How far along: 18 weeks (just starting 5 months)
How big is baby?
How my last few appointments have gone: Some people dread going to the dentist...not me! I'd say I dread going to the obgyn more! Don't get me wrong, I LOVE getting to see the baby or hear it's heart beat, but if it's not one thing it's another!!! I've had blood work done 3 times so far (the first time I passed out twice). At my last appointment they told me 2 things that did NOT excite me: a) I am RH negative- so lucky me, I get to do the RHOgam shots :) and b) they can't do the gender ultrasound here in Virginia the day before Matt and I leave be I won't be exactly 20 weeks...fyi I will be 2 days short of 20 weeks-so, someone please tell me what difference 2 days makes?! Needless to say, we won't be finding out until we get to Texas (at about 22 weeks).
Sleep: HA! For a while there I was sleeping so much better (not waking up to pee every other hour). Now, although I don't wake as often, I wake up a few times each night because my back is KILLING me!! You're not supposed to sleep on your back or your belly...and it's recommended that you sleep on your left side. REALLY?! Is that supposed to be comfortable all night for anyone...let alone a pregnant woman?! Anywho...it's obviously not worked out that well for me! I start out on my side, clinging to my body pillow for dear life and wake up in the middle of the night aching because I've somehow managed to end up on my back! BUT, there is good news...thanks to my fabulous SIL (who suggested using ice packs at night) my back pain has ceased, or at least calmed down a little!
Food Cravings: FLAMING HOT CHEETOS AND DILL PICKLES!!!!
Why is this so large and underlined you ask??? Well...simply because I could live off of these two things!!!! SERIOUSLY! As my belly grows, I couldn't tell you how much of that is actually baby and how much of it is cheetos. I've also been craving a GOOD house salad with ranch and have yet to find one that satisfies that craving.
On another note, I CANNOT wait to be home for a few days because I have been craving the following:
-Chicken Country (chicken and dumplings)
-Stobys (fruit punch)
-Holly's Country Cookin (ummm just about anything off their menu)
-US Pizza (THE BEST SALAD)
-Mexico Chiquito (cheese dip and salsa)
-Old Chicago (ANYTHING!!)
Aversions: I'm still not too fond of meat, but I'm getting better and slowly eating more (mostly chicken).
Mood: Up and down-that's the only way I know how to describe it. Some days I'm great and others I get upset over the littlest of things. I'm sure this will only get worse as time goes on....
Pregnancy Symptoms: Thank God the morning sickness has passed! The only things I'm experiencing now are backaches, faintness, a good appetite, and (so far just today) leg cramps.
The BEST pregnancy "symptom" so far has got to be fetal movement!!! A few weeks ago I felt "it" moving around in there and saw something poke out of my belly! For the past few weeks, the feeling of baby has only been inside, but 2 nights ago (while Matt and I were watching a movie) the baby was goin to town! I could feel my belly rollin a lot, so finally I stuck my hand down there and felt it...and so did Matt! And for those of you who will question it...no, it was NOT gas! I know what gas feels like and it's usually followed by it's passing which did not occur!
Weight loss/gain: Over the first few months I managed to lose about 15 pounds....but the dr. told me it was "normal." No, fear though because it is steadily coming back! I've gained back about 5 of it so far. As baby and I grow, clothes are beginning to fit a little more snug. I'm not a big fan of this. Everything makes me look fat (kinda like an after dinner pudge). As my belly starts to round out though I'm sure I won't look as bad in normal clothes. Matt tells me it looks like I have a beer belly and that he loves how everywhere we go people stare! On a side note, it's nice to have the front stared at rather than the back, if you catch my drift!
I'll leave you with a recent baby bump picture...
