Looking Like a Baby!

We had our second big ultrasound appointment today, with the perinatologist (an OB who specializes in high-risk pregnancies).  Everything is still looking healthy and on-track, and we were happy to see some fat on those cheeks since he was just a skeletal little thing last time!

Look at that!  He's holding his knees up to his chest with one arm, feet sticking straight out in front of him.  Definitely my favorite shot from the ultrasound session.

Starting my 24th week tomorrow, I can say that things are going very smoothly so far.  My blood sugar definitely goes out of range, but it's overall not too bad.  But the baby is doing great, and the pregnancy itself is treating me pretty well.  *knock on wood*  I haven't had much swelling, blood pressure is as awesome as always, and I feel fine.  I'm tired sometimes, more apt to sit down when I might otherwise be fine standing, and occasionally slightly uncomfortable due to the belly....  Those are my biggest physical pregnancy complaints these days, other than blood sugar being harder to control.

The baby has been busy kicking and karate chopping my insides.  It's not just taps anymore!  Sometimes there'll be a massive thump I'm just like, "DUDE! Whoa! Chill out!!!"  If I lie on my right side, he seems to act up with lots of kicking the lower right side and punching the upper left at the same time!  There have been a couple times when I was slightly amazed at how clearly he was changing position in there, and other times I'd start just feeling lots of pressure in one spot (usually lower center).  Seeing that image I posted above, I wonder if he was trying to stretch out his feet in front of him whenever I felt that!

I'll admit...  I'm not very prone to sentimentality and great big gushing emotional shows.  I've had women tell me that pregnancy is "magical."  Sorry, I feel no magic in my uterus.  I have, however, begun to enjoy the growing evidence that there's a tiny little living person inside of me!  Life and reproduction are so amazing and cool.  And I don't feel some mystical bond to my child that some women say they feel during pregnancy, but I am completely delighted when he kicks (unless I'm trying to sleep!) or responds to pressure on the belly.  I'm not an emotional gusher, and I'm really uncomfortable when other people gush over me right now, but it's still an incredible experience that I'm appreciating.

(Related to the whole lack of emotional gushing, I just recently retook the Myers-Briggs personality test and scored as an INTJ, which is sometimes referred to as "the scientist" or "the system builder." This more reserved aspect of my personality is actually very heavily covered in all of the INTJ descriptions I've read, which made me feel a little less like a freak for not being ooy-gooy over pregnancy and babies!)