The First Two Weeks

Henry James at two weeks old

The first two weeks of motherhood were rough. Whatever expectations I had were oh so very wrong.
I didn't think breastfeeding would be difficult, first off. I mean, I have gigantic hooters. I was made for this! Henry didn't have a good latch, he had a downright awful latch. He actually lost too much weight, losing a pound from birth to his fourth day outside the belly. I was ill prepared for the atomic bomb siren that is my son's cry.

The biggest unexpected side affect was just how much I love my husband. Truly, I had no idea just how much having a baby would instantly magnify one thousand time the capacity I have of loving him. I knew that I would be overwhelmed with love and caring for this little new life, but was caught completely unawares by the new affection for the one who helped create him. When I looked at Henry in those first moments and hours, I could only think of Shawn. It is not his fathering that has brought this entirely new level of wholehearted loving, it is simply becoming a mother that has done it.

Whatever hurdles we jumped those first weeks of parenthood, we were greeted by constant and unconditional tenderness by not only us, but by each other.

A Babe is Born

 I scooted out of triage with my IV drip and my butt firmly planted in a wheelchair at 4am. My contractions were making me double over and I was dilated three centimeters. The birthing room where I would deliver my baby was a place of serenity with its flat screen and wood floors. The husband was digging the comfy couch by the window. I was happily anticipating that nectar of the gods, King Epidural.

I met Dr. Price who ordered the anesthesiologist and a dose of Pitocin. "Are you ready to have a baby today?" Yes, sir, I was ready to have a baby.

At 10am Dr. Price returned to examine me. He took one look and said we would have a baby by the afternoon. Shawn's face beamed. His boy is coming! The the shizz got real. Dr. Price felt my gigantic belly. "Hmmm..." he hummed. Then he did an internal exam. "This baby has a soft head," he said... out loud.. to a panicking me. What?! WHAT?!?! "How long has he been breech?" What?! I had an appointment on Monday...this was Wednesday. I think I would feel if this giant baby flipped upside down. To be sure he pulled a portable ultrasound machine into the room. Four minutes later I was looking at my baby's head by my tailbone.

Emergency c-section. I have never had surgery before aside from getting my wisdom teeth pulled. I have never had my organs removed from my body and placed back all willy-nilly. I was terrified of the dreaded episiotomy. Dr. Price called Dr Chasedunn-Roarke who saw me on Monday and she was shocked, but told him that at least I wouldn't have the episiotomy like I was worried about. No, now I was going to be opened up on a table in a cold and sterile operating room rather than this hotel suite I was crying in. I was seven centimeters dilated and progressing fast. 14 minutes later I was being prepped for surgery, getting dosed with even more epidural and Shawn was putting on his scrubs.

At 10:33am on Wednesday, January 11, 2012, our baby boy came into the world with the loudest cry I have ever heard. Shawn looked into my eyes and we both teared up. The nurse showed Henry to us and asked Shawn if he would like to hold him. I wanted to jump up too and hug that screaming and wriggling body. Obviously, I couldn't feel anything below my shoulders, so Shawn held our sweet baby and brought him over to me to kiss and snuggle. By this time, Henry's baby blue were wide open as he took in the scene. By 10:50am I was sewn back together, intestines in their rightful place, and was being wheeled into the closet sized recovery room where we would spend the first three hours of our lives as a family of three.

How I Knew It was Labor

Somethings just cannot be explained, they must be lived to be remotely understood. Birth is certainly one of them. I have conquered one of my biggest fears... having a baby. This is how I did it:

On a cold and foggy night...

At exactly 12:59am on Wednesday, January 11, 2012 I woke up with a start. I sat bolt upright, "I think my water broke," I said out loud. Shawn teleported to my side of the bed (seriously, I am sure he broke the sound barrier with how fast he ran around our king-size) saying "What?! What?! Are you sure?! What do we do?!"

"I could have just peed myself," I cautioned. I have snizzed my pantalones on more than one occasion throughout the past 39 weeks. Not pretty, not fun, and (dreadfully) not unusual. "Gross! I did it again!"With another whoosh underway, I just looked up at Shawn's beaming face, then decided to mosey on over to the bathroom. A moment later there was yet another whoosh of water into le toilet. As I suspected I would, I started to voice my doubts. Phrases like "extremely incontinent," "never actually going to come," "only 8% of women's water breaks, I am the 92%" and "not ready not ready not ready" spilled forth from my mouth.

