February 9, 2009: 19 Weeks, 2 Milestones

I'm almost halfway there!  In the past couple of weeks I've experienced two exciting milestones. The first one being that a stranger noticed that I was pregnant!  Finally, it looks more like a baby belly and less like I ate too much ice cream.

The second milestone was far more significant and exhilarating.  I felt Rookie move!  For the past couple of weeks I've felt little "bubbles" or "flutters" as they're often called, but I couldn't be sure that I was actually feeling the baby and not my digesting lunch.  About a week ago, it happened. I was on the couch after a long, busy day and I felt an unmistakable "tumble" below my belly button.  It felt just like my doctor had described:  like someone was flicking me from the inside.  I was in love.

Over the past week I've felt all kinds of gymnastics going on in there, including the "roller coaster" feeling in your stomach that I'd heard about.  It happens mostly in the late afternoon when I finally sit down for what feels like the first time after a day of teaching, or at night when I'm lying on the couch.  Ted can't feel anything yet, and likely won't for a few more weeks, but even he knows when it happens, as the biggest grin spreads across my face mid-conversation.  It is the best feeling in the world!