Bumpdate: 18 weeks

How far along: 18 weeks

Total Weight Gain: 17 lbs, but that was after breakfast, so maybe not so much?

Size of Baby: sweet potato

Maternity Clothes?: Yep. Still no maternity shirts, but getting there.

Sleep: The last few days were rough, but that had nothing to do with pregnancy. We were in Chicago and Alden and I are not great sleepers away from home. But we got home yesterday and slept great last night.

Food Cravings: Nothing in particular.

Food Aversions: Ground beef

Gender: We find out a week from tomorrow! AAAAAHHHHH!

Symptoms: Crazy round ligament pains!

Milestones: No big milestones that I can think of.

Movement: I’ve felt tiny movements here and there, but they were barely noticeable. Yesterday, they felt stronger.

Best moment this week: Chicago! More than a moment, sure, but it was so fun to get out and have a little vacation with my kiddos. Just wish Dave could have gone.

Looking forward to: Date night this weekend!

Extra Notes: Leland is very excited about Wee Three. For a long time, he was certain it was a girl, but the last couple of weeks, he now insists it’s a boy. Alden hasn’t really understood the whole idea until recently. A few days ago, he was cuddling up to me and said my belly was big. I told him there’s a baby in there and he got excited. He tried to look for it through my belly button, which was hilarious. Now when he touches or sees my belly, he talks about the baby. It's pretty fun that they kind of know and understand about it because Leland had no idea before Alden was born because he was so young.

Bumpdate: 17 weeks

How far along: 17 weeks

Total Weight Gain: 15 lbs

Size of Baby: pomegranate

Maternity Clothes?: Pants

Sleep: Great, minus the bathroom trips and the kids waking me up. Soooo…not really great. Ha ha.

Food Cravings: Fries! All the fries!

Food Aversions: No beef, thank you very much!

Gender: We’ll find out two weeks from tomorrow. Yay!!!

Symptoms: Round ligament pains…holy cow! I thought it would get better as I got farther along, but it’s definitely not. My doctor actually said that it gets worse with each pregnancy – that’s true so far.

Milestones: 17 weeks was my halfway point with Leland (though I didn’t know it at the time). Let’s hope this baby makes it longer like Alden did.

Movement: Started feeling movement almost a week ago. The little tiny movements still surprise me a little because it doesn’t feel like baby, but I know it is.

Best moment this week: First movements and hearing Wee 3’s heartbeat at our appointment.

Looking forward to: Chicago this week!

Extra Notes: Nothing extra note-worthy this week.

Bumpdate: 16 weeks

How far along: 16 weeks

Total Weight Gain: 14 lbs (that’s up 3 lbs from last week, but I forgot to weigh myself first thing, so I just did after eating lunch…we’ll see how accurate that is)

Size of Baby: avocado

Maternity Clothes?: Bottoms, yes. I’m still fine with my regular tops.

Sleep: Better, but I’m still finding myself SUPER tired in the mornings and early afternoons. 

Food Cravings: Currently, cheese and french fries (not necessarily together, but I wouldn’t complain). It’s so weird to me that my cravings have been changing so much. With the boys, I pretty much wanted salad and cereal (and sweets) the whole time. My cravings change almost weekly with this one.

Food Aversions: Ground beef. Last week, I couldn’t handle tacos and last night it was burgers. They sound okay when I make them, but eating them doesn’t work out so well.

Gender: Still don’t know. Dave thinks girl, but I still have a hard time picturing anything other than a boy. I get to schedule the big ultrasound tomorrow!

Symptoms: Chapped lips…weird! While I feel like I drink a TON of water, I don’t think I’m getting enough. My lips are super dry and chapstick doesn’t help at all. With my previous pregnancies, I was thirsty all the time. This time, I never feel thirsty, so I force myself to drink water. Over the last few days, I’ve been extra conscious about it and my lips are much better. 

Milestones: Baby is growing hair, lashes, and eyebrows, and is starting to be able to hear my voice (sorry, Baby, for all the singing).

Movement: Nothing yet.

Best moment this week: Vanilla Ice (and other 90s music) with my friend, Kristina, and my sister. So much fun! And also, the other day, the boys were wrestling on the floor and Alden suddenly gave Leland a hug and said, “I love you, Leland.” Leland said, “I know. I love you too. You’re the best brother.” And then they resumed wrestling. They also started fighting probably three minutes later, but that moment was the best! 

Looking forward to: OB appointment tomorrow and also going to Chicago next week! 

Extra Notes: I started working out again last week. It hasn’t been easy. I’m using lighter weights and modifying, but it’s still a challenge. Thinking I might switch to CIZE for a bit – I’m hoping no weights and the fun of dancing will help me get back to a regular workout routine.

Bumpdate: 15 weeks

How far along: 15 weeks

Total Weight Gain: 11 pounds

Size of Baby: navel orange

Maternity Clothes?: Finally got two pairs of jeans (one in the pic above). They’re still a little big in the waist. On hot days, I just wear jersey skirts. 

Sleep: I find that I’m super tired at specific times in the day (all times when I really can’t sleep), but at night when I go to bed, I’m WIDE awake.

Food Cravings: I’m loving fresh fruits and veggies lately! I made some pico de gallo to go with dinner tonight and I could eat it all by itself. I also really want fries (good fries, not fast food fries).

Food Aversions: Nothing that I can think of.

Gender: Today, I’m certain it’s a boy. About another month until we find out for sure.

Symptoms: Some nausea here and there, but I think it’s mostly from my prenatal vitamin. 

Milestones: Baby is wiggling all over, according to my “The Bump” app, and can move its limbs. But I don’t feel anything yet.

Movement: Nada

Best moment this week: Date night. The highlight for me was dinner. We needed something somewhat quick before our Nauti-Cat cruise, so we hit up the food trucks downtown. I wasn’t super thrilled with the choices that night, but decided to try a pork taco. I was anticipating not liking it very much, but it was AMAZING! BBQ pulled pork, cole slaw, and bread & butter pickles – a combination I would have never considered, but now I want more.

Looking forward to: 90s concert this week – Vanilla Ice, Tone Loc, Color Me Badd, and Dru Hill. It’s going to be epic and this 90s chick is excited for some of my favorite old school jams!

Extra Notes: Name game is starting even though we don’t know the gender. Dave was stuck on Henry for both pregnancies with the boys, and it’s still his favorite. I love it too, but it doesn’t match my town theme! Dave says I need to rethink the theme as being old farmer names and then Henry fits right in. It’s definitely on the list, but no decisions have been made yet.