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We are thrilled to report that we will be welcoming a little lady into the McKinney family in January. Last week we had the 18-week Complete Anatomy Survey ultrasound, which revealed that I am carrying a healthy little girl. I've known for several years that when I had a daughter, her name would be Alice. Alice in Wonderland is dear to my heart, as I once spent four months playing Alice on tour. The character Alice appeals to me because she is ladylike, courageous, bright, and occasionally rather sassy. She is the quintessential girl. The name Alice is an old Germanic name which means "noble." Our daughter will share her name with everyone from ancient queens to Dilbert's wild-haired colleague.

We are still considering middle names for her, although Clementine appears to be the winner. Her daddy came up with that one this weekend, and we think it is totally charming. Clementine is of Latin and French origin and means "merciful." To boot, apparently absolutely no one is named Clementine these days, which is a big bonus in our eyes. If naming is any indication, this child is going to have plenty of personality...how could she avoid it?

I was a little surprised to learn that we were having a girl, because I had been convinced for weeks she was a boy. Evidently I have zero skill in reading 10-week ultrasounds and should not pursue a career in genetics. It took me a couple of days to get used to the idea. But now I have embraced it wholeheartedly! I am eager to start painting her room and getting it all gussied up for her. In the first few weeks of pregnancy, I made her a sock monkey, which I dolled up this weekend. Here's a picture of the fantastic results:

This summer, my universe has revolved around my growing belly. I am 15 weeks pregnant with my first child, and the wonders and mysteries of childbearing have enveloped my body. I am now enjoying a healthy and comfortable second trimester, but for the first three months, my belly was constantly communicating to me with bewildering sensations. When I was small, I thought pregnant women were like flowers: fresh, pretty, delicate creatures who might occasionally have a fainting spell but would never experience gas, nausea or gut-wrenching Dino Hiccups.

For a few months, I felt like a teenage boy. Not only did I have the uncontrollable urge to curl up on any flat surface and fall asleep, I could also eat half a pizza. What’s more, I had to eat every two hours. If I didn’t eat promptly after the signal was given, I became sick. Sometimes I was given this signal on very short notice and in very awkward locations. My baby doesn’t understand words like “wait” and “Please don’t hurl in the middle of the Publix produce section.” Pregnancy can be embarrassing: After having some blood drawn during my first prenatal visit (after assuring the nurse that I was most definitely not a fainter) I broke into a cold sweat from head to toe, blacked out, and threw up.

My voracious appetite vanished along with my morning sickness, now I’m back to normal. I haven’t had overwhelming cravings, although lately I have eaten a lot of Raisin Nut Bran, Granny Smith apples, chips and salsa, and ice cream. (Not at the same time...ew!) When I first discovered I was pregnant, I ate a pickle every day, but that was mostly just for fun.

My belly is now beginning to round out, and I am finally beginning to wear maternity clothes. My mom and sister-in-law Beth outfitted me in a huge array of maternity fashions. It’s fantastic…I have half a closet full of wonderful maternity clothes, and I’ve hardly had to buy anything. Thanks, Mom and Beth!

We get to have a complete anatomy survey ultrasound for the baby on August 20th. That’s the day we will try to find out the baby’s gender! Meanwhile, check out the amazing 10-week ultrasound picture on the Photos page.