This probably should've been a much more exciting post, except the first few times I felt Baby Lump move, I wasn't exactly sure it was Baby Lump moving.� So yeah, the title of this post probably should've JUST been, "OMG! I Felt The Baby!"

I'm not going to lie - I've always been under the impression that the first time you feel your baby, it's some kind of monumental kicking sensation that anyone else who has their hand on your belly can also feel.� This is not the case.� James has yet to feel a thing.� In fact, the first few times I felt movement, I was pretty sure it was indigestion.� It wasn't until several feelings of "indigestion" later that I realized I was an idiot.

What's cool is that lately, Baby Lump's movement has been much more pronounced.� Most women describe the feeling of movement as butterflies fluttering and goldfish swimming around (or, just plain gas).� I can generally agree with this, but honestly, it just feels like there's a baby moving around in my belly :o)

Oven Timer: 20 weeks, 4 days

Topics: Milestones, pregnancy, little baby lump, kicking, movement

I hit an important pregnancy milestone on Monday - the halfway point!� It's hard to believe I only have about four and a half months left before Baby Lump pops out.� I had another appointment Monday, and Dr. Stagg says everything is looking A-okay.� She also whipped out the tape measure and started measuring my belly this week.� Things are right on track!

If any of you are curious since my last post, I did remember to ask her about the hiccuping sitch.� She said hiccups are a result of an irritation of the diaphragm and speculates that the added pressure of the baby is just causing more frequent irritation.� And no, apparently it's not that common.� I'm just weird.

Also, the beach was great!� The weather was perfect, the water was beautiful, and despite James' unwillingness to wear sunscreen and his subsequent sunburn, he had a great first time at the Jersey shore.

I've also been looking into some childbirth education classes, since apparently it's about that time.� After some careful thought, I decided I want to give birth naturally.� That's right - no meds for me.� My mom delivered both my sisters and I naturally, so I decided I wanted to be brave as well.� Plus, I love myself a challenge (as if raising the the pending baby won't be enough of a challenge).� Anyway, when my mom basically laughed in my face after I told her I was planning on just winging the natural childbirth thing sans instruction, I figured I'd look into some classes.

As of this coming October, Mass General Hospital will be holding all of their family education courses through Isis Maternity, a series of pregnancy wellness centers in Massachusetts, which works out great for us since we can attend classes right in Brookline - much closer than downtown at MGH.� I'm hoping to enroll in the Natural Childbirth class in October, but I'm still banging out the details.

Enjoy the last few days of summer!

Oven Timer: 20 weeks, 2 days

Topics: Weekly Updates, Milestones, beach, natural childbirth, pregnancy, Isis Maternity, little baby lump, Mass General Hospital, 20 weeks, family education classes

So I literally get the hiccups just about every day now - it's so odd.� Sometimes I get them multiple times a day, though they usually only last for about two or three hiccups at a time.� Obviously my first thought about it was,

"Well, pregnant ladies must just get hiccups more frequently for some strange reason, probably for the same reason pregnant women get weird cravings for things like pickles and ice cream."

Honestly, though, I can't find any explanation on the Internet about being preggers and getting hiccups!� Although, funny enough, there are tons and tons of search results addressing the fact that babies are known to get hiccups in utero (how adorable!).� I must be the only crazy pregnant lady who doesn't really suffer from the common weird pregnancy side effects (i.e. cravings for pickles and ice cream, morning sickness, etc.) and instead makes up her own quirky ones.

I have a dr. appointment on Monday, so maybe she can shed some light on my hiccuping situation.� I'll keep you posted.� Until then, I'm off to the Jersey shore this weekend to enjoy some fun in the sun and to model my new maternity bathing suit from Target!

Oven Timer: 19 weeks, 3 days

Topics: shopping, Bizarre, hiccups, pregnancy, little baby lump, side effects, Target, pickles, ice cream, maternity bathing suit

I was horrified (yet completely entertained) to come across this amazingly funny blog, "Cake Wrecks," thanks to a tweet by my buddy, Laura today.� The blog features professional cakes that have gone "horribly, hilariously wrong."� Definitely check it out.

What caught my eye most was the series of "baby bum"and pregnant belly cakes highlighted in the blog's August 11th post.� Could they be more ridiculous?� Please, friends, don't ever buy me one of these - not even as a joke.� They're creepy.

Oven Timer: 18 weeks, 4 days

Topics: Internet Fun, Bizarre, pregnancy, belly, little baby lump, Cake Wrecks