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On Tuesday, five days ago, I felt the baby move for the first time. At least, I thought I did. It felt like soft bubbles popping in my abdomen. Maybe it was gas, but maybe it wasn't. I was sitting at my desk when it happened.

Then each day since, in the morning as I lay in bed "waking up" with a granola bar and a book, I feel the same sensations. Each day they get stronger, and I know it's not gas! Yesterday morning it went on for about 10 minutes. "Are you doing somersaults down there?" I asked the baby.

But the best one was this morning. James spent the night and after I felt the first movement this morning, I put his hand on my abdomen. Suddenly I felt a big push. "Was that you?" I asked him. "No!" he said, with a big smile on his face. He felt it too! The baby totally responded to his hand. I asked him what it felt like, and he ran his finger along my forearm and said "Like it was doing this inside of you." Wow! What a special moment for us to share! And now I know for sure it isn't gas!

James took this photo of me Thursday night, marking the start of 18 weeks and the fifth month. He doesn't think I look any bigger than four weeks ago, but I sure feel bigger. It's almost time to get some new pants.

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Amidst all the hubbub yesterday of shopping and getting ready for a friend's barbecue, James and I took a few quiet moments to appreciate HIM for being a wonderful friend, companion and future father. He has been there for me every step so far, and I know he'll continue to be until we are no long on this earth. Even though we are not married and this pregnancy was a huge surprise, he is committed to being the best dad he possibly can to this baby. I trust him 100 percent and I am so glad to be creating a family with him.

Since he's always reading my "What to Expect When Expecting" book, I got him his own version from Dad's point of view: "The Expectant Father." He opened it to a page about how to pick baby names. It had a great idea: Each parent lists 10 favorite names and then swaps for the other to cross off names he/she doesn't like. Then keep doing that until you end up with a list you both like. Then narrow it down from there. We are not going to think about names until we know what sex the baby is. The ultrasound is July 7, so it's not that far off! James has a gut instinct it's a girl. Since the father's chromosome determines the sex, maybe he knows something I don't. I don't have an instinct either way.

I also talked to my father last night and got to share the news of my pregnancy with him. I was waiting for Father's Day to surprise him, and, like everyone who hears the news for the first time, he was very surprised. But he and my stepmom are very happy for me and excited to have another grandchild on the way. (One of my stepbrothers has four kids already!)

To all you fathers out there, Happy Father's Day!

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What do BLTs, summer salad and fresh salsa have in common? They all have tomatoes! And unfortunately, due to several salmonella cases in the West, tomatoes are off limits right now.

I am really having a hard time with this. I was planning to make a big batch of my favorite summer salad this weekend, but it just won't be the same without tomatoes. My mouth is watering right now thinking of the juicy fruits, marinated in oil and vinegar, with salt and pepper and oregano and other spices.

I hope this gets cleared up fast. This was my first year NOT planting my own tomatoes at home!

Well after writing that previous blog, I have a word of warning for mothers to be: Follow the rules on eating raw, undercooked or non-pasteurized foods!!!

I got really, really, really sick last week and could only go to two places: my bed, and the toilet. And no, it's not a good thing that my illness took care of my constipation problem :)

I was convinced I had listeriosis, which you get from the bacteria listeria which can be found in raw, undercooked or non-paseurized foods. Several phone calls to my doctor assured me that my body was dealing with the bacteria correctly and I was not going to get meningitis or miscarry or die. But god, it was awful.

Upon the last call from the doctor's assistant, as she read back my notes from the week, I chuckled at the last line of the doctor's notes: "Told the patient no more goat cheese until after delivery." NO problem!

I went to the doctor this morning for my regular monthly appointment and felt assured everything was OK after hearing a much louder, stronger heartbeat than last month. However, any weight I might have gained before last week I lost again. I'm still three pounds lighter than I was before getting pregnant. I am supposed to be gaining a pound a week here!

My doctor's orders this morning: You need to gain weight.

Rest assured I will start eating more, but no undercooked meats, no non-pasteurized dairy products, and I will scrub my raw veggies raw.