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Hannah is pregnant! We've known for 5 weeks. "Bean" is our name for our baby until we know its sex. It is the working title, so to speak. Oh gosh, our Bean!

Today was our first appointment. We met with two Nurse-Midwives at St. Elizabeth Hospital, in the Wicker Park neighborhood of Chicago. It is about a 10 minute drive, by city streets, from our house (that is, when there is no traffic). It was great.

And yes, pregnant! This is real! I am so happy and thrilled beyond belief. Talk about new life changes, and new clothes - this is a new wardrobe from a store I didn't even know about! This is going to be a ride. And it has only just begun.

I might as well just pass on to you all Hannah's update. She sent it via email today to our family and friends around the country. I'll just get out of the way and give the account straight from her voice.

Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2005 16:12:54 -0800 (PST)
From: Hannah Dallman
Subject: News of the Bean

HELLO!

I know many of you have been eagerly anticipating news of our first prenatal visit.

Matt, the Bean & I saw the midwife this morning. We got a clean bill of health and all seems well. Of course, no results from the labwork, yet, but there was no reason to think things would be other than hunky-dory.

I'm about 15 weeks along, and my due date is set at July 13 right now.

The most amazing thing was hearing Bean's heartbeat! So exciting, and really made this REAL--the pregnancy is no longer such an abstract concept. It really blew both of us away and we both got teary-eyed.

We actually saw two midwives. One was younger; her name was Elise and she was a nurse-midwife in training. Martha is the experienced midwife. We liked them both very much, and Matt commmented that that might be because they had a 'Twin Cities' earthy vibe to them. They were so compassionate and warm and knowledgeable. And they told me to get going on gaining weight! So, goodbye slender figure!

Oh, and Martha was wearing all black...in mourning because of the inauguration! Too funny.

My next appointment is set for February 17. I'll get an ultrasound, and we'll get a tour of the birthing rooms at St. Elizabeth's.

For those of you who've sent me email the past couple of days, I'm sorry if I've been slow in getting back to you. My semester is wrapping up, and I've been crazy busy trying to get everything all squared away. You'll hear from me soon, I promise!

Love,
Hannah

So later this year, God willing, I'll be a Daddy. Holy crap. And get ready - I think I'll have a couple things to talk about over the next seven months, and forever beyond that. Spirit has moved. A heartbeat appeared from, where? And where did it learn that robust rhythm?