18 Weeks

I can't believe how quickly this pregnancy is flying by. It's almost May and I've been pregnant since January! I remember thinking I would NEVER start to show, feel the baby, or get to my anatomy scan ultrasound. Now here I am, belly growing everyday, starting to feel my first little kicks (that feel a lot like tiny bubbles popping in my stomach) and will be finding out the gender of the baby next week. Soon I'll be waddling around wishing back to these last few weeks, when I could still move around easily and had plenty of energy.

I was so concerned these last couple weeks that I wasn't feeling the baby. Thank God for my friend Deanna...when I described what I had been feeling, she assured me that it was definitely the baby moving. This early on, I only feel the baby if I'm really still, normally lying down and really concentrating on it. The taps are so faint that you have to really pay close attention to notice them. Still, knowing that little Baby Mauldin is getting stronger and figuring out how to work those little arms and legs is SO reassuring. I can't wait to find out next week if we are having a boy or girl. Then we can finally stop referring to the baby as "Baby Mauldin", the baby or it and actually let everyone know the names we have decided on! I can see how some people would get a lot of joy out of waiting to find out the sex, but for me, I think it's going to be a bonding experience to be able to refer to the baby by name.

So here's an update on the pregnancy:

Pregnancy Highlights:

How far along are you: 18 weeks (3 days)

Total Weight Gained: 5 pounds as of my last doctor's appointment

Maternity Clothes: I have been mixing maternity and regular shirts. I still wear my belly band with pants, as well as maternity pants. I am loving dresses right now. Many regular dresses in certain styles fit well and are so comfortable.

Sleep: I'm sleeping pretty well right now. I've needed to go to bed earlier again, but I think it's because the baby is growing so much right now it's wearing me out.

Gender: Next Thursday!

Movement: Since last week, I've felt little taps in my lower abdomen. It almost feels like popping bubbles. Last night I also felt "fluttering" in my stomach after I drank a class of chocolate milk.

Food Craving: I found 1% Organic Chocolate Milk with DHA-Omega 3 at the grocery store and have been loving it for a treat that isn't too high in calories. Also popcorn (but only the kind from the movie theatre). Nick has gone to the movie theatre down the street from our house twice, just to buy me popcorn. What a sweetie!

What I Miss: My waist

Symptoms: My skin is itchy from my stomach stretching. I've been applying LOTS of lotion, but by the end of the day, sometimes it feels like I'm going to pop....and my stomach has so much more to grow.

Best Moment this Week: Knowing I was feeling the baby.