18 Weeks

Clear space in the Louvre because it's finally here. As promised, The Bump Picture: A Self-Portrait. 

I apologize for the crappy picture but it's the best I could do. I've tried having Brian take a picture for me but I come out looking crazy in all of them. We'll keep trying but for now, self portraits it is. On top of that, I had to snap this picture in the bathroom at work because the mirrors in our house are all above sinks so they're too high to capture anything from the chest down.  

Also, I think I look more pregnant in this picture than I actually do. Maybe I'm standing funny? Maybe that's lunch bump not a baby bump? I don't know. I think I just look chubby, not pregnant. I was hoping for one of those cute little bumps that protrudes out from under the belly button. Instead I think I'm just getting a little round everywhere. What can you do? That's more than enough discussion of the picture - moving on.

I thought I'd do one of the weekly pregnancy updates I've seen on so many blogs to recap what's going on with me and Baby B right now. I probably won't do this every week as I'm sure most of the answers won't change that frequently, but we'll see.

How Far Along:  18 weeks

Size of baby:  According to my weekly email update from BabyCenter, Baby B weighs 7 ounces and is 5 1/2 inches long from head to tush - approximately the size of a bell pepper. (Creeps me out that they compare the baby to food. The week the baby was the size of an avocado, my sister said she was hungry for guacamole. Not cool, Jill, not cool. You're not going to be a great aunt if you try to eat my baby. I'm just saying.)

Total Weight Gained:  3lbs as of my 16 week appointment.

Maternity Clothes:  I bought a pair of jeans and a pair of black pants for work. Other than that, I'm still wearing my regular clothes. (The pants I picked up for the office are the most comfortable pants I've ever owned. I never want to give them up. God bless the Gap and their comfy preggo pants, which you can find here.)

Gender: We find out in two weeks (!!!) on my 30th birthday. At first I was convinced Baby B was a girl but now I have no feelings one way or the other.

Movement: I haven't felt any yet.

Sleep:  This has been the area of my life most affected by this pregnancy so far. At first I was sleeping all the time but now I'm pretty much back to normal as far as the amount of hours I'm sleeping. Unfortunately, the crazy dreams have started. Every night for the past week I have had the most vivid dreams. I remember every one of them when I wake up and some of them are downright strange. Last night I dreamt that I ended up on a plane to Hawaii all alone and my family changed their minds and wouldn't join me.

What I miss:  Meeting my girlfriends at the bar for a drink on Friday nights and ordering a glass of wine at dinner.

Cravings: Most of my cravings come and go but I've consistently loved cereal for the past 18 weeks. My favorites are Captain Crunch, MultiGrain Cheerios and Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Lately, I'm craving a McDonald's cheeseburger.

Aversions: Nothing comes to mind.

Symptoms:  Probably just the crazy dreams.

Best Moment this week: Every day we're another day closer to finding out whether the little one is a boy or a girl. I can't wait.