23 Weeks

We hit the 23 week mark yesterday and the past month seems to have flown by. My belly feels like it's getting bigger by the minute, probably because Baby Girl is up to just about a pound now. Here, have a look -

Roberto finally got to feel her kick about a week ago. She obliged her Papi for a few days and would kick whenever he put his hand on my belly, but now she goes motionless when he attempts to feel more movement. I think it's funny, but I'm not sure Roberto would agree. I've also started noticing my belly jump with her kicks - so strange and amazing all at once.

According to the interwebs, her big job right now, besides putting on weight, is growing a pair of nipples! Does anyone else find that funny? I always assumed that they were there much earlier on in a baby's development, but now I can't get the image of my poor nippleless babe out of my head. Is there something I should be eating this week to aid in their formation? Just kidding...

Baby Dance

Baby Girl decided to make her presence known this morning by having a little party in my uterus. I've felt what I assumed were small movements here and there very randomly, but this was the first time that I have been absolutely sure that it was her.

The whole thing lasted about 10 minutes before she calmed down and, I assume, went back to sleep. Most of the sensations were right below my belly button and a few on the sides. At the ultrasound she was sitting in a sort of diagonal breech position with her feet and bottom off to the right of my stomach and her head towards the top left. I wonder if she is still there or has totally changed positions. Based on the movement I was feeling it felt like she did a complete flip!

I've been trying to make an effort to talk to her. I've been talking to her in my head from the beginning, but now that her ears work I don't think that's going to cut it anymore. Her Papi says goodnight to her every night and tells her not to kick my bladder too much and keep me awake. :)

Sometimes when I walk by him I catch Roberto glancing at my growing belly and smiling. I know it sounds like a cheesy Hallmark card or something, but seeing him so happy makes me happy. I don't have a single doubt in my mind about how much he already loves this baby girl and that he is going to be a wonderful father.

I've heard other women describe not being able to form a bond with or really feel connected to their baby before she's born. That is definitely not the case for me. I feel so overwhelmed with love already that I can't imagine what it will be like seeing her face and holding her for the first time. Pregnancy has turned me into one big ball of emotions and often when I do try to talk to her I get cut off by my own silly tears. Sometimes I wonder if the feelings and emotions would be this strong if we hadn't lost our first two pregnancies. (In case any of you didn't know, we had two miscarriages - one in 2007 and one in 2008) There is just no way to know.

I took a camera phone shot of my belly at 19 weeks yesterday. I look like I'm showing a lot, but I definitely don't feel this big and so far no strangers have been brave enough to ask if I'm pregnant. :)

It's a Girl!

Hi, everyone! We just found out on March 17 that we are expecting a baby girl! I was so surprised, but Roberto insists that he knew all along. I was sure that it was a boy, but she is definitely all girl!

The ultrasound was so much fun. Our little baby is one modest girl. She was determined to stay sitting on her feet with her ankles crossed for as long as possible. The ultrasound technician was very understanding and was determined that we wouldn't leave without finding out. I had to get up and walk around four different times before she finally changed positions. Roberto also gave her a stern talking to and he thinks that's what did it. :) I don't think I've ever seen a bigger smile on his face than when she finally showed us her girly parts. He hasn't stopped grinning since.

It was so neat to see her moving around inside of me and made the pregnancy seem all the more real. We watched her grab on to her umbilical cord and bring it up to her mouth to practice sucking. She was wiggling all over the place and I know it's only a matter of time before I start feeling her move on a regular basis!

Calling our family and friends afterward was so exciting. They didn't know that we were having an ultrasound that day so we got to surprise them all. Apparently I was the only person who thought she was a boy, because everyone I talked to claimed that they knew she was a girl all along. My side of the family hasn't had a baby girl around since my cousin and I were born almost 25 years ago. They are super excited!

Our "due date" is August 15, on her Tio Lui's birthday. We don't have any names picked out yet. Of course, we had a boy's name all ready to go, but nothing for a girl. So far we just haven't come across anything that we both love, but we've got plenty of time!