growing gilbert [20 weeks]

Since I just shared my reason for lack of posting, I thought I would provide picture proof as well.  This will be my monthly baby gilbert update since I don't want this blog to turn into a baby blog but I thought I should at least start documenting it in my main blog. :)

As you can see, the bump is growing slowly, but surely.  I wish I would have done this from the beginning, but to be honest, this is the first month that you can actually tell I have a slight bump.   

In other news... I felt him for the very first time this past Saturday--exactly on my 20th week!  My doctor told me that some people feel their baby sooner, but not to expect it until 20-22 weeks.  I knew that but as I kept approaching my 20th week (and as more and more people started asking me if I've felt him yet), I started to get anxious.  In everything related to pregnancy and the unknown, I just had to take a moment and give up my fears and anxiousness and pray.  It definitely did the job since I began to focus less on what I wasn't feeling and more on the fruitful things.  And then low and behold, I felt movement a few days later.

It was a really incredible moment.  I was lying in bed, debating whether or not I was ready to battle the cold outside of the covers and had my hand over my stomach just praying that I would feel him soon and just for him in general--then all of a sudden, I felt a faint flutter.  Thinking I just imagined it, I didn't move to see if it happened again.  Sure enough, it did 3 more times with one that made me go "oh my gosh!"  It woke Joel up and he was just as excited as I was.  :)  I felt him again this morning and then again tonight in church.  I'm so thankful for answered prayers and getting to feel the beginnings of what will only get stronger as he grows over the next 4 months.

I can't believe it's already around the halfway point--now I get to look forward to Joel being able to feel him!