Baby steps (pardon the pun!)

We are officially at 6 weeks today!!!

From ParentsConnect online:

Your Baby:
This week starts a period of rapid cellular development for your baby-to-be, who looks like a mini tadpole, with a tiny head and tail. His or her eyes, ears and mouth have begun to form (though they're a little more Discovery Channel "creatures of the sea" documentary than Gerber Baby at this point).

Other exciting milestones include:

Your baby's heart is now beating to a regular beat, although it's still too faint to hear.

His or her arm buds are just beginning to, well, bud. They look like teensy swollen bumps at this point. In a few days, they'll resemble itsy-bitsy flippers.

Your baby has grown to ⅛ inch long—about the size of one of the chocolate sprinkles on your last cupcake.

Our journey is slowly creeping along, just like baby steps. Our next scan will be the first week in February. We are keeping busy baby window shopping and trying to keep our minds occupied without thinking about our baby growing so far away every single minute. I have been keeping a close eye on Gerry so he doesn't buy out the baby store. He already has all of the plans completed and ready for my go-ahead to start the nursery. I made him promise to wait until we get past the first trimester before we buy and start any baby stuff. But as Carrie Jo said 'if he has to buy, just do it in secret.' Thanks a lot Carrie Jo....now I will be wondering what he is up to for baby when I am not around!

We had an unexpected surprise the other day. I received an email from another couple right here in Mesa (S & J) going through surrogacy in India, who wandered upon our blog. They go and pick up their baby in Mumbai in April. We are planning a supper very soon, to meet and chat about surrogacy stuff. We are really excited about it! What a small world we live in.

Tomorrow is a big day in the Wile household! Frankie turns 13 (that's 91 in dog years!!) and we are planning a Birthday party for her. We are not sure how many more Birthday's we will have with her,(not something I like to talk about) so we are taking advantage of every single day we have with our beautiful girl. She truly is a huge part of our world. Those of you who are animal lovers know EXACTLY what I mean. She has been a part of our family for so long and we include her in just about everything we possibly can. She is like a child to us. I know that everyone thinks their dog is the greatest, and of course we are no different, but she is truly a very special animal. An amazing companion who gives us both her unconditional love and is always full of personality and spunk.

These are pictures of our beautiful Indian brass bell that we received as a gift from the Docs on our very first trip to India. Dr. Sudhir says that it is one of his favorites and that if someone rings it, it wards off evil spirits. It is a good omen and should be hung out at the front of your home. It took forever, but we finally found the perfect place for it outside our front door, right next to our 'Welcome' kokopelli (a Native American fertility God) sign.

We continue to keep track of all of our extended surrogacy family and those that are traveling soon to India for their up coming cycles, those that are in their 2 week wait and especially those that are going to pick up their babies.