Doctor's visit, May 26.

Today's doctor's visit was uneventful as it pertains to doctor's visits. I am 24 weeks and 5 days - officially at the six month mark. I went through my usual four rites of passage: 1) pee in the cup, 2) finger pricked for blood, 3) weight, and 4) blood pressure. All of these things were extremely normal, with the exception of one: my weight.

Admittedly, I may have overdone it this last month. I may have said more than once that I would like to eat this or that, and it's ok because I am pregnant and thus should indulge a little. Well, no more of that tomfoolery. I've put on 10 pounds in one month, which is double what I should be putting on. I drink a gallon of water a day, so I like to think some of it is water weight given my appointment was at 4pm. However that is not to say I may need to limit my pie and sweets intake to 1-2 times per week as opposed to 1-2 daily, as I have for the past few weeks. Though I have been going on long heart-pumping walks each evening and eating very healthy more so than not, I will say with full on conviction (as will my darling husband) that I have gone wild this last month on the sweets. What can I say - Baby likes 'em! The doctor's response was not to worry about it, that my weight is normal based on its starting point. She also said that it is best to veer away from fatty, tooth rotting treats on a daily basis after I confessed my sins. So, while I will not diet, I will step away from the ice cream cartons, and buttery crusts filled with fruit and nut, and cookies and cake. Oh, cake (sigh). And Butterfinger bars. Mexican dinners will also need to be limited to one night a week. Instead, I will indulge in other healthy sweet favorites: watermelon, red grapes, bananas, tangerines, pears, cereal with milk, frozen (or not) yogurt, peanut butter, lowfat chocolate milk.

It's all about perception. And having some cake once a week...

The highlight of my visit was hearing Baby's heartbeat - a very strong 164 bpms. I was actually having a crappy day, until I got to listen to his heart. The doctor left the device on my belly for a long time, and I heard his hard, steady heartbeat and could do nothing but smile. Everything going on in my life, at that moment, beautifully vanished.

As an aside, I also had a chiropractic appointment today. It was my fifth visit to a prenatal specialist. I had been having back pain, but it is slowly diminishing thanks to chiropractic care! The adjustments I have been given have worked wonders. The chiropractor is also extremely educated on wellness and childbirth. I am so happy to have found a solution for my back and neck pain. I recommend it for all those plagued with pregnancy pains! I think Baby likes it too. He moves every time I am on the table.

Soccer star kicked for daddy!

Last night, as we were watching the very last episode of LOST, Baby Rowland became quite active as he usually does at night and after a little ice cream. I always try to place Steve's hand in the spots where Baby is moving around, and he never feels his acrobatics, until last night. Baby kicked so hard that I could see my own belly move in my peripheral vision. So, I grabbed Steve's hand and put it on the spots where Baby was moving. The problem with Steve is that he is impatient and I believe he is concentrating so hard on feeling the baby move that his hand being on my belly isn't resting there, but rather, is on alert for something. I told him to relax and just let his hand sit there. Previously, he always says, "All I can feel is your heart beating and your breathing." This time, as Baby Rowland was moving all around I ask, "Did you feel that?" He says, "I don't know." Then, after the next big kick he asks, "Did he move just then?" I said, "Yeah!"

This is surely just the start of many kicks for daddy.

Spring is here!

Looks like Steve and I aren't the only family looking to bring new life to this beautiful place. This spring has been like no other for me in regards to all of the new life I see around me, specifically when I take Stinky on her daily walks. I have noticed baby bunnies (which Stinky tries to go after and attack). There is also a bunny that forages in our neighbor's back yard each morning. I always try to look out and see if he is there, and sure enough, he is.

What we believe might be a Robin or some such bird has built a tiny nest in the awnings of our upper deck, and when we peer through the cracks in the deck we can see the four tiny blue eggs in the nest. This has proven to be a very precarious situation for the mama bird, who flies away each time we open the back door or when Steve is out in the back yard fiddling with the grass and the landscaping. Most recently, Stinky got into an unfriendly altercation with the birds, who believe she is a threat to their incubating eggs while she lays on the back deck to sun herself.

