Ahhh :-O

    Last night I took food over to my husband for his dinner break, and while I was waiting for him to come outside I was watching my belly move all around from Baby H.  Usually I have a tushy sticking out of my belly's upper left side, but this time I noticed there was a little something sticking out directly across on my right side.  Of course I couldn't just sit there patiently watching; I had to touch.  (Take me to a museum some time and you'll know that I'm a button-pushing, have-to-touch-everything kind of person)  I decided to push on the little protrusion, but I certainly wasn't prepared for the forceful push back.  I nearly jumped out of my own skin!  Maybe I scared her as much as her reaction scared me, but holy cow!  After that I just sat there and laughed at myself. 
    I told my mom it was like when you are trying to sneak up behind a small animal, like a frog or bird...there is that moment when they are completely still and you go in for the grab but at the last possible second the animal jumps towards you!  Ah!  The animal's suprise seems as intense as the person trying to catch them.  Not that our little baby is a frog or bird....she's a sea creature, of course ;-)

Random surprised baby, haha

Baby Karate

   Last night I felt a series of punches start down low and slowly move upwards to about mid-belly.  Maybe Baby Holm was pushing off the walls to reposition for better sleepytime??  Very interesting. 
   The kicks and punches seem to be getting stronger as the days go by.  Personally, I think it will be any day now that movement will be felt on the outside.  It's hard for me to tell at this point if I am feeling it on the inside or if I am really feeling it with my hands on the outside.  Seems to be noticeable only while I'm sitting or lying down. 
   We have another check up on Monday.  I feel like I have more questions at this point about labor and delivery than anything else.  I want to find out what my doctor's view is on c-sections...like what point do they decide a c-section is necessary.  I do not want a c-section unless either my baby or I will die without one.  I plan on pushing til I can't push anymore, and then pushing some more :-)  Easier said than done, I'm sure.  I'm just THAT stubborn.  I think Zach finds it amusing how stubborn I am when it comes to labor and delivery.  That's just me, and he knows it :-)  I'm also not taking any pain meds.  I say bring it.  Pain won't kill me, and it must not be life-shattering because women still have more babies after the first.  You may think I'm crazy, but I'm just strong-willed.  If my Grandma Bryant were around she would tell you a little story about a horse named Belle, a creek, and me.....

Kicks

  Last night I got my first baby kick that surprised me.  I was sitting there on the couch reading a book about labor&delivery when I got such a forceful kick that it made me jump :-O  I'm sure baby has many more in store for mama as the weeks progress.  Lucky me, huh?  :-)