Toller Tot: March 2009

Sometimes I wonder if Steve (a black belt and former karate teacher) has already somehow started teaching our little guy Karate.... perhaps at night, while I am asleep and unaware..... yeah... I am pretty sure he has.... Little Robby practices all day :)

That's right-- Robby. This little boy will most likely be named Robert. And for now, we call him Robby.

Why Robert, you ask?

Well, lets see.....:

Grandpa Robert Toller (Steve's Dad's Dad)

Robert Toller (Steve's Dad)

Grandpa Harvey Robert Schwitzer (Steve's Mom's Dad)

Grandpa Robert Burtenshaw (Jenni's Mom's Dad)

Grandpa D. Robinson Kirkham, known as Bob Kirkham (Jenni's Dad's Dad)

Need I say more?

Okay, okay..... that's not real..... I enhanced my belly with photoshop..... I just wanted the difference to be a little more drastic from my 14 week picture to my 20 week one....

Here's the real one:

I can't believe we are already 20 weeks along!

We get more and more excited as things progress.

This little guy is a little acrobat. He does flips in my belly and moves all over the place-- especially the other night after I ate a homemade cinnamon roll with cream cheese frosting...mmm..... Perhaps too much sugar for that little dude.... he was literally "bouncing off the walls" that night! It is so fun to be able to feel him moving around in there. Sometimes it kind of weirds me out... in a freaky Alien sort of way.... Okay, so it doesn't really freak me out, it is just so crazy/amazing! There is a little person inside me! And sometimes it catches me off guard when I feel something bash against my belly from the inside!

It is neat that Steve can feel him moving already. I am always making Steve put his hand on my belly in attempts to feel the movements. I want Steve to be as much a part of the experience as possible. Of course, Steve claims to have a calming effect on the baby. Most of the time all the flipping stops as soon as Steve's hand touches my belly. But, he actually felt him for the first time at about 17 or 18 weeks. I first started feeling movements against my hand at about 16 weeks. At the time I wasn't sure if that was really it, but now I'm pretty sure that's what it was. Because, over the weeks it has just gradually increased and become stronger and more noticeable. And now there is no mistaking it! I've even SEEN my belly move once when he did some crazy acrobatic move!

Of course the excitment is increasing..... unfortunately the worrying hasn't DECREASED as much as I'd hoped :)

Over the past week, I've noticed my belly becoming hard sometimes. I freaked out at first, afraid of what it could mean. Isn't it too early for Braxton Hicks? Sometimes it seems to stay hard most of the day, then another day it will hardly do it at all. I finally called my doctor and she said it could be contractions and I could just be starting to feel Braxton Hicks. She told me to try to time them and see if there is any regularity to them. I am having a hard time trying to time them.... Sometimes I don't even notice it start. I just put my hand on my belly and realize it's hard and I think, "How long has it been like that??" It doesn't hurt. Sometimes it gets a little uncomfortable just because it stays tight for so long. Anyway, any input from any of you experiences mothers out there would be greatly appreciated!