Heartbeats

Hey baby person,

Yesterday the whole family took a trip to the Mama Doctor.  It was a pretty quick visit, but we got to hear your heartbeat.  That took a minute, as you were apparently riding low in the morning.  Maybe you are like your Daddy: not a morning person.  Your big brother liked hearing you in there, but liked a Winnie the Pooh book in the waiting room even better.  When asked last night what he remembered about the visit, Sammy recalled how "the doctor put the jelly on the stick."  Translation: the technician applied gel to the fetal heartbeat monitor.  Never know what will make an impression!

Kicking

Hey future baby,
I've been feeling lately that it's been easy to overlook the fact that you're around.  When Jess was pregnant with your brother it was constantly in the back of my mind, probably due to the newness and strangeness of the whole process.  While you are starting to poke out a little more, Jess still hasn't gotten really big yet, and so it's easy for me to space out on the fact that you are there.  They say that siblings have to compete for the scarcest resource- their parents' finite attention.  Which is perhaps why last night around Sam's bedtime you decided to start treating your temporary home like an indoor soccer arena.  We all had a nice time feeling the soft thumps you were making in there, and it was a good reminder that you are with us, though we can't see or hold you yet.  I'm sure that while we will never forget about you, once you are born there will be times when you need to remind us to pay attention a little more.  Let's hope you won't have to kick anyone.