In this grand adventure of pregnancy, there are times in which I feel like it is a very one sided process. Obviously, it takes two to get to this point. However, for the most part I have sole responsibility of the baby baking process. I am the one watching what I eat, and giving up some of my favorite treats. I am the one who has given up the occasional glass of wine or beer that seems so deserved at the end of a long day or during the football game. I mean, can anyone watch the Vikings these days without a little alcohol on board?! I am also the one who gets to experiencing the morphing of my body as I lose complete control of it to this baby.
On the flip side, I also get the instantaneous and daily connection to this baby. With every change, comes another reminder of the process that is taking place. Ever since I found out I was pregnant I've felt a great responsibility and sense of pride for this little one growing inside me. I have delighted in the changes in my body knowing they carry with them one of our greatest blessings. And when I started feeling flutters at 17 weeks, it was only I who could experience them. Recently, I have been increasingly anxious to begin feeling the kicks outside my body, so that Nick could experience them too.
Aside from hearing the heartbeat at our doctor's visit, very little of this pregnancy process has been experienced by Nick. Most of what happens is reported to him after the fact. However, just two nights ago, we were sitting on the couch and Nick reached over to pat my stomach. Suddenly, his fingers jumped off my abdomen and he cried out excitedly that he had felt our baby kick. Now, I've been waiting for this to happen as I've become increasingly aware of the baby's movements and kicks, but still hadn't felt it with my hand on my stomach. It was so exciting to me that Nick was able to experience a "first" for the pregnancy.
There truly is nothing like it. With each kick, both inside and out, I am falling more in love with this child of ours. I am also incredibly thankful that Nick was able to palpate the first official outside kick. It was fun to have him report a pregnancy experience to me, instead of vice versa! Making sure he feels included in this process is incredibly important to me and the smile on his face was priceless. Now I can hardly wait to see the way he beams when he first holds our child in February!
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