Two Doctors' Visits in One Week

Our monthly visit to the doctor was last Monday. Everything checked out great - my blood pressure is low; no protein in the urine; the doctor said my uterus is measuring where it should be, with the top at my belly button; and the baby's heart rate was 140. When the doctor told me the top of the uterus was at my belly button, I wondered what all the stuff is making my belly pop out above the belly button!
So, after my wonderful check up on Monday, I started feeling some strange things on Tuesday night. At first, it felt like the baby was pressing its head really hard against the bottom of my belly. Then, the more I felt it, I realized it was a little too big to be the head at this point. So, by Wednesday I started thinking, "Is this what a contraction feels like? Maybe it is Braxton Hicks?!?" On Thursday, I decided to ask some of my friends at school who were pregnant recently if they had Braxton Hicks and what they felt like. They convinced me I should call the doctor, so I did. At this point, I was pretty calm about the whole thing, but when I talked to the nurse, she said I needed to come in right away. So, of course, I started panicking and imagining all sorts of awful things. But, when I got there, Dr. Demosthenes checked me out and said everything is fine. She confirmed that they were Braxton Hicks contractions and nothing to worry about unless they start hurting or coming regularly. So, the panic subsided! I had a few more on Friday, but haven't felt any in a few days. I have been feeling the baby more and more, though. He or she is moving around like crazy now!

Santa Vaca!!! I felt the baby. It felt like a Hong Kong Phooey chop.

Kicking!

Last night, I felt the first "big kick"! Bill and I had just gone to bed, and I was lying on my back. I just happened to have my hand on my stomach, and I felt this big kick from the inside. Then I realized that I had actually felt it on the outside as well! We sat there for another 10 minutes or so, with Bill's hand on my belly, hoping it would happen again, but no such luck. There were a few more movements, but nothing that strong that could be felt from the outside. It was such a cool feeling, and I cannot wait for Bill to be able to share that, too!

We're over half way!

Well, I am officially 22 weeks pregnant now, which is amazing to think about. Time seems to be flying by. No matter how you count it, we are over the half-way mark! That is very exciting for us, but also a little nerve-wracking, because we still have so much to do! Thanks to my dad, the nursery was painted this past weekend, and I think the yellow is going to look great with the bedding and the artwork! Now we need to get the crib in there and make sure we have all of the pieces to put it together. We have several hurdles that we need to start working on soon: registering, getting a car big enough for baby and all the accompanying "stuff", finding a pediatrician...

I guess the exciting news is that I am feeling some movement from the baby now. It is still just the "flutters" with no real discernable "kicks" yet. It is so cool to feel that wave of motion through my belly, and I am looking forward to when Bill will be able to feel it, too. Although, I hear that might be a bad thing, with the baby keeping me up at night and so on! As you can see from the picture, I am still growing (and fast)! This picture was taken last week, at the 21 week mark.