First Daddy Kick

Well, Cati was right, it did take till the weekend before I felt a kick. She was wrong, however, that I wouldn't need my brain when it happened. We were actually driving my niece and nephew back from a grand day at the Exploratorium when she went "oop!" And said I should feel, cause there was a pretty good kick. I put my hand on her belly and right quick felt what seemed more like someone doing a tiny somersault than a kick, and knew I had to pull over. Ivy was chirping from the back seat that she wanted to feel too, but after one more good roll/nudge, the little cantelope (apparently that's her/his size now) was done giving us a show.

It's pretty incredible that first little touch through mama's belly. I mean, I've seen pictures, heard the heartbeat, but that was all one-sided observation. This is the first time we've felt each other, hand against elbow or knee or forehead or whatever, my palm mere centimeters away from this miraculous living creature Cati is keeping warm for us. Did s/he feel my hand? Was there a little more warmth/firmness than s/he expected? Was there something else that passed between us that was less physical than all that? It was nice to have that moment while spending the weekend with my beloved niece and nephew, as I could look in the backseat and think once upon a time these two great kids were saying hello in the same way, and now they're real, radiant personalities walking around and coming up with their own plans and histories.

Cati's favorite part of the whole incident, I'll bet, was how I'm less persistent now about pushing my hand on her belly and making her go to the bathroom all the time. I definitely want to feel more kicks, but I'm still savoring this first hello.