How do you explain feeling the flutter of your first child for the first time? I've been putting off posting another entry to find the words to do just that. I've come to decide there are none. So instead I'll just tell the story....
For the past couple of weeks Michelle has sworn she can feel Maddison outside as well as within. She actually claims to be seeing her move as well. I believe her, but I don't have the added benefit of feeling inside for so long now, so I can't feel or see anything. So, we're sitting on the couch at night and Michelle tells me that Maddison is moving, so put my hand on her belly. I do......and I wait a few minutes. Nothing. Michelle chuckles that she hasn't moved since I put my hand there. So I wait a little longer....10 minutes....20 minutes....hand falling asleep now from shoulder being cocked at a weird angle. Nothing. Take hand off....she kicks. So our child is being mischevious and difficult. Go figure.
So, we go through about four nights of this. I feel nothing except the pins and needles of my hand waking back up. It's not that she's moving and I can't feel it, because Michelle tells me that Maddison isn't moving while my hand is there. I knew this kind of stuff was coming, but sheesh, already? ;-) Then one night, Michelle tells me that Maddison is moving like crazy.....
I put my hand on her belly and go back to watching Big Bang Theory, because I figure it's going to be like the previous....whoa, did you feel that? Forget BBT, that was cool! Do it again! And she did. Several times that night, and the next, and the next. Michelle said that I didn't have too much to say about it. I asked her "didn't the smile on my face tell the story?" Now, it's become a little family ritual that for a few minutes every night while watching TV before bed we'll take a few minutes to feel her move and talk to her a bit. They say do this while you can, because she'll stop moving so much as she takes up more and more space. But, for now, I look forward to those few minutes every night. I plan to pick up a couple books this week and mix reading to her in at this time. At the very least she'll pick up on my voice....
Now for a little update on Michelle. The last appointment went well. Blood pressure is fine, pulse is fine, Maddison's heart rate is fine and she's growing appropriately. Michelle had her 28 week glucose test and other various bloodwork done today. We'll know more in a few days, but she feels fine so we don't expect anything to cause alarm.
Many of you have requested pictures of Michelle, so I've put a couple in the baby pics space of my personal website. I've found that it's easier to organize and display them there. Plus they get resized automatically there too. I've also put up a couple of pics of the diaper cake that our friends Kinsey and Josh made (ok, I think Kinsey actually made it, but Josh packed it up for the trip...) brought up with them for a visit a couple of weeks back. We just thought it was so cute that we wanted to share. See them all here:
http://www.personal.psu.edu/iyh3/baby/Enjoy!
