18 Weeks! Getting closer to 1/2 way!

Your Pregnancy: Week 18
Now that you're in the full throes of the second trimester, you're feeling—and looking—fabulous. So don't waste it! See friends (they've missed you since you moved your bedtime up to 7:00 p.m.), plan romantic dinners with your partner (you will miss those when junior arrives) and get active. Waterskiing might be a little too much but swimming and taking long walks are great for you and your bambino. Wondering what's up with your body, your baby and your life this week? Read on ...

What You're Thinking:

"Either I have an ongoing case of indigestion or there might actually be something moving around my gut!"
Your Body
At about 18 weeks, you might begin to feel a suspicious flutter in your belly. The professionals call it "quickening," we call it "baby's makin' waves!" Within the next few weeks, those tiny bubbly feelings will become more obvious. And soon enough they'll be unmistakably identifiable—especially when you (and anyone within 10 feet of you) can see tiny feet, elbows and knees moving across your belly.Gas pains are a way of life now, so it's common to mistake fetal movement for a little indigestion. If you don't start feeling your baby's flutter kick right away at 18 weeks, don't worry. Quickening happens at different times for different people. If you notice a distinct lack of fetal movement after feeling your baby move for several days, contact your health-care provider.
If you're feeling hungry these days, indulge (in moderation) . It's especially important to load up on carbs right now to fuel both your and your baby's energy needs. So hold off on the Atkins diet for another 22 weeks or so.

Your Baby
Your baby's ears are now facing forward and are completely formed so she can actually hear you talking now. You don't need to abandon your potty mouth just yet, but you might want to start thinking about it!
Other highlights this week:
This week is also the beginning of ossification. And while that sounds like some long and involved paperwork you'll have to fill out, it's really a fancy medical term for the hardening of your baby's miniature bones. And that's a good thing.Your baby's nerves are making more and more complex connections. Her sense of smell, taste, sight and hearing are all developing. A substance called myelin, which makes nerve connections travel faster, is now coating your baby's nerves.

Your baby now weighs between 5 and 7 ounces and is about 5½ inches long—about the size of a pickle from the corner deli. (You're familiar with pickles, right? Your regular accompaniment to a big bowl of ice cream?)

Your Life
Getting your baby to sleep will become one of your sole missions in life (the others will be feeding him and then making sure the food is coming out the other end OK). Get off to a good snoozy start by making sure you can instantly change the baby's room from light and airy to Sleepyville, USA. Don't spend a boatload on fancy window treatments. Save some pennies and make your own curtains, complete with blackout liners. And you don't even have to sew to do it. Get out your trusty glue gun or try Stitch Witchery Fusible Adhesive, a sticky tape that can help you instantly make curtains with nary a needle or thread.No matter if you make them or buy them—you need to baby-proof your curtains. Indeed, your baby won't move around for a few months, but before you know it, he'll be all over the place. Avoid long, floor-length draperies that will be huge "pull-it-down" temptations for a curious crawler.

From the Mind of the Mother to be:
Wow what a week/weekend for our little family! Lets see we had 2 blizzards and a huge white out and even a little freezing drizzle mixed in! Our girls got to spend the night a Grandma Morse's and are getting hair cuts today! I got to go shopping with Grandma Morse to get some maternity clothes...things just don't fit! Thanks to Grandma we are much more comfortable now and so glad! THANK YOU MOM/GRANDMA!
We are feeling pretty good. Lots of back and hip pain that I do NOT enjoy especially at night when I can't get comfortable. Eating habits continue to be pretty normal. Lot's of fruit and cheese. I do eat fries! I love them! Really only eat them on Friday and Saturday at work. I'm trying for u baby! Well we will be having our ultrasound this coming Friday...the 23rd! We are pumped and I will try and let everyone know as soon as I can!