The most moving of all the spring babies however are the two families of geese who have recently hatched their goslings. Each day when I walk Stinky around the lake in our neighborhood I get to watch these two families take their goslings for a swim. It is so sweet to see them all swimming together in a perfect little line, with one parent in the front and the other trailing in the back so as to protect their little family. If we are far enough away, we can see them foraging on the banks. The closer we get, they begin to make their way to the water with the adults taking care to go slow enough for the tiny babies. One family has five goslings, which we've watched double in size over the past two weeks. The other family recently brought their tiny ones out from hiding, so I am excited to watch them grow.

Though Baby Rowland will be born in Indian Summer or close to the fall season, he is incubating, too. This is a spring I will surely never forget.

What It Means to Be a Mother, Part 2.

I began thinking that there is more to being a mother than possessing a great amount of love for one's child. My ethereal part 1 of this particular post is what I strive for throughout Baby Rowland's life. However I also think of the little things and how I will take it all on, specifically:

- Will I sleep, or will I just want to look at him and wait for him to open his eyes?
- Will I be able to comfort him when he cries?
- Will breastfeeding work for me?
- How will I know when he is hungry, or sick, or just plain frustrated?
- Will I be intimidated when I give him his first bath?
- Will I get tired and irritable at having little to no sleep?
- Will my husband and I work as a cohesive team (most definitely, yes)?
- Will I master changing diapers and soothing irritating skin rashes?
- Will I ever be the same again?

All of these questions are frightening to me, yet seemingly become innate to new mothers. I cannot wait for my new life to begin. I am ready to meet all these wonderful new challenges and little adventures head on.

This is what it means to be a mother to me (part 2).

What It Means to Be a Mother.

I have been thinking alot about Baby Rowland, and how much I care for him already even though he is not born yet. I feel him moving every day and even when he is not moving, I wait for him to move and say "hi." Being a mother, to me, might be similar to being a wife. There is a phase when you meet and fall madly in love, then more deeply in love, until you begin to respect and admire your partner very much, as if they are a part of your very soul. With children I believe it is probably the same, as a mother. Why I say this is because possibly all or most mothers are loving and caring to their sweet, completely loveable and utterly helpless little babies, and continue to be nurturing, supportive and sharing to their growing children whom they are in love with. What must become so difficult is letting children go off on their own, I would imagine, and discovering they do not fully belong to you. Learning how to grow with your children as they become teenagers and adult people, accepting and continuing to love them and support them, and share with them the most special moments of their lives. Eventually coming to respect and admire them out of this well of deep love you have developed for them even before they are born. As a mother, they belong to you. They begin in your womb, grow and become adults that no longer want to be treated like the children you love so deeply and want to hold in your arms.

I will thrive to be the best mother I can to sweet Baby Rowland, giving and sharing with him all the parts of me that I believe will teach him about this beautiful life, the complicated and wonderful love within it, and how to treat others with empathy, kindness and respect. I want more than anything for Baby Rowland to love me and Steve as much as we love him. I never, ever want to lose his respect and therefore will never disrespect him as he begins to grow and observe who I am as his parent. I will nurture and cherish him every day of his life and beyond, serving as a constant source of support and love; I will encourage nothing but his every hope and dream. I will love him no matter who he becomes, because he is my child. All the while carrying myself in a way that merits a mother the respect and love of her child.

I think this is what it means to be a mother.

Doctor's visit, April 28.

As you can probably tell by the new blog colors, we learned that Baby Rowland is a boy! This visit was comprised of a long ultrasound session, of which we were told right away, first thing, that Baby was a boy. Undeniably, the pictures leave no questions as to that fact. Steve excitedly said "YESSSSS" in the exam room and began to send messages to all our friends and family. From there he was so proud of himself and walked around with his chest out and his head held high. I was so happy and proud, but I believe I knew it to be a boy all along. The UT technician also conducted the following measurements and noted baby's development therein:

- Baby's head is perfectly round and of a nice size.
- Baby's femur bones and legs measure proportionate to his body.
- Baby's face and lips are fully and perfectly formed.
- From what we could see, Baby's feet have five little toes and his hands have five little fingers.
- Baby's beating heart was 148 bpm, and has four chambers.
- Baby's kidneys are well formed and where they should be.
- Two holes in his belly showed us his stomach and bladder, well formed and located perfectly.
- He weighs 14 ounces (almost one pound), and he falls in the 64% size range, which means he's not too big or too small. Just right.