No smiling once the contractions begin

Then the contractions started. Oh my word, the contractions did a-start. "Crap. I think I really am in labor." was answered by Shawn with "I'm not even sorry. I'm so excited."

What to do when you have finally convinced yourself that you will be birthin' a baby:
1. Repack entire hospital bag
2. Make husband take a shower, despite his anxiety baby will be born in bathroom if he does
3. Put a maxi pad on since this faucet drip cannot be turned off once started
4. Unpack hospital bag after remembering need to brush hair and teeth
5. Squeeze into car and backseat drive as husband driver is blinded by pure adrenaline excitement and that deer on the side of the road looks like a jumper

Thank you, Husband Love, for allowing me to see what real pain looks like (also check out the drawer full of my contraction ticker-tape)

I also suggest once you are at hospital, remind your husband that he could have dropped you off at the doors rather than having you hoof it at 2am through a parking lot in the middle of January - do not voice frustration as you both trudge across parking lot in between contractions. Holy mother contractions! The lady that sees you pain and will not help you find triage is definitely the person who only cares if you have insurance, do not be mad at her when she tries to avoid eye contact and pretends not to see you, she knows not what she does. If she does, forget to date a paper so she can search all over the hospital for you until her shift ends at 7am.

Once I was firmly planted in triage and gussied up in my bum-exposing gown, the monitoring began. Contractions were one and a half to two minutes apart and freakin' awful. I would grit my teeth and clench the bed sheet and blankets so hard, my nails could have bored holes through the fabric.

How Henry came to be... to be continued..

False Start

I woke this morning with a bang! More like waves of nausea, cramps, actual barfing, and severe contractions, one right on top of the other. This was my first foray into labor, kids. It will not be a pretty thing when the real deal comes down, let me tell you.

After about an hour of pain and my sweet Hubster stroking my forehead (with arguably the happiest, most excited grin on his face), I was finally able to relax and my stomach stopped tensing and the nausea subsided, I napped.

That is what I get for telling everyone that I would not be in the hospital on Christmas. The day after Christmas? We are waiting to see if the morning's excitement leads to any real happenings.

A Room With a View

of the Neighbor's house (so we keep the curtains closed).

Henry's dream land/paradise/haven/special place is coming right along. His crib is put together (thank Family G for gifting us his sleeping space and mattress), complete with "safe" bedding - a breathable bumper with sheet that attaches to the entire perimeter eliminating gaps - no pillow and no blanket and no toys and basically no fun and no suffocation. He does have a sleep sheep (Thank you Aunt Susan and Uncle Bob) attached to one end and a mirrored pulley flippy play toy attached to the other.

The glider has been broken in as I have read several novels that in no way prepare me for parenting and half of a book on how to get babies to sleep when they are doing a four-alarm scream session at 3am. I bought the incredible owl pillow from a seller on Etsy.com.

The curtains are hung. They are Eclipse Curtains in a super bright lime green that when closed during the daytime make our flat white walls look like a light cucumber shade - bonus! Purchased from Wal-Mart on sale for $25.00 for both.

The dresser/changing station (a shower gift from my beloved Grandma Mary) is stocked with diapers and wipes and about 300 onesies and tiny little outfits (from so many friends and family). The hutch was built on Friday with his Little Golden Book Collection (courtesy of my darling little golden sister), my first bible (from my parents on my baptism), his first prayer book (from Grandma Mary complete with a letter to Henry that had me crying for about an hour) and the beginnings of his extensive library from my friends and family).

His toy chest is stuffed with plenty of stuffed animals, baby puzzles, stroller/car seat toys, and blocks both rubber and wood. I actually had this chest since my freshman year of college. It has stored everything from linens, sweaters, guest blankets, holiday decorations and has acted as a coffee table on more than one occasion.

All we need is a bright orange rug and plenty of wall hangings, which I plan on crafting up soon. The adorable gator wall organizer that brings a gator-like grin to my face is a present from our besties, Lindsey and Adam in Houston.

Getting Ready for Baby - The List

35 Weeks at 9pm

Yikes! I am going to be a mother - not a babysitter, an aunt, a cousin, a friend, a teacher, a real mommy with very real responsibilities. With a measly five weeks before my due date, I have decided to really buckle down and get a few necessities complete. I was born six weeks premature, and if Henry likes to be early like I do... it is best to be prepared.

