Pucker up, baby!

Last night we celebrated my niece Kenzie's 4th birthday by going out to dinner with her Mom, Grandpa and Grandma.  First of all, I can't believe she's already FOUR (we have all told her to stop growing, but she just giggles).  Second of all, she is too stinking cute and silly!!!!  She is an absolute kick to hang out with and says and does the silliest things. 

After dinner, some of the staff came over to sing her the traditional Red Robin Birthday Song:

One! Two! Three! Four!

Happy birthday, have a happy birthday!

Happy birthday, have a happy day!

Do we have a birthday here?

YES we have a birthday here!

Birthday where?

Birthday here!

Ohhhh-ohhhhh-ohhhh-ohh...

Happy birthday, have a happy birthday!

Happy birthday, have a happy day--HEY!!

Kenzie was delighted at the song, the clapping, the attention... but most of all for the ice cream sundae that accompanies the cheer! Who could blame her?  And she was just telling us that she still had room for ice cream in her tummy (and even pointed to where).  My, I do love that girl.

Well, we couldn't let her celebrate alone... and since she had stirred her sundae to "soup," we ordered a Mile Hi Mud Pie for the table.  Yes please!!  After passing it back and forth (though when it stopped at Amy and I, my Mom felt it necessary to comment about two pregnant women eating ice cream.  Yeah, yeah yeah...) most of the chocolate and caramel from the plate made it's way to Kenzie's hands.

Amy and I took her to the bathroom to wash up, and while we waited for Amy, Kenzie turned to me and gave my belly a big SMOOCH and said "cute baby!"  I've had some pretty great moments during this pregnancy, but that single moment is definitely in my Top 10 so far.  I'm not sure I've felt anything sweeter (though I've gotten some very sweet belly rubs) than my 4-year-old niece kissing my belly. 

That warmed this Momma's heart.

I felt LIFE!!!

I was sitting at on off-site retreat today for work and was completely distracted by the flutters in my belly.  No, not nerves... not gas... not even hunger pangs.  I felt the baby move!!!

But before this... I was sitting on the couch with John about two weeks ago and I put my hand to my belly in surprise and said, "Oh! I think I just felt the baby move!"  His tender reply: "I think you just want to feel the baby move."  Maybe so, but I'm pretty sure that was it.

Then about a week later, as we were cuddled up in bed about to fall asleep, I gasped again, "Holy cow, I totally just felt the baby move!!"  To which my sweet husband blurted, "Holy cow you just woke me up!"  LOL!  Not the reaction I was looking for... I said, "sorry, but I am really feeling it moving around." (P.S. I hate calling our child an "it," but we'll find out the gender soon enough...) John was startled awake by my exclamation, so I whipsered, "okay sorry, but I really did feel the baby move... go back to sleep."

Today, there was no mistaking the acrobatics going around in my womb.  I eagerly put my hand to my stomach, but I realized that it's going to be awhile before it can be felt from the outside.  I so want John to feel his baby moving around inside of me.  But instead I texted him, "I'm feeling the baby move a lot today!"  He is so excited about this baby and when he got home tonight, he was asking me all about what it was like to feel that.  I told him one time that it made me a little sad that as a man, he'll never get to feel that life inside of him... but he said he's okay with that.

I've been eager for this sensation.  It's similar to how I needed to see the little peanut on the first ultrasound in order to feel more of a connection to the new life inside of me.  Lately, I've felt like I needed to feel movement in order to increase our bond.  I am so blessed to be able to carry life, and I have this incredible joy in knowing that I get to care for this baby now and for the rest of its life.  What an amazing high this is!!

No comment

I learned today that my posts are not up to par with my fellow bloggers (well, my sisters anyway).  Apparently I don't invoke a lot of thought or feeling that is deserving of a comment or two.

Well, that's okay.

I was hesitant about blogging in the first place, then I never knew what to write so I didn't (and got slack for that too)... and the truth is, I'm not writing for anyone in particular.  Yes, it feels good to get a comment or two, but honestly, I don't expect them. 

I often have a lot of thoughts about things and think, "that would be good to write about..." But then I don't.  So when I do take the time to sit down and get it out, it isn't for you.  Read it or don't.  Comment or don't.

I had a band teacher once who told us that practice didn't make perfect, it made permanent.  To relate that to blogging, I feel that if I practice writing more, I will improve (and maybe my subject matter will be more interesting too,) but maybe I'll get into more of a rhythm of blogging more interesting topics.

Until then, this is what you get. 

Perspective

I thought today was going to be a really great day: I finally had a good night’s sleep, which hasn’t happened in about 3-4 months.

However, after rolling over in bed, I had the overwhelming feeling that I was going to be sick—and I was.

I recovered and mustered up the strength to shower, then immediately got sick again after stepping out, still dripping wet.

I regained my strength again and went downstairs for a shake, discouraged and emotional, but pushed through.

This morning dragged on and it seemed to take me forever to get ready. I finally left the house after 9:00am.

On the way in to work, I came across a very bad accident involving a small car and BIG truck and lots of emergency vehicles.

We were detoured, which made my commute longer, adding to my stress and frustration.

Then, I pulled up behind a cop car with someone in the back seat (you don’t see that often), and my mood changed…

Perspective.

The person in the back of that cop car is having a worse day than I. And, I wasn’t in that bad accident I saw before.

After pulling onto Colfax, I saw a fire truck pulled into a bank and paramedics walking inside. I’m not the person in the bank.

Perspective.

I pulled into the parking garage to go to work. I work at a hospital. I’m not here because I’m being treated.

Perspective.

I am blessed. I am so very blessed with an amazing husband, a baby on the way, a warm house and food and clothing.

I am blessed with the support of my family and many friends, and I have a good job to be proud of.

So what if I got sick this morning and don’t feel well today? I’m pregnant! And that is such a huge blessing!!!

Perspective.