Well, it's been an interesting week.  It is a late night for me right now, and it's after midnight so I am just turned 27 weeks.  One more week and I will be 7 months along and at the third trimester.

This week has been quite an experience.  The kicks and bumps in my belly are once again getting harder, and I have actually seen my belly move!  It was quite a shock to be looking at my belly during music class on Monday (10/22), while the teacher was playing some Beethoven music, and see my belly suddenly jump to one side.  Later on that day, I was laying down on the bed and Chris was looking at my belly with a funny look on my face.  I asked him what was up and he told me that my belly was lopsided, that it was sticking up on one side.  He felt there and it was firm, and I felt the other side of my belly which wasn't as firm as usual.  Realizing that Arielle had bunched herself up on one side I laughed and told Chris,  "Yeah, that's her."  Also on Monday night, Chris felt Arielle kick again. 

What happened tonight though is so funnie (well... last night since it's after midnight).  Chris and I had some alone time and were spending it specifically with Arielle.  We were sitting on the couch with Chris's hand on my belly so he could feel Arielle.  Well, he felt her kick a couple times and I saw my belly jump up on one side again (he missed it cuz he had looked away for a moment).  Well, I decided to tell him to put his ear to my belly and see if he could hear the heartbeat.  I had read that at this time one might be able to hear the heartbeat by putting their ear to the belly, though that's quite difficult for the actual pregnant mother to do with her own belly.  Well, Chris had put his ear down to my belly and thought he heard what could have been a heartbeat.  Well, Chris has already told this story in his blog earlier, but it was so funnie to me when he suddenly exclaimed "Whoa!  Hey, did she kick?"  Since I had at that moment felt her kick I laughed and said, "Yeah, that was her."  He sits back up feeling his ear with a curious look on his face and laughing.  "That was weird," he said.  It was the hardest he had ever felt Arielle kick him.

Later on tonight, I saw my belly move again while I was in the bathtub.  It is just such a strange sensation to actually see her movements now.  I also had heard from a friend that Arielle would recognize my voice by now, and eventually Chris's.  I need to get Chris to talk to her more often.  Well, tonight I laid down in the room where the nursery will be and talked to Arielle.  It occurred to me that my friend was right because Arielle kicked a little in response to my voice.  Well, I started saying her name and she kicked even more.  I also sang her the lullaby that I always sing to her now, an Indonesian lullaby called "Nina Bobok".  Well, she moved around even more to the lullaby!  How wonderful!  She doesn't always respond to our voices though.  I guess as the months go on she will recognize mine and Chris's voices more and the familiar songs we sing.  Well, it is late and I should get to bed.  Good night!

Today (actually it was yesterday cuz it's after midnight), I got kicked in the ear by the lil' one. I was trying to listen for the heartbeat and had pressed me ear up against Marilynn's stomach. Just as I thought I was hearing a faint pounding of what might be a heartbeat, I felt a pronounced thud hit my ear. It's kind of amazing to realize that I was kicked by a little girl swimming around in there. I have felt Arielle kick on a few other occasions, but it was always kind of like that heartbeat thing...to where.."hey I think I felt something."

There is actually a little girl in there, and only for another two or three months. In January, she stops swimming and kicking around in a uterus, and begins her journey on this earth. Kind of a scary thing honestly. I am reminded daily that I am an imperfect person blessed in spite of myself by the grace of God. He has given me a family with Marilynn, and is giving us a new addition...a new lioness of God for the Sitton pack. A little baby girl that will be kicking and crawling and one day driving. For my part, I don't think there's much that parents do that makes a child the way they are. I think that Arielle's future is hers, and it can be as big or as small as she desires. In a way, I kind of have the same job at 26 weeks as I will at 17 years: provide a safe environment where she can be healthy and grow. She seems to be doing well. Every doctor's visit seems to have the same results, and she is clearly active. If she is as active in the world as she is in the womb, we are really gonna have our hands full with this ear kicking firecracker, our little lioness, Arielle.

Attached is a picture of Marilynn at 26 weeks taken on Friday. She is looking like a healthy parent and a beautiful pregnant woman. I am so glad that I married someone who cares so much about the health and welfare of our child. I can't imagine the stress that some must feel with a spouse that could really care less. God has really blessed us. I'm so glad that he brought us together as a family.

Well, I had my doctor's appointment yday (Chris got to go with me again) and the doctor told me that I have reached the viable stage.  I didn't know what that meant, but the doctor explained that what it meant is that if I go into preterm labor right now there is a chance they could help Arielle survive.  So that's comfort.  Of course, since she is between 1 1/2 and 2 lbs, right now, it is better for her not to come... but at least we know that if something goes wrong and she does that she may still be able to live.  The doctor did say that now is actually the time to watch out for preterm labor, and that if I do go into labor that the focus will be to stop it.  But of course hopefully I won't have to worry about that.  He also said that after 34 weeks is the best time for the baby to come.  I remember a friend that was going into preterm labor and they were hoping to stop it until at least 34 weeks because that is when the lungs are fully formed and functioning.  It's amazing that in nine weeks I could have Arielle and she would be okay (though small).  Hopefully, all will go as planned and I won't have to worry about her coming early and being too small.  It is shocking to me that tomorrow I will be 26 weeks along... which means that the due date is a little over three months away... 14 weeks to be exact!  I am so excited to finally meet the little person that's been sharing my body with me.  Well, my tummy is being weird so I'm gonna go take some tums (my candy nowadays... hehe).

Wow, it's been a long time since I last posted an entry.  I've just been so busy.  Well, I thought to post an entry today because Arielle made me laugh this morning.  I can feel some of her smaller movements now, I guess because she is bigger now.  I'm feeling new things in my belly!  I am so excited!  And I am so happy to be pregnant!

I've been extremely busy with school but I'm enjoying it and having a great semester!  Arielle seems to like my music class; she kicks the most when the teacher turns on a CD and plays some instrumental or vocal music.  Maybe she'll be a musician like her daddy ! 

I have an appointment with the doctor this Thursday.  So far, it seems that all is going well.  I feel Arielle every couple of hours during the day or night so that is always a good sign.  She is very active!  I've been sleeping well at night although I have started going to the restroom even more often (I went six times last  night...geez!).  I have been handling the indigestion and heartburn by eating my tums like candy...  hehe! 

Baby showers are coming up soon and I'm happy about that!  I'm having two in the beginning of November and one either at the end or in December.  There are just so many people that care and it's overwhelming !  Of course, Arielle is already being spoiled by family.  We went to visit both of our families the weekend of October 5 - 7.  Chris's mom bought a lot of clothes and people gave her things to give us.  Her old boss also came by to give us a gift which was so nice of her.  We also went to Houston, and my Aunt Tina gave us a couple of Indonesian outfits.  From what I hear, she's still going nuts buying baby clothes in Dillards!  LOL. 

Well, there is really nothing new... just feeling the baby more often and I'm still growing of course.  I'll have to measure myself soon.  Well, I'll be offline (I'm determined to stay offline) for a few days to get back on track with school without any distractions.  I'm not in trouble with school, but I'm starting to let myself fall behind which is not good.  So I'll write another blog at the end of the week.