"How are you feeling?"

This is a question so many people keep asking me, and I am so thankful to have several people in my life who care enough to ask! So, I figure I will answer it on here!

Tomorrow marks week 18. My biggest "feeling" is that I am SO relieved to be out of the first trimester. My energy is back, my appetite is DEFINITELY back (but has inconvenient timing!), and the headaches have dwindled off (as long as I have some caffeine everyday). I definitely understand now what women mean when they say the 2nd trimester is the best part of pregnancy. I am imagining that by the 3rd trimester, I'll be getting uncomfortable, etc. For now, I get to feel pretty normal and good!

Not quite 2 weeks ago, I felt our baby move for the very first time! It was a very crazy experience! I have read that women describe it as feeling like butterflies in their stomach or popcorn popping. To me, it felt like anxiety. It honestly made me uncomfortable at first. Then, I calmed down and realized I was feeling movement! The time I felt it most was when I was about to get out of my car at work. I suddenly felt as if my heart was POUNDING very fast in my chest. Then, I realized that the feeling wasn't in my chest; it was in my stomach! Apparently, the baby was bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and ready for work that day! It made me laugh that time. I don't feel it everyday, but when I do, it's pretty amazing. Just to think about a person moving around in there is so crazy! I'm looking forward to when Jerry can feel it too.

This past week, we learned that our good friend Heather Hicks is having a BOY! Such exciting news (check out her blog here if you want!). It made Jerry and me even more anxious to learn what we are having. My women's intuition has really not been strong on this one. I started out the pregnancy "feeling" one way, and now I'm another. But then I will suddenly question myself. I suppose I'll leave it to the professionals! Let me know if you think we'll be having a boy or a girl!