the quickening

Mommy first felt you move in her tummy on 11 May 2012.  You were about 18.5 weeks.  What a wonderful present for Mommy and Daddy who were celebrating their 6^th month Adelaide wedding anniversary that day!

Your Tita Bing gave Mommy this book called, “What To Expect When You’re Expecting”.  It says that while you may have been making movements since your 7^th week, Mommy will only feel these movements when you’re somewhere between your 14^th and 26^th week (the average is between the 18^th and 22^nd week).  The technical term for these first movements is “quickening”.

Mommy was quietly reading Steve Berry’s “The Romanov Prophecy” which is about two Russian royal children who some people still believe didn’t die on 17 July 1918 when the entire family was murdered (I know, this sounds ghastly…). Anyway, Mommy suddenly felt that her heartbeat has moved down to her tummy. This was around the part where the hero, Miles Lord, was being hotly pursued by thugs out to get him. Mommy dropped her book. That’s when she realized that you were moving! Mommy tried to stop breathing so she can feel your movements better. And there you were, giving a couple more pokes!

I think little pebble, you like books where there’s a whole lot of running around going on.

P.S. Mommy used to watch this TV series called, “The Highlander” in the mid-1990s (Mommy was in law school at that time and had a lot of angst).  These were about people who were virtually immortal; they can only be felled by a fellow Highlander.  A Highlander, who cuts off the head of another Highlander gets stronger… and in the end, “there can be only one”.  Thunder and lightning come together when a Highlander’s head rolls, signalling that the beheader has become a degree more powerful. That particular instance is also called a “quickening”.  The whole point of this postscript is, while you may not be a Highlander, little pebble, Mommy could almost swear there was thunder and lightning when we had our own version of the “quickening”.

buon giorno anton lee thomas!

The ultrasound showed today that you are now 22 weeks, that you weigh 470 grams, and that your heart beats 159 times per minute. 

An ultrasound is a machine where we are able to see you even if you are still inside Mommy’s tummy. There’s a gadget which is put on Mommy’s tummy and then we see you on a computer screen. We can also hear your heart beat! Pretty cool actually.

How you have grown, little one! Last 27 February, at nine weeks and six days  (that was the date of your second ultrasound), you just measured 3.05 centimeters from crown to rump. The book, "Pregnancy from Preconception to Birth, edited by Linda J. Murray" says that last week you already measured 10.5 inches (Mommy has to read up all these books so she learns how to take care of you).

We tried to find out today whether you were going to be a boy or a girl but your cute little legs were crossed.  Guess you were a bit shy.  The doctor tapped Mommy’s tummy to get you to change your position (sorry if we woke you up). And you did change your position!

Now am sure Daddy won’t throw away his old sport shirts, that he’s goingto show off to you his sports trophies, and …make you wear all sorts of Port Adelaide paraphernalia. Be ready little one. I can already see that you will be playing soccer and watching lots of soccer games. A whole lot.

We are very happy to see that you are doing well. Last Tuesday (22 May) Mommy and Daddy got alarmed that you did not seem to be moving. You were quite active two days before so your lack of movement was quite noticeable.  Daddy told Mommy to go to the hospital to just check how you are (sometimes little pebble, Daddy just pretends to be cool…). So off Mommy went (Mommy reads too many books which sometimes puts all sorts of scary thoughts in her head).  The doctors placed a small microphone on Mommy’s tummy to wake you up. Sorry little one, I think you were jolted. After all, it was already 9’oclock in the evening. You were fine, maybe you were just tired.

Or maybe you were really bored that Tuesday little pebble. We watched on TV the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines appear before the Impeachment Court composed of senator judges.  A lot of people did not actually think he was going to show up. He needed to explain himself well otherwise he would lose his job as Chief Justice (that’s a very big job!). Anyway, the Chief Justice went on and on for three hours. I was bored myself but I hang on there. I think you must have given a big sigh, gave up, and just dozed off. But I hope you woke up on that part when he dramatically ended up his long speech with, “Now, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines wishes to be excused” and he quickly thereafter tried to leave the hall. You can imagine he caused quite a stir. 

I must tell you little pebble that the proper way to excuse yourself (whether in court or when we’re having dinner if you didn’t like Mommy’s cooking) is to ask for permission to leave and you need to wait before Mommy says, “Permission granted”.  That is only the time when you can leave.

Ok, I think you need to sleep now little one. We’ve had a big day today. Mommy and Daddy are so looking forward to hold you and hug you and kiss you when you come out in September.

Permission to leave, granted.