As we were watching the ultrasound, he was of course moving like crazy as he always is. His mouth was opening and closing and he was bringing his little hand up to it. His arms and legs were kicking like crazy, and he's definitely moving the little fingers on his hands, which most of the time were resting on his cute little belly.

Learning his gender makes it so much more real! We are having a son. I enter stores now and I can look at the boy clothing and toys and think about how Baby Rowland would wear them or enjoy them. I bought Steve some "I love Daddy" and "Tiny Tiger" onsies. We've also been discussing names for our son, of which we plan not to share with anyone until Baby is born. So, you all who know Steve too well will just have to speculate that Baby will come out with the name "Greg Allman Rowland" or "Marshall Tucker Rowland" or "Willie Nelson Rowland" in the meantime.

I can't help but think over and over again, that Steve and I are going to bring a son, grandson and nephew to the world, and that we are entirely blessed and praise God for this awesome miracle!

Gut punched (or kicked).

Last night, without question, the baby kicked me in the gut. I felt it without a doubt! In the last few weeks I sorta wondered if I was feeling something but always passed it off as too much beans or broccoli, if you know what I mean. Not this time. For sure, there were defined little movements placed from some foot or hand. Like little punches - a punch here, and a punch there. Amazing!

Steve and I were laying in bed, and I believe he had drifted off already. I was laying on my back, and when I felt it I breathed in really quick and woke him up right away. Then, it happened several times more. It was actually difficult to fall asleep since I wanted the baby to kick and move all night. I can't wait until it becomes so pronounced that Steve can feel it. Perhaps baby takes after its daddy, and is ready to start playing soccer?

Baby, you make it so much more real.

Doctor's visit, March 29.

Each doctor's visit never ceases to amaze me. We are now four months and two days pregnant - nearly half way there. Baby Rowland is approximately the size of a rubber duckie.

For this particular visit, I had blood tests administered to determine any genetic risks the baby may have. Now that I've done it, I'm a nervous wreck. Steve and I are low to no risk, due to family history on both sides which is nil. But, in this day and age, when so much information can be made available to parents, we chose to be prepared should anything come our way. So, here we are, and here I am, a nervous wreck. No news is good news however, and so I am fairly relaxed and expect no call. Prayers welcome for both my sanity and perfect test results.

That's not the amazing part, though. The amazing part is the surprise I got with the handheld ultrasound device the midwife used to hear the baby's heartbeat again! I am always so, so happy to hear the heart beating so strong, but this time, I also got to hear Baby Rowland moving around! The sound it makes is like something tapping and brushing against a microphone, but my! Baby was moving around like crazy in there, and it made my heart glow. Then, the midwife (one among four and whom I really enjoyed meeting) addressed a small hump just below my belly button, which she explained was the top of my uterus, now almost the size of a small melon. That might explain the recent jutting out of my belly!

If Baby Rowland decides to show us his or her goods, we will find out the sex on the next doctor's visit, which is April 28. We will also get to see a profile of our sweet baby's face, and perhaps other parts like feet and hands. I simply cann0t wait!

A Babymoon to Remember.

LeBlanc Spa in beautiful Cancun, Mexico was a perfect place to spend a romantic week together before Baby Rowland arrives. We were greated with sweet coconut milk in a zen, serene lobby. The resort's general vibe was one of relaxation. Steve and I literally did nothing but read books, lay by the pool and the light, bright blue Caribbean sea, and ate at the resort's awesome restaurants, which featured French, Asian, Italian, Mexican and American cuisines. I read three books, and so did Steve. It was one of those times together where we didn't make plans, and played each day by ear. We talked about Baby Rowland often, and about the changes coming to our lives. I didn't think of work, or anything stressful. It was so relaxing. We also got spa treatments, including massages and a facial. Steve got his first manicure and pedicure with me. I'm still not sure he will get one with me at home. There was a giant chess board and jenga game by the lagoon pool that was so much fun to play! And what trip to the beach would be complete without a game of bocce ball? We actually got to teach some locals how to play, which we enjoyed. Our walks to the local outdoor market were also very interesting, as those Mexicans surely do know how to harass folks to buy something or at the very least, look at all the "unique" things that are available to buy - from blankets, hats, t-shirts and jewelry to shot glasses, ashtrays and magnets. Being on the beach in a bathing suit with a big belly wasn't too different for me, but the drinks I chose throughout the week were surely foreign territory! I had many a virgin pina colada, daquiri and beer. A funny aside, being the clumsy, sober pregnant woman, I fell down a couple of times and needed a Mexican physician due to some slippery stairs. I do believe the rumors that pregnant women get clumsy. There is also a wives' tale associated with that rumor that states the baby will be a boy if you're clumsy, and a girl if you're graceful. Whatever he or she is, I'm definitely clumsy none the less! Guess we'll find out if the rumor is true on April 28, if Baby decides to spread 'em.

