The Karate Kid

You're definitely doing some kind of martial arts when you're old enough. Despite the title (I only chose it because of the movie which, by the way, you have to watch because it was one of the iconic movies in the 1980s), I think you should seriously consider Tai Kwan Do because of how much you enjoy kicking as opposed to chopping with your bare hands. Mommy did 3 years of Tai Kwan Do in high school and had a blast. Who knows?! You might like it too.

As a 35-week old fetus, you certainly enjoy kicking a lot. Sometimes you stick your foot out, creating that bulge/hard spot on mommy's belly. Other times you simply stretch your legs up toward the diaphragm and take my breath away. You found that spot right underneath mommy's ribcage two weeks ago and have since made it the (pronounced with a long eeeee sound) spot to jam your tiny foot in. The first time it happened, I jumped out of bed from deep sleep because I thought I was having a heart attack! Now I know that sore spot will eventually disappear if I lift up my left arm or rub on that spot a bit. Depending on the mood you're in, however, sometimes you'd give mommy one or two hard kicks when I try to gently push whatever that's in there down and away from my ribs... you brat!

I've also learned the pattern of your activities: You're up around 5 or 6 in the morning and you nap for a bit until about 9-ish. 9 to noon is your morning exercise time. You kick and roll and flip-flop around. Then you nap some more after lunch. Your afternoon activity seems to depend on what I'm doing. If I'm still at work and talking to people, you're more than happy to fulfill some of my single female colleagues' requests to "feel the baby". On the days when I'm able to get home early and sneak in an afternoon nap before daddy comes home, you have no problem catching a few Z's with me either (with Nuage snuggling right against you... well, my belly...). Evening time is when you're most active. When daddy's home and dinner is served through the umbilical cord, you're a "little terror in the tummy" for a good few hours until we're ready for bed. Like your dad, you also enjoy staying up late. Let's say if bedtime is 10:30. I used to be able to crash out as soon as my head hit the pillow. Now it takes me a couple of hours to finally fall asleep because that's how long it takes you to completely settle down. If you keep this up after you're born, you can hang out with daddy in the living room while mommy sleeps.

All the books say kicking means a healthy baby, so I guess I really have nothing to complain about. During one of those "not so funny rib tickling" sessions last night, though, I tried walking it off while rubbing my belly and focusing on my breathing. Then I heard Mr. Miyagi in my head, "Wax on, right hand. Wax off, left hand. Wax on, wax off. Breathe in through nose, out the mouth. Wax on, wax off. Don't forget to breathe, very important."