This month's web hangouts:

• March Pregnancy Calendar
• Fit Pregnancy - Pregnancy at a Glance, Month 4
• HomeArts - How Your Baby Grows - Month 4 (also available at ParenthoodWeb)
• Life with Baby - The Second Trimester
• Mayo Clinic - The Second Trimester
• The Mining Company - Pregnancy week by week
  • Week 15 (Feb 25-Mar 3)
  • Week 16 (Mar 4-10)
  • Week 17 (Mar 11-17)
  • Week 18 (Mar 18-24)
  • Week 19 (Mar 25-31)
• Stages of Your Baby's Development - 15-18 Weeks
• Women's Link - Your Baby at 4 Months

Conceived Dec 3, 1997
Due August 27, 1998
Labor August 29-31
Born August 31, 1998

Some calendars say the second trimester just started, while others say I was in the second trimester at 13 weeks. In any case, I'm definitely happy about this change!

Right in the middle of week 16, on March 7, I think I felt the baby move for the first time. While I was relaxing on the sofa (on my left side, of course!) with a book, the baby moved. It felt like it does sometimes when Joe will lightly rub my tummy, and it goes into a tiny spasm in response to his touch. It was a nice, fluttery feeling that certainly excited and reassured me. And of course, I've felt it from time to time since then too, almost every day.

My triple marker screening test was done on the 11th. Don't be fooled--they actually drew 6 tubes of blood (not 3)! Later that day I promptly developed a nasty headcold which stuck with me for over a week. I called the doctor a couple days later to find out that I could take TheraFlu or a Tylenol/Sudafed combination.

On the 17th, I had my normal prenatal checkup. The doctor located my uterus halfway between the pelvis and navel, right where it's supposed to be. Then we heard the baby's heartbeat, right about 152 bpm. We also found out that the results of the triple-screen were excellent.

The doctor advised me that at this point there is no medical reason to have the Level II ultrasound in 3 weeks, since the pregnancy seems to be going very well. Since our insurance doesn't cover it unless it's necessary, we've decided to forgo it for now. We are certainly curious about whether we will have a boy or girl, but not curious enough to spend hundreds of dollars to find out before August.

I am beginning to see different doctors at this point in my pregnancy. The clinic I go to has 7 doctors who rotate being on call, so any one of them could deliver my baby. In the meantime, I'll be trying to get comfortable with all of them--a task which so far does not seem difficult.

On the 24th, Joe and I were snuggling on the couch and he felt the baby move! I know he had to make a real effort to feel it, but when I told him our little one was moving a lot (I thought it was his hand moving on my belly at first), we were quiet while he concentrated on feeling my tummy for movement. It was fun for both of us to feel the baby moving at the same time.

We started house-hunting this month, since our lease is up at the same time the baby is due. Then we prayed for guidance about whether we should move and where. Two days later, we received a big NO from God about buying a house here. Instead, God may be directing us out of this area. Joe's looking for a new job now, and Georgia, Arkansas, and Texas all seem to be possibilities. Or we may continue on in Pennsylvania. The job market is really excellent right now, so it looks like we may have several options. Any move we make will probably happen in April. Please pray that we would continue to receive guidance from God in this important time of transition in our lives.