It was a babymoon to remember.

Nesters.

With a short 26 weeks to go, Steve and I have begun preparations for Baby Rowland's arrival. First, in cleaning and organizing the various parts of the house. We bagged most of our clothing and sent it to Goodwill, which left us with half a closet that was cleaner, roomier and smarter. So, not only has Baby Rowland prompted us to create cleaner spaces, he or she has also brought out the humanitarian in us. We also cleaned out all our clothes drawers, and I convinced Steve that all t-shirts he can't let go of but also doesn't wear or even look at should have a special place designated for them: the t-shirt box, now stored in a guest room closet. We also cleaned baby's room, including emptying the varied and miscellaneous goods in his or her closet, caulking the walls, and priming it for some bright nursery shade that we will mull over once we learn the sex of the baby. For giggles, I cleaned the basement, meticulously vacuuming each couch cushion before spraying it with lysol, dusting all book shelves and pictures, and mopping pinesol onto every floorboard, baseboard and stair step.

I did mention there was a first, which means there's a second. Our preparation of the nest for baby's arrival also means we have begun to think about our finances. We mapped out our savings and investments, created living wills, and have taken out life insurance policies. For the first time in my life, I feel financially sound. This is part in par due to Steve, who was financially sound to begin with, but also and especially thanks to Baby Rowland, whom we have now mapped a plan for in regards to college, childcare and, well, life.

I think it's true what they say about nesting - it is an innate yearning to want to prepare for baby's arrival. This process reminds me of little birds carefully building nests in tall trees for their delicate eggs to incubate, or turtles who come off the shore to dig holes in the sand, or, the famed march of the penguins. It's a process that all parents go through to welcome a little one to the earth, to make sure it is comfortable, warm, safe, fed and happy.

A little showy.

I've always been a little soft around the edges. Particularly in my belly, which I've referred to as having a "layer of warmth" for years. Now with Baby Rowland being housed in there, I feel good about my belly's genetic makeup. Even better, at a little over three months, the pooch is starting to show and the bottom of my belly is starting to harden.

Steve looked at me the other day and said, "babylove, you're starting to look a little pregnant." Yikes! I said, "what do you mean? Do I look fat?" To which he replied, "no, your belly is starting to stick out. It's cute."

I like to think Baby Rowland is cuter.

**Picture here is showy at four months.

LIfe's an itch.

I had a case of hives once in my late 20s. They were medically deemed as "urticaria." What I am feeling now, with baby in tow, is not the same thing at all. It is similar in that it is a deep, maddening itch from within, but there is no visible rash. It comes and goes. It is localized. It is hell on earth. Currently, it lies in wait behind my knees, like a spider. If it's anything like urticaria, it will move to various parts of my body, and always mirror said parts on both sides.

Steve, doting and caring, rubs lotion on me and tries to help. But because it's not a skin condition, nothing helps. I'm sure my incessant scratching wakes him and if it doesn't now, it surely will the more pregnant I become.

I've read that generalized itching of this nature (meaning all over your body), with or without a rash, and late in pregnancy is a sign of a very serious condition and could cause problems. I've also read that the itching in pregnancy could be caused from hormones, or from the liver's production of bile salts which seep into the blood and hang out in the lymph nodes. Neither sound pleasant. The phrase "bile salts" sounds like something that seeps from the mouth of a monster in a horror film.

But, don't worry (Helen!), I've also read itching is quite common during pregnancy, and rare (1%) that something could be wrong or risky. Plus, this is the nature of my skin - it itches. It's known to have hives. Pregnancy or not.

So, then, a few things will ease this itch and my mind:
1. Suck it up and try to ignore it
2. Slather on calamine lotion which has been stored in the fridge to keep it cold
3. Ditch the hot baths I love so much and trade them in for warm ones with oatmeal
4. Moisturize my skin in an obsessive fashion
5. Get blood tests to determine that my liver isn't in danger due to being pregnant (Lordy knows I've done enough to it since I've been old enough to drink).
and, importantly,
6. Have Baby Rowland. The itch will apparently go away upon his/her arrival.

