The tragic events that happened in Newtown, CT today leave me thinking it might be nice if I could protect this little innocent baby in my womb forever.

After a Picasso- focused visit to the art museum today, C threw out the name "Picasso" as an option for a boy name. In the end, we decided we didn't like it, but it shows that we're looking everywhere! Girl names are no problem for us, but we are having trouble finding another boy name that works.

Today was the last day of classes for me at Smith. When I left my classroom today, I couldn't help but think about the next time I go back into a classroom there (next fall), I will be juggling teaching, homeschooling, a taking care of an infant. Ack!

We have movement!

I have no picture of this, but I'm sure now that I have felt the baby move. It's officially "too early" for me to feel it, but I have a few times now, and because this is my third time around, I think I know what I'm talking about.

Last night, when I was lying in bed in still of the night, surrounded by sleeping people, I stopped what I was doing so I could enjoy feeling my baby move inside me. There are very few experiences I have had in my life, if any, that are as magical and amazing as this one. Bonding with a baby that I haven't even met yet, and feeling him or her in a way that nobody else has the privilege of feeling, is such an amazing feeling. Sometimes I wish I could bring it back with the touch of a button, but I suppose that would take away from the magic anyway.

This is our baby friend Aksel (and A). Aksel is the younger sibling of two of the kids who homeschool with A and E. Aksel is, by far, the most popular kid at our co-op and the other groups we're involved in.

Today, at homeschooling co-op, I couldn't help but thinking that the younger siblings of the older homeschooled kids might just be the luckiest kids in the world. They have so many people looking out for them. They spend their days with older siblings, their older siblings' friends, and the parents of the other homeschooled kids. They get so much love, attention, and care.

Being plugged into a homeschooling community has me thinking more and more that this baby in utero is going to be one lucky baby to be born with so many caregivers and people (kids and grownups alike) who will care for him or her every day.

It feels so different than when A was a baby, and the only way to connect with other families was to force myself to go to breastfeeding support groups or library programs, where maybe I would connect with other moms and kids. I like this way much better.

This week, baby is the size of a lemon. Doesn't seem that big until you remember that way back at the beginning, baby was the size of a sesame seed.

Today begins my second trimester!

The word is getting out; I'm feeling good; the kids are so excited; I am a happy pregnant lady.