Pregnancy Update: Pregnancy Number 3 (baby number four) // Week 18

[How Far Along]

18 weeks as of yesterday (I know it's not an exact science but I like having a day of the week to look forward to, to mark my countdown as "officially" moving on, so...) Hello, month #5.

[Baby is the size of]

A can of soda or - if you're eating well (and I do believe I am) - a sweet potato. num num

[Weight Gain]

Up two pounds from my pre-pregnancy weight. I'm extremely pleased with how well my body is handling this baby. My first go-round produced 11 pounds 3 ounces of twins at 36 weeks gestation. That's a lot of baby. And I'm sure you remember the jaw-dropping weight of baby girl, Ayara, because it was 12 pounds 3 ounces, also at 36 weeks delivered. I sincerely believe that my mind and my body are working in harmony to grow a smaller baby. Fine by me.

[Movement]

I've felt the baby move on-and-off since Memorial Day weekend.Last week after Taylen lunged at me from the couch - planting his knee on top of the baby - I felt nervous not getting any movement. I made a last-minute appointment at the clinic and they were kind + found baby's heartbeat right away putting my anxious mama heart at immediate ease. 

[Sleep/Symptoms]

Sleep is textbook prenatal-style: exhausted, often fall asleep as soon as I lie down, sometimes can't sleep due to restless legs and arms (usually means I'm too too tired), and on and on. Bob's great about challenging me to a game of basketball, or motivating me to take an evening walk so rest comes easier. The number of times I wake in the night to pee remains ridiculous.

[Maternity Clothing]

Love it. Seriously. I enjoy the maternity pieces I've got, and I also enjoy the giant bump in non-maternity wares, too. 

[Craving]

Fresh and crispy still: grapes of all colors, carrots, apples, chopped salad, cucumbers... even oranges.

[Best Moment this week]

Watching Taylen, Dayr, and Ayara kiss the baby bump and say (although I may have coached them) "I cant wait to meet you", the smiles on their faces lets me know that they mean it.

[Looking forward to]
A scheduled doctor's appointment next Tuesday, 19 weeks, and setting up the "half-way" ultrasound at that time. Also, hopefully sharing some appointment attendance with Bob, its much more fun that way :)