23 Weeks

Our little one is kicking! Last night while reading on the couch, the book (which was resting on my belly) suddenly jumped about an inch in the air. It was the weirdest thing! I put my hand over the spot where I felt the kick - right under my rib cage - and, sure enough, our peanut kicked me again. It was amazing to finally feel movement on the outside of my belly for a change. I was just slightly bummed that Mike was out golfing and missed it.

I'm also feeling absolutely HUGE. I'm fairly petite (5'2") and am already all belly. I get stuck if I try to roll over in bed, I have a terrible time trying to put pants on let alone socks and shoes, if I bend down too far, I have difficulty getting back up, etc. Oh, the many joys of pregnancy! This is one of those times I wish I was 6 feet tall. It would be nice if there was someplace else for the baby to go in my belly other than just outward.

From Baby Center this week, with her sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that she's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango), you may be able to see her squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in her lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing her for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze her when she hears them outside the womb.