We went in for our Week 12 ultrasound on Thursday February 17, and we got some more great video and images. Part of the motivation for this particular visit and ultrasound was “nuchal translucency,” a visual examination that examines the amount of fluid in the fetus’s neck. This is basically a pre-screen for Down’s Syndrome. It’s not definitive but it was a good sign that everything was normal!

I should also note that Anne’s blood work came back with great results – extremely low risk of Down’s Syndrome and other trisomy defects.

We got a great close-up of the Spicy Peanut.

See that heartbeat all a-flutter? Actually, it was a bit of a lower heart rate than the last time we visited – 156 bpm vs. about 170 bpm. Then again, last time the little Peanut was dancing around like crazy. Maybe Anne was giving it the equivalent of fetal heart palpitations last time from some jalapenos she ate or something.

There’s an old wives tale that says that a lower heart rate indicates a girl. So maybe our baby went from a boy to a girl. Like in Jurassic Park.

They did some measurements. CRL means “crown rump length.” Right on track. Bit of a buddha belly already, though. Jeez.

They also did more “4D” imagery, again indicating that I have the Midas Bad Touch. (Everything I touch with any body part turns to gold.) Anyway, Anne and I having been throwing around baby names, but based on the image below, I think that “Smeagol Davis” sounds like an appropriate boy’s name.

The precious…the precious…

Regardless of the gender, however, I’m still convinced that I’m eventually going to be outnumbered. Anne and the Spicy Peanut will want to make inedibly spicy foods and I’ll be forced to eat them. My tastebuds will slowly die a horrible death and then they will act as zombie-like husks attached to my tongue, mindlessly transporting food down my gullet, unable to transfer any information about taste to my brain.

Exhibit A: Recipe for Husk Tongue® pizza.

Our next ultrasound appointment is March 21st. We just might be able to learn the gender of the Spicy Peanut at that point. Keep your eyes peeled!