@ 18 weeks, 5 days

In 2 days, we'll find out if this little baby is a boy or a girl. I'm thinking boy. And I've got a name for a boy. Should it be a girl...eek. I've got nothing.

(picture from Saturday, 18 weeks, 3 days)

This pregnancy has been so different from my other two. While I had morning sickness (and it was not good, not good at all) it ended early compared to Emma and Mackenzie. I stopped taking the Zofran at 14 weeks and hadn't thrown up for a couple weeks before that. Of course, that could've been thanks to the Zofran, though there were days that were really, really, really bad even with it. More than once I asked, "whose idea was this???" But still. When I went off it, I felt nauseous for a week or so but that was it. I've felt so good the last 4 weeks. So good that unless I see/feel my belly or I'm working out I forget I'm pregnant. Such a new thing for me.

Speaking of working out. This has been hard for me. I didn't work out really with the girls. But I have been working out the most I ever had over the last year, I was finally down to my pre-baby weight and I was feeling good. Now, while I can still work out (running/walking, weights, low-impact things) I can't do the things I was doing. Nothing requiring jumping (which is half of boot camp), no more ab work, no heavy weights/lifting, I can't even do regular push-ups any more because of the strain on my core. It's just an adjustment. One I haven't gotten used to yet. Although I did enjoy myself today - we did the deck of cards workout for abs. Since I can't do them, I got to tell everyone else what to do. It satisfied my need to be bossy. ;)

The need to nap every day is gone. No longer do I fall asleep every day even when I'm not trying to. I no longer feel as though I'm neglecting my children every afternoon while I'm on the couch. And it would seem I'm not anemic this time around either, as my energy is back to normal. Not that I still don't enjoy a good nap, it's just not a requirement anymore!

And let's talk about my ring. If you look in the picture above, you can see it on my necklace. I wore my wedding ring through both girls' pregnancies. I never had to take it off. This time around, I'd noticed it getting tight. I took it off last week to try on a wedding band a friend is letting me borrow (she got one in a bigger size to wear during her pregnancy when her wedding ring no longer fit, which is what I was planning to do) and once I got it off, which wasn't easy, I couldn't get it back on. Wasn't expecting that.

One of my favorite parts of being pregnant is feeling the baby move around. Sometimes it's a little kick, which feels like someone's flicking me with their finger. Other times just a wave of movement. I first felt it before 13 weeks, but I wasn't sure. Since it was so early I thought it could just be gas but as the weeks went on I became certain. He's active. And just now gave me a little kick.

I hate maternity clothes. I want my old clothes back. Especially my jeans. I miss them. Particularly my "skinny" jeans I'd just bought before getting pregnant.

This picture (the one in my banner) is my favorite so far. From 4/9/10, it's strange that my belly looks bigger there than it does in the picture from 3 weeks later. I'll blame it on the shirt.


I'll post on Wednesday after we get back from the ultrasound!