Archibald's kicking has gotten progressively stronger these past couple of days and yesterday for the first time I felt him kick from the outside! Feeling the movement on the inside was cool enough, but now knowing that other people could actually feel that too is pretty amazing. Nothing like it, for sure! I cried, actually!
Because most of you reading (especially Brian) aren't able to be with me and feel those kicks I thought you all at least deserved a couple of pictures of how that bump is progressing! The ones at the top I took today (before heading to the gym, so excuse the workout attire and no makeup) and the other two I took about 3 weeks ago to send to Brian. Feels like I’m growing on a daily basis, and if my appetite is any indication, I think I am!
If you’re very observant you will have noticed that I started to develop linea nigra (which of course means, ‘black/dark line’). An emblem of pregnancy, most women develop the line at this stage in pregnancy (in the 2nd tremester, I’m currently at 23 weeks). It is a type of hyperpigmentation resulting from increased production of the pigment melanin thought to be caused by increased estrogen. Why this process of hyperpigmentation occurs on the midline of the abdomen is uncertain. Typically, fairer-skinned women show this symptom less often than women with darker pigmentation. Hopefully it will fade quickly after birth!
