A letter to Baby

Dear Little Alien,

While I really love feeling you wiggle and squirm around, when it's not yet light out, could you possibly confine the movements to more of a slow waltz rather than the Jitterbug? Mommy would really appreciate it. You'll have my full attention soon enough, Baby. A little extra sleep right now would do Mommy a world of good. Save it for when Daddy can enjoy it too.

See you soon!

Love,
Your mommy-to-be

Week 25: Entering the homestretch

I visited by doctor this morning, and everything with my pregnancy is right on track. I've gained a decent amount of weight, but not too much (despite the overload of cookies and junk during the holidays) and the growth of my belly is where it should be.

We listened to Baby's heart beat, and the doctor told the S.O. if he wants to feel Baby move around more he can push on my tummy to get him to push back. Baby is moving around a lot, just not when the S.O. tries to feel it. He'll be kicking up a storm in there, but as soon as I call the S.O. over to feel, everything goes quiet. It's kind of cute.

My e-mail newsletter from Fit Pregnancy is comparing my wee one to a bag of sugar (again?), also telling me that my baby "has a regular sleep schedule now and active and inactive periods. You may or may not be able to discern what those periods are."

I can tell you he moves around a lot right before I go to sleep and right when I get up in the morning. He seems to get really active if I'm hungry, as well. Imagine your stomach is growling and someone keeps kicking it. It's awesome.

Actually, it is pretty awesome to feel that movement and quite strange to know that in just a few short months my little alien is going to be a whole other person.

Fit Pregnancy goes on to say:

"While reaching the third trimester feels like great progress, with it comes a return to fatigue, dizziness, and constant trips to the bathroom."

A "return to" ... right. As if any of that ever went away.

My next doctor appointment will include my glucose screen,  and I'll receive a Rhogam shot because I have a negative blood type. That doctor appointment will also be my last four-week appointment. After that, I will go to every two weeks, and before you know it, I'll be writing about an actual baby boy kicking and crying and needing changed instead of the little alien kicking me to pieces from the inside.

Week 23: Sugar sugar

 How sweet. This week, Fit Pregnancy tells me my unborn baby can be compared to a bag of sugar.  

"Weighing in at a pound, and at eight inches long, your baby is starting to really look like a baby! You can compare her size to a box of sugar or a bag of coffee beans."

It also tells me:

"You'll notice now that what began as gentle wiggling will become poking and even sharp kicking."

That's for sure. Little Junior has been doing calisthenics lately, testing out his little arms and legs, and I'm pretty he's been doing somersaults or back flips, as well. He seems to really get active just as I'm trying to go to sleep. I have taken to telling him to just calm the heck down in there.

To be perfectly honest, it's sometimes a bit disconcerting to feel something moving around inside my belly. I can't help but have visions of John Hurt.