Flutters!

Okay, I waited a while to post this because I thought that I might just be crazy, but the last few days have completely confirmed my suspicions...

I CAN FEEL THE BABY MOVING!!!

It started two weeks ago on a Friday afternoon. I had read lots of articles about this topic and knew that first-time moms don't feel it as soon as the pros do, because they often mistake movement for other things, like gas or cramps. Lucky for me, I have both gas AND cramps frequently, so the third sensation was very noticable. I was sitting at my desk after school, all alone, and I leaned over to read the calendar on my bulletin board. I felt a teensy, tiny, flutter in my lower abdomen and thought that maybe my pants were too tight. Then I leaned back in my chair and thought, "Wait a minute...I've never felt anything like that before." I was sure if it was movement, but I made a mental note and went on with my day.

The next day (last Saturday) I laid down to take a nap. As I was lying on my side, I started to feel a constant flutter in the same area, south-central to my belly button. I paid attention to it and it lasted for a good couple of minutes. I smiled as I fell asleep, fairly certain that I was feeling movement.

Since then I've felt it numerous other times. It's most obvious when I'm laying down, especially if I lay down after getting home from school. I've felt it for the last three mornings in a row and it's the most amazing thing in the world! It feels like there's a tiny mouse inside of me, just pitter-pattering away with it's tiny feet. It makes me smile and I feel so connected to the baby. It's like he/she is saying "Wake up Mom! It's time to start our day!" or "Nap time? Really? You're such a lazy bum!" Every time I'm tired and trying to slow down, the baby is NOT tired and is very active. It's all very weird, but very exciting.

On a much sadder note...our chicks did not hatch this time around. :( The kids were really looking forward to it and I was so sad when the day arrived and the eggs were all still pefectly intact in the incubator. I'm sure it had something to do with the temperature and the cool weather, so maybe we'll try again in the spring. Oh well.

Happier update: the baby room is painted and so is the basement! The baby room is green with big white stripes on the bottom and a white chair rail, and the basement is all one, gloriously uniform off-white color. Hooray for house projects! I'll post pictures as soon as I have a working camera, which should be this weekend.