So, come on, Baby Rowland! We have just one more reason out of millions that we can't wait for you to get here, and I have no doubt an itch will be well worth seeing your sweet face.

Eatin' like a horse.

I promise I'm not one of those people who will use pregnancy as an excuse to eat whatever I want, which might include 2-3 hot and now Krispy Kreme donuts in one sitting, or a gallon of ice cream, or an entire bag of tortilla chips with the entire 8 oz. tub of sour cream and a bowl of 2-avocado guacamole. I promise, that ain't me. I am trying my hardest to stick to my regular eating routine - 4-5 small meals a day. Breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner, snack. Fine.

It's the small part that's giving me the most trouble.

I get so hungry between breakfast and lunch that I feel like I could eat my own arm off. That my stomach is literally turning inside of itself. It's a dulling pain. Then, I remember to think of Baby Rowland. He or she must be starving in there, if I'm feeling so starved. So I feel okay when I come home for lunch and proceed to consume chips and salsa while my microwave meal is heating up because it's too difficult to wait an entire three minutes, and then after that, proceed to eat a small bowl of last night's leftovers. Then a cashew nut cluster. Finally, my appetite is satiated. And so is baby's, it seems. Where I used to eat a healthy microwave meal or a sandwich, I now eat three meals at lunchtime.

I have the best intentions, I swear. So when I bring an apple and a pear to work to eat as a midday snack, I think I'm doing fine until I get home again thirty minutes later. There's that "eat my own arm off" feeling again. Jalapeno pimento cheese sandwich kicker, anyone?

The bad part, for those of you who know me too well? I don't like candy corns anymore. The mere thought of them makes me sick. Tell me that's not weird. I made my poor husband go to two different grocery stores to find Bleinheim's hot ginger ale. As if that wasn't bad enough, after we bought it with some pie, I made him stand in line again because I saw some ginger salad dressing on our way out that I just had to have.

I think it's safe to say that Baby Rowland likes ginger. I think it's also safe to say that if I continue to eat like a horse, I will grow to look like the side of a barn.

First Trimester Terror.

Not terror, really. But folks have been asking me how I feel, and here's the run-down from most annoying to least:

- I am itchy and my skin is dry, all over.
- I have extremely strange dreams.
- I am verging emotional melt-down at the silliest stuff.
- I feel extremely nauseous, but don't throw up.
- I am dead dog tired.

Why I save the dead dog tired bit for last is because I don't believe I've ever had so much sleep in my life! I like it. It feels nice to sleep 10-12 hours each night and on the weekends. I don't mind, really. I'm told that my energy levels will pick up, and my nausea will subside in the second trimester, which is just around the corner!

Today's doctor visit: meet Baby Rowland!

Today's visit was amazing! I met Steve at the doctor's office and as we were in the waiting room, "Eye of the Tiger" was on the radio. We anticipated hearing the baby's heartbeat on a sonar device, and we joked that the baby's heartbeat would mimic the beat of Steve's favorite Clemson game day song. But, we didn't get to see the sonar device - we got to see an ultrasound!

The lady gelled up my belly and as soon as she put the device on it - there was our sweet Baby Rowland! How surprised were we?! Shortly after, we could hear the rythmic beating of the heart. He or she has a strong heartbeat, according to the ultrasound technician - around 165 beats per minute. He or she also has little limbs and eye buds, arms, hands, legs and feet. I kept pulling up to look at Steve, who was mesmerized. I giggled. He said "wow, now we know there's a little person in there!" Then he asked if we could take pictures home with us and proceeded to steal them from me to show his work clients. After we were done with what must be one of the most monumental events of soon-to-be parents, we walked out of the ultrasound room one giggly mama and one puffy-chested papa. I went through the usual. Put up my pee sample, had my blood pressure taken. All is well there - no fear of odd blood-bourne diseases this go round. We got the chance to talk to the doctor, who told us that we are 11 weeks and 4 days pregnant, and our little sugar plum is about 4 cm. in length. Next visit is Monday, March 29. I will hear baby's heartbeat again, and have blood work done to determine that Baby Rowland is healthy and risk-free. That said, let's hope my blood pressure stays calm. :)

God love girlfriends.