1. Get a pediatrician. Easiest thing on the list. Called the dr. who told me that when we are at the hospital and are asked, "who is your pediatrician?" answer with their name. Done! Our baby doctors group does rounds at our hospital.
2. Install car seat. All you preggos out there driving coupes, my heart goes out to you. I was stuck in my teeny backseat wedged behind the drivers seat for ten minutes with no one to rescue me. The garage was closed and it was raining causing raging hormones to overheat and my overhead light turned off. So there I was - stuck in a sweaty frizzy car-cave. Helpful Hubby noticed I was gone for awhile and eventually laughed his hiney off saved me.
3. Get car seat installation inspected. I implicitly trust that paramedic certified in car seat installation inspected my hard work believes I am crazy, but did a good job.
4. Flu shot. Ugh, but it protects me and baby. Talked with OB who said not only will it protect me from another plague attack and the antibodies I make will be passed on to Super Baby.
5. Wash baby's clothes. We have about 300 pounds of very tiny clothes to wash - I really dislike doing laundry, but I hear I will be chained to the washer when baby comes. Might as well get used to it.
6. Register for Daycare. This is going to be so hard for me. I cried when I pulled into the parking lot, but pulled it together before I walked in the building. Put the check into daycare just five minutes away from work, so I can drop in constantly at lunch to steal feed him.
7. Pack hospital overnight bag. That will stay unused and then repacked 50 times before we actually do use it, or more likely forget it at home instead of bring to hospital.
8. Stock up the diaper bag. I truly have no idea if I really need three pacifiers, a swaddler, two burp rags, four newborn diapers, a pack of wipes, two onesies, a hat, a pair of mittens and a pair of socks that look like Adidas shoes... but I have them all crammed in there. I will do a diaper bag post soon and then perhaps a follow-up to prove how wrong I was after the baby is born.
9. Apply for Maternity Leave and discuss Insurance. Hubster is allowed for more paternity leave than me! But he is only taking two weeks to keep an eye on his projects, while lil mama will be taking all six. As soon as he is born, Henry James will be on Daddy's insurance. Check and check!
10.  Be patient! This is going to take a lot of work. I can pretend to be patient and perhaps trick myself in to waiting peacefully for Baby Henry to make his move. Also must learn to accept that I do not have control of when he comes. Aggggh!

Thanksgiving Baby Shower

I am truly, truly blessed! Not only did my family drive 13 hours (my sister and her boyfriend drove 16 hours from Providence, RI) form New Jersey and New York. One of my bestest and most favorite friends in the whole wide world, Heather, flew in from Arizona. All to throw me a baby shower in South Carolina over Thanksgiving weekend.

I spilled the waterworks when everyone left and didn't quite recover for a couple days after they had left. During the weekend, though, it was all smiles. The room looked spectacular! The theme was children's books. Heather and my sister know me so well! I want to grow a massive library for Baby Henry! Little Golden Books, yellow roses, book page garland and beautiful cookies, cake and cupcakes, covered the table. We played a couple games including Name that Baby Tune, which was won by Elise's boyfriend, Matthew and Guess the Baby Food (I was dying inside as I recalled Shawn's previous gag-inducing run in with baby food). The turkey and gravy was a particular favorite amongst us players. Blech!

Opening presents from my friends and family who couldn't be at the shower brought tears to my eyes. I miss them all so much and may have hugged a couple gifts as if they were with me in person. Pregnancy brain has made me over-sentimental and over-weepy. If any of you are reading this... Thank you! I love you all so much!

Pregnant with the Plague

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I am 34 weeks pregnant. I also am coming out the other side of a particularly nasty cold. What the heck body?! You made it almost to the end of Henry's time baking in the oven. When other people have been falling all over themselves with various illnesses, you have maintained a level of immunity I have never before enjoyed! You led me to believe that Henry gives me super powers against germs. What gives?!?

Having a cold when I have a five pound person inside my belly, is an interesting experience. When I cough, he punches as if to say "quiet out there!" I am able to take plain Robitussin. This is no good as it makes me cough more. I sleep sitting up, which pains the old back, if I sleep at all. Since I can't take any meds, I wake poor Hubby up frequently. I wheeze, I sneeze and I hack. But at least I am feeling better now!

