The evolution of my belly so far!

I find it funny that the times I think about updating this are always times when I am sitting at work. But, here I am, updating at work again! I had a tiny reminder that I didn't update you all with some very important news just now! Last Friday I was sitting at work listening to some music by Michael Franti. He's a very talented Reggae/Funk singer/songwriter and while I was listening to a chorus which says "I love you, I love you, I...." BLOP I felt the tiniest, sweetest little butterfly kick just under my bellybutton. I immediately fell into a heap of tears. I had thought I had felt Ziggy kick before, but it was nothing like this, I knew this was my baby kicking! The fact that it occurred during a chorus which only says "I love you" made me melt into a puddle that took about an hour to contain! I texted Ben immediately then my family and some of my closest friends and of course, publicized it on Myspace and Facebook. They were all excited, many of my best friends were in tears and it was a moment I will treasure for always. Since then I have felt Ziggy bump around daily, usually only once or twice, but its a wonderful reminder that I have a sweet little person inside of me and reminds me to take care of him or her and myself during this special time! Words cannot express the emotions you feel when you have that reminder, of just how big what is happening within you really is. It's easy to almost forget that I'm pregnant because my symptoms are so small, but that little kick, touch, it's a beautiful, amazing thing!

Unfortunately, the touches are so sporadic and light Ben hasn't been able to feel it yet. It's easy to say he will feel it soon enough, but part of me feels guilty that he cannot experience the same thing I am. The other night we were laying down getting ready for sleep and he had his hand on my stomach. We had said our "goodnights" and the room was quiet. All of a sudden Ziggy gave a little nudge and I was like "did you feel it, did you feel it!?!" but Ben had been half asleep and hadn't. I felt so bad! It will happen soon, but I want him to experience this too!

Other than that amazing new development nothing much new to report. We had our doctors appointment Wednesday and everything looks great. I've gained 8 pounds and the doctor says that is right where I need to be at this point. Ziggy's heartbeat was perfect, around 160, and he or she was cruising around my tummy like last time. My next appointment is the big one! Ultrasound, baby's sex determination, and a detailed check. It just so happens this special day will fall on my 26th birthday!!!! April 21st! I'm so lucky to be given this as a birthday present! We cannot wait for this appointment and are counting the days! It's funny how quickly it's all going! It seems like just yesterday I found out I was pregnant, and now, here I am, 17 weeks, baby kicking, maternity clothes are a must and sleep deprivation has officially set in! I wouldn't trade any of it!!!!

I'll post updated pictures soon!

So, today, I have a massive case of ADD at work so I did some research on the 14th week of pregnancy and found this amazing picture of what Ziggy's little leg looks like this week! It was found on http://www.i-am-pregnant.com/pregnancy/calendar/week/14 and it's just awesome to see all the little bones forming and the little toes!!! Ben and I definitely breathed a small sigh of relief this week knowing that we safely made it out of the important first trimester and I'm already starting to feel a little more with it than I have these past few weeks! I'm still exhausted, but no where near as much as I was two weeks ago!

We had an amazing doctors appointment last Wednesday where we heard Ziggy's heartbeat again. He or she was wide awake and swimming around like crazy so we heard as it would get really close to the microphone then swim to one side of my uterus and come back center, then head to the other side! It was amazing and Ben, the nurse and I all laughed and listened for a good 5 minutes. When the doctor came in he said he could hear it from the hallway and was very pleased. The heart rate was 160 and the nurse is betting on a boy. She says (and I'm taking this strictly at old wives tale value) that in motion a boys heart rate will be that high while a girls will be 160 resting. We'll see, I'm not taking any bets myself! :)

My doctor has said that we will find out the sex at the April appointment which happens to fall on my birthday! I can't think of a better birthday gift than finding out what my baby's sex is! We're very excited and can't wait to start picking out nursery stuff and names!!!

Some interesting facts about Ziggy at 14 weeks:

• Fingerprints begin to form
• Baby begins practicing voluntary muscle movements
• Baby is roughly the size of a flip phone and weighs about an ounce, he or she is now triple the size they were at the time of the last post!
• He or she went to their first Memphis Basketball game this weekend!

I'll post a couple of pictures of the belly when I get home. I should probably get back to real work now! Love to all!