I love my girlfriends. I really do. Thoughtful, caring and experienced - I don't know what I will do without them in the upcoming months.

Shannon sent out a card a couple of days after she found out. Laurie sent me an awesome (really funny) book, "The Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy." It addresses everything from constipation to fashion to nipples. I love it! Kendale sent me a prenatal yoga DVD. I think she was scared that I was losing it based on my email rants to her. She has no idea that she's part of my stress relief. Robin just sent me the sweetest little sheep snuggly blanket for our newborn, and two books. Because she's always thinking ahead, from what I can tell, these books discuss what happens after you have the baby. Specifically, they address sleeping habits and consistency so that baby is happy (and mommy and daddy, too). I can't wait to dig into them! Candice has also promised me her pregnancy wardrobe, which I plan to pick up promptly since my clothes are getting tight.

Now, more than ever, I appreciate the girls in my life.

First Doctor's Visit.

So, I hate blood tests. It's a fact. I find them invasive and a little too personal. The mere thought that someone would be standing over my blood and looking at it freaks me out, sans needles, even. Then, there's the unmerited, completely ridiculous thought that I may have caught HIV from a toilet bowl, or Hepatitis from the dentist's chair. All those things that I don't want to think about or know about tend to surface when I have to have blood drawn.

Because of this, my blood pressure was so high that the lady taking it told me she was scared and considered sending me to the emergency room. I eventually calmed down but the next week was laden with fear - wondering if my blood tests came back clean.

They did. All is perfect this visit. No protein or sugar in my urine. My blood pressure was normal after I calmed down. My pap smear was normal also. They confirmed me at six weeks on January 7, 2010. Baby Rowland was roughly the size of a sesame seed. I was given prenatal vitamin samples to help him or her grow.

Starting at the beginning.

Because we are in Atlanta, and away from most of the folks we love so much, we thought it best to create a blog to share this experience: the welcoming of a baby and beyond!

We decided to try and start a family this year, 2010, the beginning of a new decade. I wanted to go ahead and get a head start and decided to remove my bit of contraception, a copper IUD called Paraguard. I figured it might take us a while since we're not spring chickens. We're people in our early 30's who enjoy having fun and traveling often while also mixing in exercise and laziness, respectively. We had no idea how fertile we were, since we removed the IUD on December 18, 2009 and likely conceived Baby Rowland on December 19.

Over the Christmas and New Year's holidays we were so busy with friends and family we really didn't think anything of actually trying. By "trying" I mean tracking ovulation cycles, and noting the texture and consistency of one's cerivcal mucus. All those lovely elements of observation that come along with trying to find the 24-hour window of time required to conceive a baby. We actually didn't find a lot of time to even "have fun" in a biblical sense over the holidays - our first married together. But, as God would have it, we were given the gift we wanted to plan for anyway.

On Friday, January 5th, an ice storm came through and I had to work from home, which worked for me since I'd planned on taking a weekend trip to spend time with my best friend. My last period was December 5th, so I was pretty late. So late in fact, that the previous Monday I took a test that came up negative. This Friday, still nothing, I decided to rough the now melting icy roads to get a pregnancy test. Steve was working from home that day too. So, I came home barely able to contain myself and peed on the stick. The line was so faint! Steve came up to look at it, and said, "yep, it's definitely a line. See it?" I said, "I'm not so sure. I had a lot of coffee this morning. This a two pack, so let me drink some water and take another." The second test showed a less faint line, and in a quicker manner. At this point, Steve began to walk around the kitchen with his chest puffed out like a rooster. Excited that he was able to help me create this miracle that was slowly dawning on us, and very manly at his ability to do it so fast. We sat there and stared at one another. "Surely we couldn't have done it this fast?" we say. We hug. We kiss. We giddily begin to talk about it. I go to the store for another round of tests - just to make sure. This time, I get the ones that spell it out: "PREGNANT" or "NOT PREGNANT" - and it came up pregnant of course.

Because I had so many tests, I saved one for my best friend as proof. I still made the trip, this time without picking up my usual six pack of dark beer and half case of red wine. She was the first person to know, besides us. I couldn't wait to get back home to Steve, though, and begin to plan doctor's visits and Baby Rowland's arrival.