The bump at 18 weeks

Getting in touch

For some reason my bump invites touching. In fact, it's probably me more than my bump. I dropped by to see a friend a couple of weeks ago and the first thing she did was stroke my bump. Then she said sorry and told me nobody had done that to her during her pregnancy, despite her perfectly round, sticky-outy bump. Thinking about it, I realised she's the kind of person people tend to take a step back from and won't hug/kiss unless invited to do so. I, on the other hand, hug and kiss everyone when the mood takes me, so I suppose I only have myself to blame. Also, I don't really mind, as long as I know and like the person doing the touching. My colleagues have all done their fair share of patting, my mum gives the bump a little stroke every time she sees me and most of our friends greet my bump before they greet me now. I don't know what I'll do if strangers start invading my bump space, but I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.

The nicest thing that has happened recently is that I can feel the baby move. A couple of weeks ago I felt a little flutter but that was it, so I started doubting whether or not it was actually the baby. However, a few days ago I was lying in bed and very clearly felt something move. A pregnant friend of mine described the feeling like a fish swimming around your belly and she was spot-on. I hardly dared breathe as I laid my hands on my bump. There it was again...and again and again. It felt like the baby was salsa dancing in there and it carried on for ages. I could only feel it ever so slightly against my hands, but only because I knew what was going on on the inside, so R will have to wait a bit longer. It's a fantastic feeling though and now that I know what it feels like, I feel it all the time. It's also rather strange, this creature swimming around inside your belly!

Knit one, purl one

It's funny how growing a little person can suddenly inspire you to do things you wouldn't normally even contemplate. When I was about 7 or 8, my gran taught me to knit and I knitted loads of stuff for my dolls and even a jumper for myself. When I was an adult living in a remote area without any transport of my own, I took up knitting again, out of boredom mostly. I knitted jumpers, cardigans and scarves galore. I haven't picked up the old knitting needles in almost 10 years, but all at once I felt an immense compulsion to knit for the baby.

A few weeks ago, I went to a craft shop and bought a book with baby knitting patterns as well as enough balls of cotton yarn to knit two miniature cardigans. I have since discovered knitting cardigans the size of my hand is a great deal quicker than knitting the adult-sized equivalent. I've already completed two of the cutest little wrap-around cardigans and I'm about halfway through a little denim blue wool jacket with sheepskin trim. It's so nice to be making something for the little creature that is currently wriggling around inside my womb.