Happy Friday everyone! This was one of the first images to greet me on the Internets this morning:

OMG!!! Could our First Family BE any more beautiful or radiant? That's the official photo released by the White House, taken by Annie Leibovitz. It was taken in the White House's Green Room. Malia is becoming such a beauty, and Sasha is adorable as always. I love the genuine warmth and affection reflected in their body language; it looks more like a casual snapshot than a posed portrait.

What else is on my mind today: Braxton-Hicks contractions.

OMG!! I have been plagued by them for a couple of weeks now. I awake to find my belly rigid, and I can literally feel the outline of my uterus. I was breathlessly describing these symptoms to my doc at the 24-week check-up last Wednesday, and he's looking at me like, DUH-- those are contractions! I was alarmed because I didn't experience any palpable ones during my first pregnancy, but my OB/GYN tells me they are much more common (and usually more noticeable) during subsequent pregnancies.

They aren't painful but they are noticeable and can get uncomfortable. Between that and the baby's increasingly intense kicking, it feels like there's a rowdy party in my belly!

So, what are you OMG!!ing about today? What else is up?

Chat away!