The 50 yard line

So we're at midpoint now, just past the 20th week. The ultrasound reports just came in today and touch wood, everything seems to be normal! Here's a peeky peek at our little budding baby boy...

(s)he moves, he moves, he bangs...

Poetic plagiarization asides, I felt it!! I felt it move today. And now that I know my little one's gender as well, it's really hard to think of it as "it". So let's start all over again..

There I was talking to Mamata when she mentioned for the umpteenth time that the baby was on the move. I put my hand on her belly, expecting to feel ...nothing!, and then, bump. Just one solitary bump, but for the first time I wasn't guessing, or wondering what exactly it was that I was supposed to be feeling. Well, that's my baby alright, probably giving a lazy stretch! Aww... choo... chweet!

Now that did feel like a million dollars..

Did you guess right?

It's moving a lot now!!

All of this week, baby's been moving a lot. Baby's most active when I sit down or rest just after a meal. Today baby also woke me up at 7am! I guess we only have a few more weekends when we can afford to get up at 9am ;-) and we should take full advantage of those...

In 2 days, we'll know if it's a girl or a boy! How exciting...

A note about fitness

I'd always imagined I'd "get into" the best shape of my life and _then_ get pregnant. But you know, baby had other plans ;-) Due to my knee operation and recovery, I started seeing a personal trainer Maria at Axis, Mountain View. In less than 15 sessions, my knee was feeling a lot better. We'd also found out I was pregnant, so Maria shifted gears more into focusing on keeping my joints flexible and my balance where it belongs. I used to see her twice a week, but now started seeing her just once a week in the hope that I can get myself to do other activities during the week.

They recommend that during pregnancy women should exercise at least 3 times a week. In addition, Maria also wants me to go for a walk every night. Well, slow and steady as I am, I'm far from "walking every night". The once a week visit to Maria is the only thing I can manage in some weeks.

But I think I did find another activity for 2 more times a week: aqua exercise. I just went to my 24hr club today for the first time for the aqua exercise class. Suffice to say, right now, I'm feeling on top of the world :-) It feels wonderful to have worked out for an hr in the water. I got there a bit early, so was able to swim 4 laps. The class started and they made us do a proper warm up for 10-15 mins. Then the exercises started. They were pretty intense :-) and I had loads of fun doing them. Most of the other classmates were old women but at least 3 of us were around the same age. At the end, there was a 5-10 mins cool down and stretch session too!

I really enjoyed it and hope baby enjoyed it too. I'm sure I'll feel the effects of the workout in a day or two. In case they aren't too bad, I think I'm planning to go both days of the week - Wednesday and Friday at 8:30am!

I felt the first flutters :-)

When people often described their first baby movements, they'd say "oh, it felt like something fluttering" and I'd often wonder - how can that be?! Well wonder no more I had to, coz last night I felt it :-) and it was definitely a flutter.

I was in the middle of the night and I was fast asleep. All of a sudden I felt this pressure, then followed by some fluttering for quite some time :-) I really enjoyed the sensation of life inside for the first time. I was strong enough to wake me up too. Yes baby, I hear ya ...

Daddy's the BEST

Yeah baby, your Dad's the BEST :-) He loves me so much! And he loves you a lot too. In fact I'm beginning to suspect he loves you more than he loves me... You know, I'm not sure I'll be able to handle that very well ;-)

You got me all tied up in knots...
And I'm loving you lots and lots...
I'm just loving you lots and lots...
I'm loving you lots and lots...