[Iron] Bowled Over: Baby Bryson

I learned about Baby Stoker's appearance on November 5, 2011, shortly before Alabama played LSU in the "Game of the Century." I kept it quiet so we could enjoy the game... and so I could take more tests before telling Clay. Three tests the next day confirmed Baby S was on his/her way.

We had our first appointment on November 28, where we first saw our little one. I was 7 weeks and 6 days along. The heartbeat was 173. We could clearly see the heart beating in his/her little chest and the beginning of little arms and legs. Looking back, the picture was a blur, but we loved that blur so much already. Our due date was set for July 10, 2012.

At our 12-week appointment on December 27, we heard the sweet little heartbeat again, this time on the fetal doppler. It was a strong, steady 160 beats per minute. By this appointment, I had gained 5 pounds. Yikes!

Our 16-week appointment was one that would change our lives forever. Instead of waiting another month to learn the sex of our sweet little one, we chose to pay for an elective ultrasound. At approximately 5:05 PM on January 24, 2012, we learned our little one is A BOY!!!!! Heartbeat (on doppler) 120, then rose to 140.

Tell me those aren't the cutest little butt cheeks you've ever seen.

We had our 20 week appointment on February 23, which included an in-depth scan of his entire body. Our little man's heart, spine, kidneys and lungs look great. The only blip the ultrasound tech found was choroid plexus cysts on his brain. She assured us they were common and were usually gone by 28 weeks. After doing some research, I felt better about the cysts and am believing that God has already gotten rid of them. Bryson already weighed a pound at 20 weeks and was measuring 8 days ahead.

He has his daddy's legs.

Our 28 week follow-up ultrasound to check Bryson's brain was April 19. As expected, his brain is perfect! He weighed 2 pounds 14 ounces and had a heart rate of 144 bpm.