Moving and Grooving

We've got a mover and shaker on our hands! For the past week or so, our Baby Stop has been dancing, playing quarterback or doing some variety of high kicks in my belly. Last night we actually saw his/her antics from the outside. If I laid still, you could see my belly vibrate back and forth with each movement. Creepy but so neat! Then this morning (Baby is definitely more active in the morning), while I was working, I would look down and see movement again. I think I better lay off the sugar!

We saw the doctor today for our 24 week appointment and all is well. She said the ultrasound looked great and Baby's heart rate is a strong 138 bpm. I am measuring one week ahead of my scheduled due date (April 22) but she said that may all even itself out (babies grow at different rates and Baby Stop was measuring right on at the ultrasound).

I am feeling great and really starting to grow (photo coming next week to be an official 6 months - time flies when you're having fun!). This pregnancy has really been a breeze and I feel very fortunate to feel so good all the time. We have been very busy with family in town but after New Year's things should settle down and I can get back into a work out and healthy eating routine. Christmas was hard on the baby diet and I think I said too many times to myself - "ah, I'm pregnant, I can eat that too!"

Our First View

We saw our baby for the first time this week - what an experience! He/She was tossing and turning a lot - it was a surprise to me that I wasn't feeling more of the kicks. It was funny because he/she was trying to get his/her thumb in her mouth and found success after a few minutes. They took photos of each part of Baby Stop's body and even turned the monitor briefly so the gender could be kept a surprise. After about 45 minutes, we got some great photos to share with our family and friends.

I think this makes it all the more real for both Pete and me. There is a living, breathing human being inside me - completely dependent on me. And, for the most part, it's pretty developed, with bones, organs and everything in the right place. It's quite an eye-opener! Pete did say to me while at dinner with the Snyder family that since we became pregnant, "kids seem all the more cuter"! Ha! We will hope our little Baby Stop is cooperative and calm!!