Third Trimester - Best Dr's Appt Ever

Went in for an Ultrasound to check Henry's growth this week (I got an extra ultrasound - boo yah). Why did I get blessed with an extra peek into my womb (side note: that word makes me shudder for some reason)? There was a little complication called a Two Vessel Umbilical Cord that may inhibit his growth (a single vein and a single artery have to do the work of a normal cord with two arteries and a vein).

His photo shoot went very well, twisting and turning for the camera, flashing a little leg here and there. His heartbeat is 140 beats per minute, his growth is a perfect 50%, his feet are still big, and his profile is still Gerber baby gorgeous. His cord, however, seems to have sprouted another artery! A Halloween time miracle, I tell you! The SUA is only a minor complication as it tends to require an earlier delivery and smaller babies, but we certainly wiped this complication out of there.

These are behind the roundhouse kicks I feel all day long

In other news, my blood pressure is down, my hemoglobin is up, weight gain is nil (a personal hallelujah - even though Dr. Walvoord says I shouldn't worry even if I gain 50 pounds - at which word I almost passed out and prayed that would not be the case for me), and I passed my Glucose Test with flying colors. My finger still hurts from the hemoglobin finger-prick test, but I'll take it.

okay this one looks a little Halloweeny - Henry has good bones :)

Hooray for a good day! Tonight we're celebrating by chowing down on Caramel Apples with Reese's Pieces. No diabetes? Bring on the Sugar!

Glucose Test - Take 2!

27 Weeks... Bun in The Oven while Baking in My Apron

 
I am shaking in my sugar coated boots! Just kidding. I really don't think I have Gestational Diabetes. My doctor agrees with me, too. Only a lab technician can tell, though. On Wednesday I had my three-hour Glucose Test  There was no way I was looking forward to the test. Three hours! After fasting for over 12 hours! I packed up my latest library book, a gigantic water bottle, and a tummy full of patience.

It was my lucky day! There were only two doctors in the office, so a few rooms were open and one had my name on it! Sweet! I had privacy to read my not-very-engaging book, browse two Good Housekeeping magazines and rest on top of one of the exam bed/table/things. I left the stirrups down, thank you very much, as I cozied up under two cotton hospital gowns to keep warm.

Here is what to expect if you find yourself having to take this test, too.

• No eating past midnight the night before your test (the last thing I ate was dinner at 7pm).
• Drink plenty of water to keep your veins popping - you don't want to be stuck more than necessary.
• Bring reading or at least listening materials and a sense of good humor. Three hours doesn't go quick.
• The phlobotomist will prick your finger to test your sugar level and then take a vial of "fasting" blood. 
• You will then drink up the glucose drink that is TWICE as sweet as the one used for the screening test.
• You have five minutes to do this and Do not throw up, as if you could help it, or you'll have to do this all over again!
• An hour later you will be back in the chair for your second, an hour after for your third and then the last hour for your fourth vial.
• If you are a delicate flower, like me, you will have a bruised fingertip and sore elbow crooks. I am one tough mama and can handle it, I assure you. 

And then you wait for results. Oh the waiting! How un-sweet it is!

A Baby By Any Other Name...

... Wouldn't be mine.

We have decided on our baby boy's name! Okay, we have had his first name picked out for many months. In fact, we were so overjoyed to discover that he is, in fact, a he because we couldn't come up with a girl's name that sent us over the moon like this one did.

May we introduce you to Henry set to make his grand debut this January.

I may have the Dia-Bee-Tus

 
Son of a sugar coated buttery dream biscuit! I failed the glucose screening test and must go back to the doctor's office for the Three Hour Starve and Stick Marathon that is the Glucose Tolerance Test. I feel bad not only for myself, but also for everyone around me. I will not be able to eat or drink anything other than sips of water until 11:30am next Wednesday. If you are not aware, I get a little "cranky" when I am hungry. I shamefully turn in to the Incredible Hulking Preggo, "Mommy angry! Feed Mommy now!"

I probably should have skipped the Blue Bunny Vanilla and Strawberry Ice Cream the night before the Screening.

Having gotten this fine news all I could think about was cheeseburgers and crinkle cut french fries for the rest of the day. Lord help me, my brain and my blood sugar are conspiring to kill me.

