On bellies and babies...

This is me last Sunday, looking ridiculously pregnant.

17 weeks

Well - while the clothed photo makes me look really pregnant, the belly shot, if you compare to last week, isn't that much bigger. From the front, I've definitely got more of a pointy belly but if you didn't know, I'd just look fat. :)

Last night I was sleeping on my right side for a while and then moved to my back. When I checked the bump (I swear it feels so much bigger when I'm on my back), it was protruding on the right side. Carl reached over and touched my belly and noticed the bulge on the right side. I could tell because he kinda rubbed his hand over it, pushed on it a little and then sort of patted it gently, like he was saying, "Hey there!" Pretty darn cool. I can't wait until I have a proper baby belly and he can feel the kicks.

Speaking of movement... the little darling has (I think) been making itself known. People describe it as "butterflies" or "bubbles" but I have no idea what that means. I've never had insects or air bubbles in my uterus, so it's a little hard to compare. What I'm feeling is more like muscle twinges. You know, that totally strange feeling when one of your muscles contracts without your permission? Just like that. Today, while I was sitting in the car, I felt something about an inch below and to the left of my belly button that felt JUST like what I imagine a kick (or punch) to feel like. It reminded me of a reversed version of feeling a baby kick from the outside. I've had the pleasure of feeling a baby move inside several friends' bellies. They don't just kick or punch, they slide. It felt just like that, except instead of feeling it on my hand (like when you're touching a pregnant belly), I felt it in my lower abdomen! I guess I'll never really know if it was the baby, but it sure feels like it.