He's Pregnant (Feb. 1)

The last time I gave an update we were counting the weeks into the pregnancy. Now, with only 12 weeks left, it’s become a countdown. It’s hard to believe I’ll be a dad when I graduate at the end of this semester.
The doctor’s appointments were becoming a bit repetitive and the initial disbelief of hearing the heartbeat was wearing off each time. It was time for the next step in the realization of a growing fetus: the ultrasound. We had heard plenty of stories about what it’s like at a radiology clinic and most people said the experience doesn’t meet the expectations, but I’ve learned to take advice with a grain of salt.
It was a more intimate setting than I had imagined; the room was very small and the technician started straight away. He placed the Doppler on her stomach and the blank computer screen was immediately filled with a tiny body. Although I knew exactly what was going to happen, it was still surprising to actually see a baby moving around. The spine and the heart were completely visible, and I couldn’t help but think how vulnerable the baby is, just as I am when I think about being a father.
Although I was 100 per cent sure it’s a boy, I asked the technician to determine the gender anyways, just to finally prove it to my wife. He scrolled the Doppler around intently and informed us we should consider buying something pink…pink?
A baby girl would be fantastic, but are you sure it’s not a boy? There was no need to question the results as our doctor confirmed it a few days later. We’re having a little girl and I couldn’t be happier. I know a lot of people don’t like to find out until the birth, but I feel the baby has a little more identity now. It’s no longer an it; she’s a she. She has a name and a bunch of little dresses waiting for her.
For those of you who have never been expecting, let me give you a little glimpse into the world of pregnant women. While shopping in the maternity section at a popular clothing store in Calgary, I looked over a rack of clothing to see a woman crying to her partner because she couldn’t find a pair of pants. In any other section of the store this type of behavior would be considered ridiculous, but these are women with child and they have special needs, and with those come special privileges.
As we move into the latter stages of pregnancy, my wife’s stomach is expanding; by that I mean she’s carrying a medicine ball under her shirt. This presents a few problems, not the least of which is lack of sleep. While she remains petite everywhere else, her tummy makes for some major discomfort at night. The solution is a body pillow, and I feel like we’ve invited a third person into our bed. I usually end up on the edge of the bed with a corner of the sheet and a cold.
In the last update I described the first time I felt her kick. Now I can watch her move. Not only can we see little appendages poking at the stomach, we can watch as she slides a popcorn bowl around the belly.
I can’t believe how fast everything is happening. I feel like this pregnancy is moving in fast-forward and I need to push pause to just take it all in. While I’m using a film analogy, this is the best movie I’ve ever seen and I’m looking forward to a happy ending.