Double Charlie Horse and a Split Rib

It seems that almost every morning I wake up with pretty awesome pains in both my calves. They are super sore as if I have did a serious session of sleep-exercising (any AbFab fans out there? yes? no?). It appears I have been getting major cramps when I sleep in both legs. This makes my 3am potty breaks a practice in wobble walking when trying to navigate around my very pointy, very hard furniture with my eyes closed.

Remy's having no pains at all, but he feels bad for Mommy

For the past month I have had a pain in my right back ribs. Usually it is a constant, dull ache. I liken it to someone pulling my ribs apart. I no liken it at all.

What can a mama to be do to make these ouchies go bye-bye (practicing baby talk for Baby H's debut)? My doctor says to drink more water for my calves to quit cramping. If I drink any more water I will have to move my desk into the restroom; I already have to pee every time I stand up, I might as well just diaper myself. My Helpful Hubby suggested I do some impossible yoga stretches. My baby birthing books suggest sleeping on my side may be to blame, but I should ONLY sleep on my side as laying on one's back is absolutely forbidden. Mommies on blogs say, "Suck it up, you can't do anything about it." Okay, so those are my words, not theirs.

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At least I can giggle when I think of Charlie Horse and instantly imagine the sock puppet from "Lamb Chop's Play-Along"

Testing, Testing 1-2-3

25 Weeks and the belly is bulging. Happy Hubby and I are betting whether my turkey timer will pop. I think it might, he thinks there is no way since I have the worlds most innie belly button.

In other news, tomorrow morning I go to the doctors for the dreaded Blood Glucose Test. The is the only part of pregnancy I have heard ZERO positive things about. The nasty orange drink, the waiting around, the oh no oh crap I might have to come back for a three hour test anxiety, all are comments I have heard.

There are some many facets of pregnancy that I hear so many blends of love and loathe. This one little test is the only one that is universally found to be annoying. I giggle when I think that I might actually like the gluclose test since my sweet tooth has been ampliflied a thousand times just in the past week or so and I have a thing for orange soda and haven't had it in years. I may even ask for a to-go cup.

What do you think? Probably not?

Bump Bump

This past Saturday was the first day my Happy Husband felt his Baby Boy's kicking. My heart grew four times it's normal size and then melted into a puddle of love.

He has our hearts in his teeny tiny hands already.

Amazon Mom - Life and Money Saver

As I sit here pondering the changes forthcoming in my life I imagine all the hoots I will have. I envision how funny it will be the first time Hubs has to change a 3am diaper, the cackling hysteria the first time Baby H surprises him with his own private water show, the toots, the giggles, the blow outs. Then I envision the inevitable day that we have run out of diapers at that special 3am changing. Dish towel? Paper towels? Knapkins? The receiving blanket? Just lay him in the bath tub and hose him down?

Shopping this past weekend in hat Megaopolis known as Costco, we must have looked rather obvioulsly overwhelmed by all the diaper options. We probably sat in that back corner of the warehouse giant discussing the liklihood that H will stay in newborn or size ones for some time and how many jumbo packs to purchase of each. Two moms stopped by and took pity on us, easing our furrowed brows.

{We purchsed two giant New Baby Starter Boxes from Huggies It has Newborns, Size Ones and a box of wipes. Done and I am starting to feel prepared for H's debut.}

The mom to five kids shed some light on a great deal though. She said she subscribes to Amazon Mom. They offer deep discounts on diapers and send you a month's supply  each...well... month... so those sleep deprived panics are averted.

It is free to sign up and Moms, Dads, Uncles, Aunts, Grandparent, whoever are all eligible. You get 30% off selected diapers and wipes, 15% off many other items in the Baby store,  free 2-day delivery with Amazon Prime, free returns, and emails and updates galore. We use Amazon a lot in our household. In fact, we used Amazon for a Baby Registry (plus  Buy Buy Baby for those who prefer in-store shopping). I take joy in having to only leave my house for food and fun rather than shopping chores. Sign me up... when Baby H is born; I'm not losing a single day of the three-month free 2-day shipping!

A Good Place

I'll be honest, folks. I struggled with the changes my body has experienced during pregnancy. Let me tell you there have definitely been ch-ch-ch-changes. All the while I think of how incredible it is that I am doing something miraculous (Look Ma, no hands!). I am creating life here! But in the back of my mind creeps that familiar old voice of pessimistic, self-doubt and ugliness. As a woman who has dieted on and off for the past however many years, it is no picnic seeing myself balloon (keeping this new incredible skin on the invite list, but that faint line on my belly and giant freakin' tatas are off the picnic RSVP list).

