Playing with Baby: An Expectant Mum's First Kicks

After weeks and weeks of feeling absolutely nothing when it comes to the child growing within me it was heaven on Earth to have my first real interaction with my precious little baby. Friends have told me how wonderful it would be when I first felt my baby kick, terms like wonder, magic, and unbelievable were bandied about. But my first interaction with my baby did not bring wonder or awe but instead brought laughter. I could not stop laughing at the little kicks and thumps I felt each time I poked my abdomen. With every little prod I gave a little kick was given in return. I felt giddy with relief that I could suddenly feel this little being inside of me reacting to something I did. Suddenly my baby was not just this image on an ultrasound or a sound in the doctors office. Suddenly my baby was a real life little person and I couldn't wait to have the chance to play with my precious little baby in person without a womb standing between us.

As the weeks are going by faster and faster I find myself imagining the face of my little angel. Will the baby look like me, like my husband, or one of our family members? Will the baby have a little of us all? What characteristics will my baby show in those early days after birth. I remember watching my niece after she was born two months early. She spent the beginning of her life in the NICU, buy her strength was apparent immediately. Whenever a nurse came to check her or take blood she would kick those little froggy looking legs and flail those arms and cry as loud as her one stable lung would allow. Despite a chest tube and a hole in her left lung she was prepared to fight for her little life. Will my baby have that same spark? My mother tells stories of my willfulness as a baby and toddler. Will my child have that same willfulness? While some would say it is too early to tell I think I know for certain. With a strong heartbeat, and a love to kick, my baby has already shown one large personality, and I cannot wait to see how big it gets over the years.   

Maternity Wear 5-60% off at Mums2Be

Mums2Be has some amazing deals going on this month. Right now you can find some of your favorite winter pieces on sale starting at 5% off all the way to 60% off regular price. With deals this great you can pick up a few of your favorite things, and maybe even try something new you have had your eye on. Take a sneak peak at some of the great items on sale now.

Black Footless Opaque Hosiery Tights by Ripe 5% off at $21.00: These great tights are footless and extremely comfortable and go with just about everything. Pair them with a great dress, a skirt, wear them under pants for support in those last long months of pregnancy. Your legs will thank you!

Marion Long Sleeve Breastfeeding Top 30% off at $30.00: This round-neck nursing top is comfortable and adorable. The double-layer bust provides easy nursing access and privacy, the bamboo product of viscose/elastane keeps its shape perfectly so you can wear this shirt during and after pregnancy without worry of stretching ruing the blouse. The vibrant grape juice color is bright and fun to wear.

Astrid Feeding Dress 50% off at $49.47: A beautiful dress for anyone, it is designed especially for an expectant or nursing Mum. The 3/4 sleeve dress has easy nursing access and privacy, but it looks like an exquisite cocktail dress. The scoop neck takes advantage of all those new expectant Mum curves and will help to make you feel exceptionally beautiful on your night out.

Denim Maternity Jeggings by Ripe Maternity 40% off at $47.95: These knit style jean leggings are the hottest thing in fashion right now, so of course it is great to see a maternity line carry the great style. Now it doesn't matter if you are expecting or not, you can still rock your skinny jeans! The knit jean leggings are comfortable and soft, and sit on the underside of the tummy so they do not interfere with baby growth or Mum's comfort. Wear them with a great blouse and look great no matter how far along you are! 

An Expectant Mum's Joy: The Ultrasound

Today marks the official first day of my second trimester and I am incredibly happy to see the changes in my body and my days. I no longer start my morning cursing my husband, myself, and my precious baby for that awful feeling I wake up to. Morning sickness is not the best memory to first associate your growing baby with. But I have been morning sickness free for over a week now and enjoying every minute of it, every minute that I am not staring at my growing belly that is.

While I still look fairly small the growing bump is shouting "baby on board!" and less "ate too much at lunch!" Which actually has leaving me with mixed feelings of joy and confusion. While I was prepared for all that comes with a newborn baby I somehow forgot all the different things I would feel in the growing process. As someone who once gained nearly 90 pounds in three months due to a failing thyroid gland I expected changes in my body. But these changes are much different than the changes I experienced before. Before I knew that what was happening to my body was not a result of something I was doing, and I felt as if I were a prisoner in my own body. Not in control of it or even aware of it, just sort of passing from one day to the next wishing that I were in fact not the person I was seeing in the mirror. Now however, the feelings I am experiencing are altogether different. My body is growing much more slowly. I do not feel trapped in my body, but I also do not feel alone. I feel as if there is some other force controlling my movements, my hunger, and my discomfort. As my skin tightens and stretches I feel like I am watching something incredibly strange yet normal happen to me. As if my body were indeed meant to do this, which of course it is. I am slowly realizing that I am sharing my body with someone else, and that person is not quite in control either, but we are along for this ride together.

This all became so much more apparent to me when I was sitting at the Doctor's office at the beginning of the week having my first real glimpse at my growing baby. The way that the baby moves inside of me was incredible. The little hand brushing past the face so quickly made my husband and myself almost cry. Especially when we heard the heartbeat. Now I spend most of my days staring at the printout of my little baby on my refrigerator, as the background on my phone, and computer. I cannot help but look at the beautiful little baby every chance I get. And I sincerely hope that feeling never goes away.