Reality Check

First of all, all of our friends were right - the gestational diabetes was a false alarm, so big thanks to everyone who sent us support.
We told my dad and his wife last weekend over breakfast, and it went pretty well. I can tell that my dad is looking forward to being a grampa, and seeing him happy made me happy.
We heard the heartbeat this morning. Talk about a reality check. Now don't get me wrong - I wasn't at all in denial about the fact that we have a kid on the way, but actually hearing proof of the fact that blood is coursing through the Bean's tiny little heart is pretty surreal. The doctor used this little microphone that could pick up the Bean's heartbeat. She positioned it on Margaret's abdomen and felt around for a second, then she said, "Oh, there it is." If you have never heard the heartbeat of an unborn fetus, it's quite different from ours, even as a kid. Where we have the deep steady ba-dup, ba-dup, ba-dup, the Bean's was much faster. It sounded, for lack of a better description, sort of alien. The rate was 150 beats per minute, so it was fast, and because of the microphone, sounded a little like a tiny little washing machine on the agitate setting. I'd be lying if I said I didn't get a little emotional. I swear I will never foget that sound as long as I live. I plan to call that beautiful sound to mind when the Bean is a teenager and has switched to his or her own agitate setting, and I'm ready to murder him or her for some indiscretion. I'll just call to mind the humbling wowwowwowwowwow sound of that first heartbeat, and the little grommet will live to see another birthday.
Went to see Tom Jones last night at the Plex. Spectacular show. Jones is one of those performers where you pretty much know what you're going to get when he steps onstage, and the dude didn't disappoint. He was one of the acts I was going to see whenever we made it out to Las Vegas, so the fact that he came to Charleston made it a bit easier. I couldn't bring my camera in, so no photos, but I got a copy of the setlist, which I plan on sending to my friend, Ray, who is a Tom Jones freak. Jones did all the expected stuff ("It's Not Unusual," "Delilah," "Sexbomb," "Green Green Grass of Home," and the cover of Prince's "Kiss") and had a full backing band, including a four-piece horn section. The light show was pretty cool as well. Margaret and I also went to see the new Harry Potter film (Goblet of Fire), which we both liked. We have another doctor's appointment a week from Wednesday to have a sonagram. We'll actually get to see the Bean! I can't wait!
Oh and regarding the photo above, Iam at least confident that the Bean will be more adept than our current "leader." Yeesh...