18 weeks!

How our baby's growing:

Head to rump, our baby is about 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and weighs almost 7 ounces. It's busy flexing its arms and legs — movements that I'll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead. Blood vessels are visible through its thin skin, and its ears are now in their final position, although they're still standing out from its head a bit (just like daddy's...hehe). A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around its nerves, a process that will continue for a year after it's born. As my growing uterus starts shifting my center of gravity (belly forward, bottom out), hormones are causing my ligaments to relax and joints to loosen. As a result, back pain and soreness... which have been in full force for me, ouch! On the brighter side... in 2 weeks we'll find out if we're having a boy or a girl! If we're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place at this time. And, if we're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, let's just hope he doesn't hide them from us during our next ultrasound!

How my life's changing:

My appetite has definitely increased, which is pretty common about this time. But not such a good thing considering it's the Holiday's and my sweet tooth is trying to take over! My willpower is a constant struggle to keep under control! My cardiovascular system is undergoing dramatic changes, and during this trimester my blood pressure will probably be lower than usual. I can't be springing up too fast from a lying or sitting position or I might feel a little dizzy.

From now on, when I lie down, it's best I lie on my side — or at least partly tilted to one side. (When you lie flat on your back, your uterus can compress a major vein, leading to decreased blood return to your heart.) This is very hard for me to do, 'cause I've always been a front and back sleeper, so staying on my sides has lead to some restless nights. But, I'm learning to cope!