belly dancing

Lunch is a great time for Squirt and I. Usually I'm relaxed (not working) and enjoying a lovely meal, finished off with some sort of sweet.
Then I wait.
Within a few minutes, Squirt is up and moving. Fun to feel from both the inside and now the outside. But today was different. The kicks are becoming progressively stronger - and today, strong enough to see!! Wow- weird and awesome all at the same time. Couldn't see anything distinct, just my belly moving.
Now if Squirt could please put on a good show this weekend for my family, that would be great!

performance

Squirt performed last night.
Pizza, root beer and brownies. Excited high school friends. A perfect time for stage fright. But one by one each of the girls got to feel movement - unmistakable kicks right in their waiting hands. I don't think I've felt the kicks that hard before. But there was no denying what they were feeling. And the look of joy and privilege each one had was irreplaceable.
But the privilege was entirely mine. The life growing inside of me will be our responsibility and no doubt we will receive the most joy, but we can't wait to share Squirt with the world. And allow Squirt to be loved by so many different people with so many different gifts.
My prayer is that we won't be selfish with this child, though I know with all my heart that it will be a challenge for me. I will want to stay in and snuggle and shelter - and there will be time and need for that. But allowing Squirt to be loved and challenged and nurtured by so many people - that is a gift not only for us, but for our child.
Squirt will be exposed to hunting and fishing, weight-lifting and cooking, baseball and musicals, Packers and Bears, conservative and liberal - and though all will fight for their side adamantly, all will express deep joy and love no matter what. And at the end of the day - home will be a place to sort it all out.
Thank you, ahead of time, to each of you that will enrich our child's life. I can't wait for our child to enrich ours and all of yours, as well.

lots happening

I will give you little words, lots of pics.

1 - I'm growing. The picture on the left was two weeks ago. The one on the right, tonight (I will be 23 weeks on Friday). Feeling great - though a little tired at times.

2 - Joel and I spent the weekend in Madison and had the most unbelievable view from our hotel room!

3- Our crib arrived and Joel surprised me while I was at Young Life on Monday night and put it together.

4 & 5 - One finished project (a wool soaker) and one unfinished blanket for Squirt.

the moment

People keep asking us why. Why don't we want to find out what we're having? Boy or girl? How do you feel connected? How do you paint the room? How do you look forward?
Because of the moment. Labor isn't going to be fun. But the moment will be true joy.
When Joel gets to look at me and say "It's a ..." - my eyes fill with tears just thinking about it. And then, when he gets to announce to our waiting family "It's a ..." - that moment will be forever etched in my mind.
We weren't tempted, truly didn't even think about it at the ultrasound. We were amazed. There's a baby in there. Really. With fingers and toes and kidneys and bones. My thoughts never went there.
And feeling connected. Once I saw that baby, there was no going back. I'm in love. And I can't wait to meet that little personality growing inside of me.
The room, planning - those don't matter to us. We want gender neutral anyway.
So for us - it's became a no brainer. The joy and excitement will get us through the next 18 weeks and the moment will be the sweetest thing I've ever known.
Joel and I have created life. What a miracle.

peek-a-boo

Well, I'm not going to lie. Ultrasounds are pretty sweet - okay, really sweet. And the best news of all, Squirt is healthy and growing right on track. Our due date is somewhere in the 6/18 - 6/20 range. We have some images of our little one that I couldn't be prouder to share. And of course, Baby Hintz has got to be the cutest little thing there ever was!
Could be the only moment Squirt stayed still... this baby was jammin'!

Kickin' so hard... bop, right in the head.

And all snuggled in... the tech said that Squirt was balled up most of the time with hands near the face.

We did hold tight to our word and we didn't find out the sex of our baby. My dad has already threatened to call the doctor's office himself, to which I had to tell him the doctor doesn't even know! :) We are just so blessed that everyone is healthy.

january weekend

i only have a moment, but i'm a proud wife! joel is building a cradle for Squirt and it's starting to take shape. check this out!

on another note - we got to use our Christmas gift from Mike this weekend - a trip to a Badgers hockey game in Madison. we brought our friends Lou and Jessica who had never been to a hockey game. great company, great game - Badgers hold on for the win over Denver!

bumps

Week 18 day 5. In a week and a half... this happened. I know I seem surprised every time, but it literally happened in the eight hours I was at work. Even Joel was surprised when I got home!
Squirt and I are well. I really can't complain. Everyone at work keeps asking me "how are you feeling?" (which is very nice), but I can't say I have much to respond with... all is well.
Last night, we had a funny moment. I haven't been feeling the baby move a ton, but when we were relaxing on the couch, I felt a little, so I had Joel put his hand on my belly. We were enthralled in some t.v. show and suddenly Joel pulled his hand away and screamed like he'd seen a ghost. I had felt nothing, but Joel swears he felt a tapping on his hand. Guess it scared him... he scared me! Squirt just wanted a little contact!
Everything else is great. We are doing everything we can to enjoy our time together and with friends. We were blessed with two great meals and great company last week, as well as a nice date night out on Saturday. This weekend we're heading to a Rockets/Terrors basketball game and a Madison hockey game.