That's it baby, when you got it, flaunt it. Mel Brooks; The Producers (1968)

Just came back from our monthly check-up with the obgyn.
The appointment was at 9:30am but as usual, we only got in to see the doctor at 11:00am. But quite frankly, we didn’t mind the wait.
We spent it talking, watching TV and reading the various magazines lying about. I spent half of my time surreptitiously sneaking looks at the other pregnant women in the waiting room. Such HUGE tummies...

I’ve observed that there are not many choices for clothes that pregnant women opt for. Most of them wear the standard floral, cotton tie-back thingy that leaves a limp bow perched on their rear. I guess that’s practical… a bow that’s adjustable to one’s girth. Some ladies wear those huge ‘baju kelawar’ garments made of vast satin material, more often than not, in a batik design. Some opt for the staid jubah.

I haven’t gone maternity-shopping yet, so I have no idea what I’ll be wearing once my tummy is too big to slip into my loose-shirts. I should go shopping soon, I suppose. I’m running out of baggy stuff to wear.

So anyway, there we were, sitting on the really comfy sofa, waiting for our turn. It’s gotten rather uncomfortable for me to be sitting still for too long, and I’m getting rather self-conscious about my budding tummy. So it was a great relief when the nurse called us in to see the doctor.

Our obgyn is such a lovely lady.
She’s the most humble doctor I’ve ever met in my life, and a lot of her patients agree with me here. She’s got no airs, she’s has a hilarious sense of humor and she’s always smiling. A very motherly doctor; very pleasant and comforting.

After taking my blood pressure (normal) and asking the standard questions, we got to what Wan and I were both waiting for – seeing our baby.

I lay down on the bed, the nurse smeared me with that really cold gunk and the doctor started the ultrasound scan.

And there it was… A HUGE BABY IN MY TUMMY!!!!

I tell you, both of us had a shock. The last time we went, the baby was barely a little blob on the screen. This time, we could see its head, its legs, its arms, its spine...
People, I HAVE A HUMAN BEING IN MY TUMMY!!!

As you can see, I was very excited.

The baby’s legs were pointed straight up (berlunjur) and its arms were positioned above its head, like it didn’t have a care in the world (as Wan observed, "Macam boss".) Then it started jumping and jerking around.

My eyes nearly popped out of my head.

"It’s moving!!"
"Dia gerok!!"

Said the first-time mother and father.

"Of course, at this stage, the baby will be moving around."

As if to prove the doctor’s point, the baby started moving every few seconds. While the doctor was trying to take its measurement, it continued to jump around the screen, twitching its arms, arching its back (the baby’s got the tiniest spine) and jerking its legs.

"You have a very active baby," said the doctor, laughing. "Very active indeed".

"Macam mak dia," smiled the devoted father.

It never ceases to amaze us; the sight of this little human being that God created for us. And this was the first time we actually see it looking like a baby, with its head and limbs and all. Both Wan and I were holding back tears while giggling like loonies.

And then the doctor pointed out at the screen.

"See that... those are the baby’s fingers... 1,2,3,4,5."

And we looked at the tiny little fingers; all five fingers on its right hand were visible. And at that second, the baby twitched its hand and the fingers moved ever so slightly.

"Heheh... it’s waving at us."

Hello baby. I’m your mom. That’s your dad.
We are so happy to see you.
We can’t wait to see you again next month.
I promise to take all my vitamins and stuff.

You take care, in there.
See you soon!