. The look on her face was even more priceless when I said, “Look! I see a boy part.” I quickly reassured her I didn’t but it was in fact a boy. I hope your nausea goes away soon. Have you tried Preggy Drops? They helped me A LOT the second time around because it was horrible. First time it wasn’t bad at all.
October 22nd, 2012 @ 6:54 pmI applaud those who wait to find out the gender until birth. I used to wonder if I’d be one of those who’d wait. But once I became pregnant, I couldn’t wait to find out! Maybe once we have a 2nd child (if we’re lucky enough), we’ll keep it a surprise.
October 22nd, 2012 @ 10:28 pmAs an outsider, I think it’s so much fun when people wait to find out. I love the anticipation. We found out the first time, and will again, because I need that bit of information to connect with the baby. It’s just who I am. Otherwise I tend to remain indifferent, and I’d rather not. However, as of now, everyone seems to think we’re having a girl, whether it’s just a feeling or because I’ve been WAY sicker this time around, too. I have an inkling I’m not sharing, so we’ll see. Maybe you and I will both have little girls!
We called Mason AJ (for my and Jon’s initials) during pregnancy. This time we don’t have a nickname. I just call it baby Gates or The Baby.
I’m now at 17 weeks and I’m feeling better! So there’s hope! I may feel slight nausea in the morning, but nothing else all day long. I’m actually HUNGRY all the time. And I don’t think I’ve puked in more than a week. Hang in there!
October 23rd, 2012 @ 5:51 amYes! Here’s to wonder. And wee saplings growing stronger by the day.
Whether Ro gets a fantastic little brother or little sister, we’re so psyched to meet Sapling.
October 23rd, 2012 @ 8:39 amWe didn’t find out with any of ours whether they were a boy or girl ahead of time, and we were ecstatic every time they entered the world.
I know of a few people who did find out, and then spent MONTHS ‘dealing with’ their disappointment. I think it’s hard to be disappointed when you find out and your new baby is placed immediately in your arms.
October 23rd, 2012 @ 10:40 amI think girl! We found out with Ashley and we are having a girl with this one. We just like to know but I have a lot of friends who are going the other route.
October 24th, 2012 @ 12:23 pmI am so excited that you’re not finding out. We loved being surprised though for some reason it really irked some people.
Hooray for Baby Sapling!
October 24th, 2012 @ 4:30 pmAnd Rowan will be the BEST BIG BROTHER EVER!
November 5th, 2012 @ 10:09 am