*cough, cough*

Dear Baby H,

I am totally sick.  I haven't caught any weird viruses since the fall during our first trimester, but unfortunately that streak is over.  I started coughing on Sunday evening, a bit earlier than when I wrote the last post, but it has gotten so much worse.  My voice is half gone, my body is sore most likely from all of the coughing, and my head is all congested. :(

The weird part about being sick while pregnant is that I can't help but wonder what this must feel like for you!  My whole body is writhing with each of my coughs, so I hope your world isn't getting rocked *too* much.  You're still being quite active, though, so you must be toughing it out.  I really hope you don't feel as badly as I do...

Well, I can't see the doctor until this evening- UGH- so I'm going back to bed.  I figure if there's one thing that could help both of us right now it would be resting.  Hang in there with me, Baby H!

<3 Your Mom

Big Day for Baby H and Daddy

Dear Baby H,

This month, you just keep on groovin'!  A couple of days I've noticed you less and that has worried me a bit, but then you come back with pops and bursts in just enough time to reassure me you're there.  I've noticed that sometimes, when I'm particularly busy from my second trimester energy, I won't notice you as much because my body is preoccupied.  I wonder if you get tired when I get tired or when I use a lot of this energy?  Either way, you're moving more overall and today was a big day for you!

This morning I thought I felt you stronger than I have been lately, so I decided to try a little experiment.  I was lying on my back with my upper body propped against the pillows and I put my hand on my lower belly to see if you really did have more force.  Sure enough, I felt you inside and out- just barely, but enough!  Therefore, I told your dad to quick place his hand on my belly, with my hand on top of his, and to wait.  When I felt you, I would tap the area on his hand where he should have felt you.  The second time we did this, he responded with, "Yeah!  I felt it, too!!" ...and then he said, "Ew..." but don't take it personally, Baby H, he's just new to this whole baby-moves-and-does-what-it-wants-when-it-wants thing. ; )

We reveled in this moment together throughout the day and I know it will stand out as one of the most exciting during pregnancy.  I'm not sure what it was that made you stronger, but I'm guessing it's just your impressive rate of growing.  This week you are developing lungs and you're also the length of a corn cob!  I imagine the hands or feet that said hello to us today can't weigh more than a tenth of a pound, which is really just amazing when you think about the way we're able to still feel you.

This week Nonnie will be coming to our monthly check-up and I'm hoping she'll be able to hear your whoosh whooshing heartbeat.  How exciting!!  Feel free to keep practicing the strong kicks/punches because she'd love to say hello in that way, too. : )

We love you and are amazed by you!
<3 Mom

A Baby H Update

Since there are many random things I'd like to mention, I decided to create a more informal entry for these purposes.  Maybe you've heard some of these things from me already, but maybe some will be a surprise- either way, enjoy! : )

• Baby H has progressed from a flutter to a daily serving, sometimes more, of popcorn popping in my belly!  It's really neat because I can almost always pick up on Baby after dinner, but also at times throughout the day!  A couple of times it's even made me jump a little bit. : ) 
• DONUTS... over the past week or so, I've developed an intense craving for donuts!!  Now, I don't know if it's truly a craving or if it's just "I'm going to eat three donuts because I can," but wow they are making Mama and Baby happy!  Especially white cream-filled... mmmm. 
• STEVE TRIED TO PEEK AT OUR 20 WEEK APPOINTMENT.  Come to find out, he's NOT an ultrasound technician, so it left him clueless.  Geesh, what a stinker.
• I've started to make myself sing in the car... and if you know me, this does NOT come naturally.  However, I figure it's an easy way for Baby H to hear more from me. : )  Although, I think Baby H will have a pretty good grasp on my voice since it gets to listen to me teach all day, too!  
• My newest class of seniors started applauding me when I told them I was preggers- lol.
• On another note to our 20 week appointment, I was given an A+++ (yes, triple A plus!) due to my blood levels and baby's development being in all of the optimal ranges. : )  Let's hope Baby H is an overachiever like his/her parents! (Minus the stress related health issues....)
• Still hatin' on ice cream, but now can drink decaf coffee!
• The nausea has kicked up again, but I see it's mostly due to hunger, so at night and early AM.  I've been forcing myself to eat more snacks and that seems to help.  
• We're at Snow Day #7 today, which means I'll officially be working on my due date.  Lord help us.
• Whoaaaaa, we're halfway there!  (Whoaaaaa, livin' on a prayer : ) )