...Until you feel the little guy inside throwing 'bows and kickin' the nonsense out of you. Perspective comes back and a sense of  contentment and tender joy washes over; a calming wave brought on by the ninja inside. At 22 weeks gestation, Little H has already began to make me a better and more confident lady. Bless this baby! Just three months and 2 weeks until I can hold you, and not my tummy, in my arms.

19 Weeks and 20 Weeks - Behold A Bump

After a nine hour work day and a frenzy of cooking and laundry and panicked cleaning, Hubster took a photo of my lovely lady bump. I suspect it is one part steak and one part baby, actually. I hope getting Baby to pose for pictures will be easier than getting My Little Remy to cooperate. Sheesh! That dog has no attention span.

 

I have made it halfway through baking my lil cupcake! 20 weeks! Clearly I have not seen the sun in 20 years as made obvious by my radioactive white legs. I wear sunglasses to protect my eyes from the glare off my gams. Little baby has already made it to the beach, to a swamp, to the desert, to a bar (don't even get me started on the weird looks I got when I walked in), to Mexico, to the moon (there is a space shuttle replica in the museum). Oh, the wonders of what is in store for my little bean!

Making Decisions

Today was the day we built our registry. I know what you're thinking, "Registry wasn't built in a day! Impossible!" Au Contraire, mon amis. We spent a ridiculous FOUR HOURS at Buy Buy Baby Saturday afternoon. Holy cow! There is a lot of merchandise in that place! And everything is absolutely key in the survival and comfort of our sweet little baby.

Saturday felt like bye bye sanity

It started off lovely as most registry outings go, having just shared a caesar salad and pizza rustica at Brixx Wood Fired Pizza (a hungry couple is a cantankerous couple). We oohed and ahhed over the little layettes. We giggled and scanned a fuzzy footed onesie that looked like a polar bear (a particular favorite of Mommy). He even brought over the bottle drying rack that looks like grass that he knew I wanted. It was beautiful all the way through the bottles and pacifiers and even part way through the diapers and butt cream sections. We hit the cribs and bedding section and the fatigue set in. We were only halfway through!

Begging for a hug

He nearly passed out from sticker shock (rightly so, I think) of the adorable four piece bedding sets. "So, wait a minute," he says to me. "This [$380 set] doesn't include anything that is in this entire area? Its a $400 set of three foot sheets? Why?! How can they do this?!" Righteous indignation gives me heartburn and I had already performed hours of pre-registering research to protect myself from this discomfort. Husband was not so prepared, unfortunately.

Little One's Bedding

Because we can't paint our rental house, Little One's bedding and furniture will have to act as the statement of the room. I do not like "cutesy things" with characters all over them (I should probably just suck it up since I have another 18 years of "characters" of all shapes and sizes coming my way) and have a slight aversion to stuffed animals. We chose NotNeutral's Arbor Friends because the little owl on it was as cutesy as I was going to get and I love green. Fully fleshed out discussions were held over every item scanned (except for the lamp and rug I added whether he liked them or not- tee hee!).
 We also agreed on a travel system that only weighed 30 lbs all together since I am a wimp and cannot imagine lifting a normal 40 lb. stroller in and out of my trunk. We turned in the scanner and took our goody bag and cheered up as he took my hand and told me he loved me.

This lil fun bag contained a pacifier, a 4 oz bottle, lotions and potions, a bib and a whole bunch of stuff.

We came, we scanned, we conquered, only to go home and price match what we registered at against what was on Amazon.com and moving items according to the best price.

Feeling It

I felt the baby move.. A lot. It felt like gentle rolling in the right side of my tummy. I kinda liken it to waves crashing on a beach shore, one after another. Or series of bubbles being blown, taking a breath and then blowing another series of bubbles.

Little One was performing gymnastics just long enough for me to pounce on a sleeping husband and insist he try to feel our baby rock and roll. I don't know how well he could feel it, since I have an anterior placenta (it covers my belly acting like a mattress on the wall Hubby will be trying to feel through), but he said he could feel little jabs. Yes! I have been waiting for this moment!

At 19 weeks, our soccer player has started practicing his penalty kicks. Hooray!