of butterfly wings and popcorn

As an excited almost-new mom, I get four or five weekly newsletters to my email updating me and telling me how big Juan(ita) is getting, one type of food s/he could be comparable to and also any new pains or discomforts I will be experiencing that week.  Two weeks ago my email newsletter said that soon I should beginning to feel fetal movements.  A friend of my mom's a month ago had asked me if I had felt the "butterfly" movements yet.  The emails mentioned the fluttering of a butterfly's wings or little popcorn popping feelings.  They also said that first-time mothers often miss the first movements because they don't know what they are trying to pay attention too.

With the challenge set before me to notice baby Juan(ita) kicking or stretching or moving I became a student of any weird movements in my belly.  There were a few times at night when I would wake up to go to the bathroom and feel something.  I would be sitting in the morning reading and spending time with Jesus and feel weird movements.  I never knew if it was my imagination or if it was the baby.  Most of the feelings I outruled because they were above my belly button and little Juan(ita) is not that big yet to be able to reach all of the way up there.

Finally, last Monday (the 9th) I woke up in the middle of the night and in the right area I felt something that felt like butterfly wings.  I laid still to try to feel more.  Nothing.  But then again in the morning while I was reading, I distinctly felt something in the right area that I have never felt before!  It was baby Juan(ita)!  Since then most days for a little bit I feel our baby doing many movements.  It is exciting to have this little connection with baby Juan(ita) and I can't wait for more!