17 Weeks and Counting-

Every week- something new and a little different happens... I am currently having trouble putting my shoes on!!! I can still get down there, but being bent at the waist for any extended period of time actually hurts. According to the baby book, Wee Bradshaw is now mere inch and half or two from my belly button. I guess I better start looking at some super slip-on winter clogs...

I have been feeling the wigglie-jigglies in my abdomen with the occassional poke. I think this is the baby... But it could be gas, so I am trying not to get too excited. If it is the baby, the sensations will become more regular and I will know for certain... If it is gas- well that is just part of pregnancy and I will feel the baby eventually. As a quick side-note, this wiggle-jiggle happens quite often when the Rat-Cat is resting on my belly and purring, isn't that interesting?

This week I have had myriad unusual dreams with special appearances by ex-boyfriends, tai-chi masters, mickey mouse, a single (unborn) son, and set of twin boys in the nicu. Dreaming is a much more vibrant and vigorous than it has been in the past. I tend to remember a great deal of my dreams (I did this pre-bebe too) but now they are more intense, and the landscapes have become more detailed, and I wonder if I am getting any real "rest" at all. It was very interesting to see babies in my dreams. I have had a couple of baby dreams, and all have weird twists to them- but thus far, all of my dreams have been of boys. To me that means we are either having a boy or I have successfully brainwashed myself into thinking it will be a boy to avoid the disappointment of it "not being a girl."

My body continues to change and adapt to the magic going on in my belly... My lower ribs continue to feel a bit put-out, and I can clearly hear my heart beating more intensely when I take the time to listen. And of course, I am starting to look awfully cute in my pregnancy clothes-

This year's holiday seems fairly unusual... Of course, we are very happy with our current place in life, but I cannot shake a slight feeling of melancholy as I realize this is our last Christmas/Yule alone. Perhaps I am putting a bit too much thought into it- but we will not be alone like this again for 20 years (possibly more). That is a hard concept to grasp, and I cannot help feeling a little sad... I believe it is better to acknowledge and do a little mourning for the change that is coming- Then I can get back to rejoicing about our little ball of sunshine.

23 weeks to go.