Quickening

There is nothing quite like the awareness you gain when you feel your baby move for the first time. There are so many emotions that tumble through you one on top of the other: amazement, relief, joy, security, happiness. Thankfully, our little jelly bean has made his/her presence known big time over the last handful of days.

Last week, I wasn't really sure if I was finally feeling the baby or whether it was just indigestion. Kind of gross, I know, but the nudges are so faint initially that it's easy to dismiss them as regular tummy things. Then, earlier this week, it was unmistakable. While some people describe the sensation as bubbles rising up or popcorn popping, to me, it feels like a goldfish is swimming around in my belly. I picture the baby stretching and flexing and moving with dream-like grace in his or her warm home. I smile knowing that for just this moment, everything is okay. After 4 months of blind faith that everything is fine, it's calming for such solid reaffirmation.

My next appointment is in just under 3 weeks and we'll get to see the jelly bean on an ultrasound. If I can convince my husband that we need to know whether the bean is a boy or a girl, we'll also learn the sex (if the baby cooperates, of course).