The Rookie is on the move, and welcomes Charlie!

Hi all! This was a crazy week for me and I'm just now getting a note out about the Rookie. But, it's been a busy and exciting week, and I'm glad I'm typing this now so I can update you all on some exciting things that have happened in the past few days...
On the plane ride down to Atlanta last weekend (after spending a few days in Stahlstown, PA, with my buddy Annie as she did some wedding planning-- super fun!) I started feeling the Rookie move the first time. Wasn't sure if it was the right thing first and it was only for about 30 minutes that first day, but since Sunday I've been feeling the Rookie daily and it's GREAT! The Rookie also got to participate in it's second wedding... my high school friend Kathy tied the note last Saturday in GA and Chris and I made a weekend of it, staying in a great little B&B courtesy of a gift certificate from Aleck and Stacey (for Chris' work helping paint their new house a few years ago). Thanks Johnson family!!!
I found it necessary to interrupt a few staff meetings and, in one case mid-week, an entire panel in front of 300 college students to note that the Rookie is moving. It's really a fabulous feeling-- I imagine this little swimmer, goggles and all, doing laps in my lower abdomen.
And, to make it even more special, Chris was able to feel the Rookie move twice yesterday. It's really great to share that with him!
I look forward to our ultrasound a week from tomorrow (June 16) where yes, we will find out the gender. If you don't want to know, let me know... otherwise, I think we'll share the news far and wide.
Today is in particular a special day (and it just started!)-- around 5 am this morning Charles Lawrence Jones, first child of Lea and Wes, came into the world and is healthy and happy. Yoo-hoo!!!!!!! The Rookie was bouncing as I lay in bed this am talking to the new parents-- I think she/he can tell something was up because I got so excited, and wanted to share in it. Even as I type this now (and still feel excited), the Rookie is moving up a storm. I'm/we're so happy for Wes and Lea, who will be fabulous parents. The three of us (Chris, the Rookie-- in its own way, and I) sang "Happy Birthday to Charlie" this morning and look forward to doing so every June 8. It's great that the Rookie and Charlie will be so close in age (and we'll make sure they get to know each other even as the Johnston/Jones family moves to FL later this year).
Other highlights of the Rookie's last week: getting to see Alexis (my former colleague) for dinner in Pittsburg on the way back from speaking at Allegheny College at a student conference (http://www.bonner.org/meetings/sli/agenda.htm), a day of playing hooky from work to recover from a bunch of 14-hour days and hang out with Lea on Friday (including doing some very fun maternity clothes shopping and seeing Sex in the City on the big screen), picnicing at Jazz at the Sculpture Garden with Maury and Andrew while Maury is back in DC for two short weeks before returning to Pakistan for her work with the IRC, a little very hot tennis yesterday against Chris (so warm we stopped at 3-2), and playing with Stacey, Aleck and Amanda (soon to be 2!) last night. If you ask Amanda "what's in Merrie's tummy" she answers "a baby!" After all the movement this past week that feels more true than ever! :)
Read on if you are interested in the latest developments of our banana-sized friend. And, love to all!!!!
xoxoxo merrie