Something's Going On In There...

I was taking a shower yesterday and bent over to shave my leg (oooh, steamy!) when something blog-worthy happened: I felt something in my belly! Not movement--it's way too early for that--but a thing. A mass. A something that wasn't there before. It was the strangest feeling. I straightened back up, bent over again, straightened up, bent over a few more times to make sure it wasn't a fleeting feeling (read: indigestion. Thank you, progesterone). It didn't go away. And lo and behold, it's still here today. I have an inkling that this is just the beginning.

When Sean came home last night, I tried to explain it to him. The only way I could think to describe it is that, on a daily basis, I never really think about exactly what is going on inside of my abdomen. The only time that I'm aware of my stomach, for example, is when I have a stomach ache; my diaphragm, when I have hiccups; my uterus, when I have cramps (whooohoo! no more!). Over the past month or so, I've basically just felt a constant state of uncomfortable fullness, like after Thanksgiving dinner. But it hasn't been such that I've been aware of any specific, particular changes going on in there, and I certainly haven't "felt pregnant." Sure, I stopped being able to suck in my stomach at all, and then it actually started sticking out...but it just felt and looked like I'd had "an extra big meal with lots of salt and liquor" (according to JLRB!).

Today, it's different. That feeling in the shower? That was actually being able to feel my growing womb. How come no one told me about this? I know it should have been a foregone conclusion, but let me assure you, it was not. Everyone told me about the amazing rush of relief and joy we'd feel when we heard the heartbeat for the first time, confirming that there really was a baby in there (that was true), and that finding out the sex of the baby would be another of those mind blowing, life changing experiences. And it should seem absolutely obvious that at some point along the way, I should actually being to feel the thing that's growing inside of me.

But it wasn't. It was a total surprise. And made me laugh out loud! I still don't really "feel pregnant," but at least this is one step closer.

Today we go to New Hope to spend the day with Sean's family. It's gorgeous--breezy and sunny and a little cool. After today, the baby will officially be out of the bag.