What's with all the kicking?

What's with all the kicking, flipping, punching, and only God knows what else?

For days on end, the critter within hasn't given me a break. S/he starts before the sun comes up and I still feel it well after the sun has gone down.

Of course, in the early months, I was craving the little one to make its presence known. I've a very active imagination that lends to the mobid. Saying that, I spent most of my first and early-second trimester imaging horrible scenarios and preparing myself for the grave news that I was no longer with child when I visited my doctor.

The only thing that would calm these fears would be knowing that it was still in there, moving. Since I didn't feel anything, I'd force Mr. Oh's ear to my belly and ask him to report (and, at times, mimick) the sounds he'd hear. Most of the time he'd report "blurp blurp", an auditory sound that reminded me of blowing bubbles in gooey hair gel.

Then, finally, on June 1, as Mr. Oh listened to our babe, it gave a swift kick that knocked Mr. Oh off my belly. Up until a week or so ago, the movements have been sporadic and the kicks have been mere tappings. And, I've loved everyone one of them.

However, for the last two weeks, the movements have been non-stop and they've gotten progressively more energetic, more aggressive. I'm glad that the little one is alive and kicking - literally - but really, isn't enough enough?

I probably sound like a horrible mommy-to-be, but when you're awakened at 4:30am almost every morning and then kept awake until well after midnight, the novelty of movement starts to wane. In truth, it has only caused me further concern as what's it going to be like when it's finally born?!

Finally, yesterday, tired of being awakened before the cock crows, I had a chat with my belly. Not wanting to discourage the active lifestyle s/he has developed, I told it that I loved that s/he is having such a good time discovering its world. But, and I used a firm, mommy-means-busy tone, that sleep is something mommy cherishes, especially on the weekends.

I obviously didn't convince him/her totally, but we did make some progress as the knocking starting at around 5:15am this morning. A mere 45-minutes, but I guess I have to take what I can get!