18 Weeks

How far along? 18 Weeks 5 Days
Total weight gain/loss: +7.5 pounds
Maternity clothes? Yes
Stretch marks? No
Sleep: Last Friday night was the first time I felt like I just couldn't get comfortable.  I was in the living room watching TV with my husband, sitting in our recliner with my snoogle behind my back and it was just horribly uncomfortable.  I was also really tired from having to go back to work this week.  So I just took my snoogle to bed with me at 7:30 pm.  I laid in bed on my side, watching a movie.  I finally fell asleep around 10:00 pm.  Throughout the night I remember tossing and turning.  I would lay on my back, fall asleep, and within 30 minutes wake up again because my hands were asleep.  Then I'd flip (how you'd imagine an elephant "flipping") to one of my sides.  I repeated this process at least 3 times last night because I distinctively remember my hands falling alseep 3 different times.  When I woke up Saturday morning at 10:30 am I had to go to the bathroom so bad, but when I got out of bed, I felt huge!  I said to my husband, "My tummy just feels like it's....."  He finished the sentence for me..."huge?"  I said, "I was going to say 'growing,' but huge works just as well."
Best moment this week: There were two this week.
1.  Our 18-week appointment.  The baby's heartbeat was 154 and the nurse was able to find it quickly this time.  My doctor told me that I'm measuring perfectly and my uterus is right below my belly button.  When I said that some people have asked if I'm having twins because they think I look huge, he said that I would be much bigger if we were having twins.  I told him about the lower back pain I was having and showed him where it has been hurting.  As soon as he saw where I was pointing, he said that pain right there is completely normal with pregnancy.  He said that's where the third bone of the pelvis is, called the sacrum.  He said that I will feel pain off and on there until the baby is born because the bones are moving to prepare and make room for the baby.  We were able to set up our ultrasound appointment.  It is scheduled for Wednesday, January 23.  I am so excited to find out if we are having a boy or girl!
2.  Meeting my student teacher.  She will be in my classroom until late April.  I think she was sent to me by God because I'm pregnant!  Now I'll be able to go to the bathroom any time I need to and sit down in my comfy desk chair when I get tired.
Have you told family and friends: Yes
Miss Anything?  Sleeping on my stomach and back.
Movement: I felt major flutters tonight (Wednesday).  We went to Baskin Robbins because I was really craving ice cream.  I had taken maybe 2 bites of my ice cream, and I felt flutters!  I got really quiet and put my hand on my belly.  I tried to explain to my husband what it felt like.  I said it felt like little butterflies tickling the inside of my stomach.  I started giggling because it really tickled - plus I was so happy to feel such strong movement.
Food cravings: Ice cream and fruit - in particular, clementines.  I have at least 2 a day.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Getting too hungry and gummy worms (I think I OD'ed on them one night, then I woke up the next day and my stomach really hurt).
Have you started to show yet: Yes
Gender prediction: My husband thinks the baby's a boy. I still don't have a strong feeling one way or the other.
Labor Signs: No
Symptoms: None - this is the most normal I've felt since I was about 5 weeks pregnant.
Belly Button in or out? In, BUT it's looking different already!  I was not expecting this to happen so soon!  It's like it's not as big and open anymore.
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy
Looking forward to: Our ultrasound in exactly 2 weeks and hosting our gender reveal party!  We are having it the same day as our ultrasound.  My husband and I are going to find out the sex of the baby at the appointment, but then we're going to have family over that night to do the reveal.  I made the invites and sent them to our immediate family only (siblings, parents, & grandparents).  I was going to order a cake, but when we decided to have the party the same day as the ultrasound, I realized that there won't be enough time to have a cake made for us.  I'm going to attempt to make cupcakes instead and put pink or blue frosting in the middle.

Here's some info. from babycenter.com on pregnancy at 18 weeks:

Head to rump, your baby is about 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and he weighs almost 7 ounces. He's busy flexing his arms and legs — movements that you'll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead. His blood vessels are visible through his thin skin, and his ears are now in their final position, although they're still standing out from his head a bit. A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around his nerves, a process that will continue for a year after he's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If you're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, but he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.