18.6 Weeks Pregnant with Baby #2!

How far along? 18.6 weeks!

How big is baby? The size of an artichoke! 

Heartrate: No checkup this week, so not sure! 

Total weight gain/loss: I weighed at home before going to the doctor (more on that) and gained 2 lbs. I don't know how accurate that is, but I'm definitely sporting a bump!

Maternity clothes? YES! I am still wearing a few larger "regular" tops, but I am embracing the tighter fitting, bump enhancing things!

Sleep: sleep hasn't been THAT bad actually. I woke up this morning early with a twinge of sciatica pain up my left side, but I've also got a nasty viral something that's making sleep harder to achieve.

Best moment this week: Feeling these amazing kicks everyday! Especially after something with sugar in it (even OJ)!

Movement: I am feeling those kicks fairly regularly! Mostly when I'm laying down, but I love it! 

Food cravings: It's hitting the "I love carbs" stage in my pregnancy! Up until yesterday I was eating pretty well! Then yesterday I had yogurt, nuts, dried cranberries, pepper jack cheese, 4 slices of pizza, 2 shrimp tacos, 4 nuggets off Benjamin's tray (since we are apparently raising a vegetarian inadvertently), a Snickers bar, and some chicken and stars soup! I will take it though since I've been sick for about 2 weeks now.

Food Aversions: Nothing really anymore! 

Gender: We have an idea, but no ultrasound this week so we will find out at the 20 week detailed look on 9/7. We have names picked out for both though!

Labor Signs: No! Thank goodness!

Pregnancy Symptoms? Bloating fingers, sore nipples, mini sciatica pains few and far between. No real nausea anymore unless I haven't had something in my stomach in the morning. 

Belly Button in or out? In.

What I miss: Sneezing/coughing without peeing! There's no fear of it anymore... If I sneeze/cough, it's happening. I gotta work on those kegels!

What I am looking forward to: Getting over this "virus", my belated birthday weekend this weekend with my hubs, and a job interview for a charge position next week!

Upcoming appointments/events:  Detailed scan 9/7!

Weekly Wisdom: If you put your toddler in daycare and they catch something, you will too(regardless if you work on a hospital floor full of adult germs or not).

Milestones: Baby is rolling around like crazy!

Bump Picture: I will take one. I have a cute maternity dress now ;) 

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This week has been hard. 2 weeks ago, Nathan's grandfather was murdered in his home. While we are iffy on details, they had 2 people in custody about 2-3 days after it happened, and we are waiting on court dates, etc. It's such a tragedy. We had his funeral on my birthday... Not exactly how I wanted to roll into my 30's, but, it will have to be. 

I've also been sick for about 2 weeks (mostly just congestion/nasal stuff), and then Benjamin came home with probable pink eye, and a nasty cough. So, of course because I'm pregnant and immunocompromised, I got the exact same thing. My eye is better, and my cough seems better today than yesterday, but geez. Yesterday, I almost threw up multiple times because of how hard I was coughing (which meant peeing all. day. long.) I think the thing that sucks most about being sick is weighing the benefit of meds (even pregnancy "safe" meds) vs the symptoms. With Benjamin, all I remember taking was the occasional Tylenol or Tylenol PM. This time, I'm having to use nasal spray, Flonase, Robitussin, cough drops, Benedryl, etc. for this thing. I am slowly weaning myself off of them, but it's just a mess. 

As far as turning 30 goes, it's definitely not my best year. But I don't feel any older, and I don't feel any worse! I just want a big family and to be happy. Things are looking up! :)