That's one wiggly Baby!

Until last night, I have only felt Baby move a few sporadic times. These were generally followed by me freezing in place with a look of, "Wait, what was that?" on my face. This freeze-and-stare often needed to be explained to co-workers and the occasional grocery store clerk.

Last night was different. I lay partially on my side and my tummy (although there is really no distinguishing area anymore for either anymore!), and felt Baby move. I nearly held my breath trying to lay still enough to feel it again. Soon, I felt a "flick flick flick" nearly in succession. It was amazing. It was like Baby was communicating with me in some way. It wasn't long before I felt Baby move again, and I was overcome with a feeling of pride and gratitude and... just plain happiness. Soon, I was somewhere between tears and laughter.

It's such an incredible feeling. I was so excited, it was hard to fall asleep. Luckily, Baby kept me entertained for quite a while longer. ♥

Almost 18 weeks!

It's been a while since I've posted any belly pictures for you all, so I had Jason take a few last night. Lilly decided she should be part of the family moment, so she came and sat down right in front of me and looked at the camera. It was pretty funny.

I had a check-up yesterday and got to hear Baby's heartbeat again. Everything is going very well, and the heartbeat was very strong. My Midwife is guessing that it's a girl. Jason swears we're having a boy. One thing is for sure, we'll know in just a few weeks! We were able to get the ultrasound appointment on our anniversary, June 14th. I can't think of a better present to each other. We still haven't decided for sure whether or not we should make Baby's gender public... but I'm open to pros and cons if you have any advice!

In the mean time, I'm still trying to decipher Baby's movements from all of the other strange things my body has been doing lately! I have felt the flutters of Baby's first movements, but it hasn't yet been on a regular basis. It has only been distinguishable when I'm very still and relaxed... which is a great excuse to nap on the couch. :)

Our Family

It always bothered me a little when Jason and I first married and were considered a "couple" and not yet a "family". It seemed terribly unfair. Hadn't we been a couple for years? A family, to me, implies a strength and love and togetherness that can't be found anywhere else. While a couple has those same characteristics, it always has an air of expiration. Oh, they were a couple, but they've broken up. You don't really hear of families breaking up. They may have problems, but they're forever: Family.

I look around at our home, at our pets, at our life together and I know that, while Baby will certainly make us more than we are in so many ways, he or she already has a family in us.

And so, last week, for Jason's birthday, we took our family down to San Diego to a dog beach. Lilly and JJ had so much fun, it made me feel guilty that we aren't able to get away more often. It's tough to work nights and weekends when that's the only time Jason has off. I look forward to having dinner together and weekends free to get away and explore some when Baby comes. I feel blessed to even have the option of quitting work. It makes me a little sad to think of all of the Mommies (and Daddies) who would like to stay home with their children but are unable to do so.

I'm learning that we're pretty blessed in a lot of ways to have the (growing!) family that we have.

Scheduling Ultrasound

Jason says I should post a new blog, but to tell you the truth, I don't feel like much has happened in the baby-making way. I suppose there was one exciting event: when I read about Week 16 (starting Saturday!) it was the first time Baby's size wasn't compared to fruit. Baby has apparently grown from a grape to a kumquat to a kiwi to a lemon and is now... a gerbil.

In any case I can't wait for Baby, whatever size he (or she) is, to start moving enough for me to notice! This "quickening" or moving of Baby should be felt between 16 to 22 weeks. You'll be the first to know when it happens... unless I'm in a public place, then everyone within a 1/4 mile radius will be the first to know.

Our next appointment is Wednesday the 26th. We will be arranging for our ultrasound at this appointment so we can see Baby again and find out if we should be looking for pink or blue. Jason and I decided we'd like to try to schedule the ultrasound on June 14th, our anniversary. I thought it would make for a great present ♥

Baby's Heartbeat

Okay, so here I got you all excited that you might be able to see a video of our last visit when we heard Baby's heartbeat. Well, we've let you down. We didn't tape it. The battery to our video camera was not charged and we weren't able to get it going in time. Baby, however, is doing well! The rhythmic "whooshing" of the heartbeat was wonderful to hear, although Jason and I are both waiting to be able to see Baby again through the ultrasound. Particularly considering that last we checked, Baby was a kidney bean. In the next 3-4 weeks, we will be scheduling the appointment to find out if Baby is a boy or a girl! From the poll on the blog (right side of the screen) you all seem to be leaning toward Baby being a boy.

I hadn't realized that it had been a while since I last updated the blog. It seems that days are flying by at the moment! What a blessing. Every day is a day closer to Baby. The only problem is that I fear the days will continue to fly even after Baby arrives. I have to pace myself by thinking of the next closest milestone: See baby in ultrasound, feel Baby move, buy something for Baby, have Jason feel Baby move, prepare nursery, take birthing classes...

I know, it will all happen before I know it, but still, this waiting can be tough. In the mean time, I'm watching the progress in my waistline. I have gained only five pounds so far, but my belly is certainly looking more like Baby than Big-Lunch. I've been waiting for a stranger somewhere to ask me when I'm due. Of course, perhaps they would have time to ask if I weren't already announcing it to the room. "Can I get extra pickles on that? It's because I'm pregnant."