We celebrated the Fourth of July by picnicking in Hermann Park with friends, listening to the Houston Symphony perform, and watching fireworks.  And of course, I had another giggling fit in the middle of the concert.  As active as Thomas has been, he really didn't respond much to the boom of fireworks, nor to the 1812 Overture canons.  I guess he's used to loud, raucous noise (probably due to my giggling fits).

My appetite and weight have both leveled off a bit.  I suppose Thomas just finished a growth spurt.  My prenatal aerobics are probably helping as well, and I'm enjoying them quite a bit!  I was so used to eating constantly, since I was hungry constantly, that it took me a while to realize that I was eating even when I wasn't hungry. 

I've become increasing intolerant of heat.  Of course everyone is here in Houston, with the heat index hitting 100.  But it used to not bother me so much, particularly if I was indoors, where the humidity is usually controlled.  However, now I can't stand to have covers over me when I sleep and I even get surprisingly uncomfortable when the temperature indoors reaches 80.  Since we keep the thermastat on 80 in the apartment, this might be a problem. I think the primary cause of this intolerance is the development of brown fat in the baby.  Brown fat is pretty neato, and only found in sea mammals and babies, if I remember correctly.  It's different from normal fat in that it produces it's own heat and keeps newborns and whales comfortable when out of the womb or in frigid artic waters (I learned all that in Human Physiology 8 years ago; it's amazing what you retain).  So I have a little heat-generator in my abdomen. 

They say that babies are most active during the 24-28 week period.  If this baby gets any more active than this, I could seriously stand in for a scene from Alien.  From about 11 am to 3pm, then from 8pm to all hours of the night, this kid is constantly popping me left and right.  They say that you should get, on average, four movements an hour.  I'm getting four movements a minute at times.  I know Marcella and Enrique are planning Santiago (their unborn son with the coolest name ever) to be a soccer star, but I have to say that Thomas will have him beat as a kicker, if this is any indication. 

Thomas is also making himself visible, as well.  Today during seminar, I noticed a little nubby sticking out of my side.  When I poked at it Thomas moved and pulled it back in.  I have no clue whether it was an elbow, foot or fist, but it was kinda interesting.  I've certainly found a nice source of entertainment during the lesser interesting seminars.

The visit with the doctor today was quite uneventful, despite Thomas's antics.  The nurse had a heck of a time getting a good heartrate with the Doppler, since the baby kept moving away and kicking at the wand.  She thought it was cute.  Dr. Cook came in to do the sonogram and at first I though the baby was going to behave.  He gave us a nice confirmation that he was still a boy, but then moved before Dr. Cook could take a picture.  We saw a glimpse of his heart, still healthy and beating, before he moved again.  Thomas never stayed in one spot long enough to get a good picture of anything.  About all you can see in this picture is his head to the left, his ribs on the right, and a hand or arm above.  Dr. Cook commented on how active the baby was and seemed a little impressed.  Maybe it was that Sprite I had for lunch.

Next appointment I get to take the glucose tolerance test.  I have to drink a whole bunch of orange-flavored syrup.  I heard it was icky, but Dr. Cook assured me that it wasn't that bad, and that it tastes like Orange Crush.  I guess I'll find out.  The bad thing is that I can't eat breakfast before going.  Then again, my appointment is at 8:45 in the morning, so I probably won't be awake enough to eat, anyway.

My mother said that I was terribly active as well during my womb-inhabiting days.  I just hope Thomas follows my standard for easy births as well.  I could handle him being two weeks late if he comes out as easily (relatively, I assume) as I did.  Here's a picture of me with my current belly.  And looking at this picture, I can see where Thomas got his lack of photogenecity from.  Really, I do try to smile in these pictures.  Maybe I should take the next one when I'm in the middle of a giggling fit.