5.Versluys'.us

We return to photo-laced posts with the following gem:

Versluys girl number 3 – Nora Jayne at 19 weeks!

Yes, that would be her hand grabbing the back of her legs, to bring her feet up to her face.

Yesterday as planned, our group of 15 people crowded into the ultrasound room to wait with breathless anticipation for the big announcements. I went first, and the entire family was captivated by the active baby on the giant screen. There was a lot of rolling and flipping, and finally the gender was revealed. I caught it before everyone else, about the same time as the technician. I said to her in a low voice, “are those three white lines?” She confirmed my suspicions, and I asked her to put the word on the screen to make the announcement. “Girl” appeared next to the picture.

The response from my siblings was mixed – most of them wanted (expected) a boy, so there was quite a bit of hooting and howling. But after about two seconds, everyone was talking excitedly about “another girl!”

Nora was named in the room, while we watched her acrobatics on the screen. She was entertaining us all by doing headstands and bringing her shins all the way up to her face as she was determined to stay in a tight ball most of the time. My sister Jayne was happily surprised to hear that we chose “Jayne” for the middle name, although Nora’s middle name is pronounced “Jane” instead of “Janie” like my sister.

Check out those long legs, stretched way over her head:

After the first big reveal, it was Keegan and Tim’s turn. Since this is their first baby, and they hadn’t even heard the heartbeat or seen the baby on ultrasound yet, we all exited the room to give them some privacy for the first few minutes. There were a number of nervous people in the waiting room, as we paced waiting to be allowed back in. Finally, we were called back and the gang rushed in to see Nora’s cousin on the big screen!

Whereas Nora was staying crunched up and trying to hook her heels over her head, Keegan and Tim’s baby was stretching as far out as possible, practically going into back bends whenever the technician poked or prodded. Roma decided to do some more of her creative naming, and burst out loudly, “that’s an alligator!” It was a little difficult to explain that the white line of dots were her cousin’s spine, not a baby alligator in Keegan’s belly.

It took a while to make the announcement, as we all watched for gender signs, because the baby was not cooperating by turning any way except stretched out! After the umbilical cord played several tricks with our eyes, we were finally treated to the announcement of “a girl”! Wow, and was the audience pleased. With the exception of my younger brothers, who are desperate for nephews, everyone was so happy for Keegan (who really wanted a girl) and Tim, and excited that we are expecting two little girls in the same month’s time!

And because I promised to tell you if allowed, the name of Tim and Keegan’s first baby is…

Charlotte Sophia!

To be affectionately known as “Charlie”, although I’m sure we’ll torture the new parents a few times with “Chuck” just for the fun of it.

It’s going to be pretty wild for the next few years. Even this coming Christmas will be fluffy and pink – 4 little girls, 3 and under!