Happy Halloween!

So while I'm 1 day early on my 18 week post, I'm a few weeks behind with my weekly writings.  Just like everyone else, life just got the best of us, and we found ourselves extremely busy.  For Baby T's 16 week, we left late that night and headed to Kansas City for my cousin Dani's wedding.  The trip was wonderful for so many reasons (including seeing Dani and Mario get married, being surrounded by family and tons of love, enjoying a few days away from the stress of work and school and so much more), but it was also a great trip because I got to go maternity shopping with my mom!  We were good and only bought a few staple items, but I got to experience that first trip with her.  Phil and I came back to Brookings on Sunday afternoon and it was life back to normal.

Last week, we had our 17 week appointment and everything checked out great!  Baby's heart sounds wonderful yet again and was rocking out at 149.  Phil's still holding strong with Baby T being a girl and while I was going strong with that vote, I have started to sway towards team boy.  Our next ultrasound is November 16, but we will wait to reveal the gender until after Thanksgiving.  My parents will be here for the holiday, so we will tell my parents and Phil's parents first and then reveal to everyone else.  We have started doing some of the old wive's tales just for fun, but I want to do them a few days before the ultrasound and see if anything changes (not that I'm expecting it will, but who knows?!?)  And since we didn't travel enough the previous weekend, we made a quick trip to Rochester to see Aunt Mag and pick up a few items for our house.

I am still in awe of how amazing this experience is.  We have received love from so many people and I continue to be thankful for this blessing.  A few weeks ago, we got our first package in the mail from some friends with some adorable gifts for mommy, daddy and baby.  Then we got baby's first books from another friend and then a teacher at SDSU asked if we wanted a few of the items she had (and three bags later, we have some of those items!) and just so much more love and support!  The moms on the swim club are awesome with their advice and stories and support.  It's a magical time and I am so happy to be able to experience it with so many people!

While there are so many highs, there have definitely been a few lows.  During our trip to Kansas, when it was time to say goodbye to everyone, I realized that I won't see my brother until after that baby is born (as he works over Thanksgiving, and I will coach during Christmas break).  So, hormonal tears started flowing.  Last week, I was stressed with school... yep, waterworks again.  This week, Monday could not have been any worse.  I had very little sleep due to a late night board meeting on Monday night, then there was a lot of stress with work, and to top it off, my car decided not to start :(  A few emotional phone calls and extreme crying, and then it was time to get on with the day.  Tuesday was a little better, but it was still cloudy with stress and car troubles. Today was looking to be a better day, and while the car is still a headache (it's been to the shop twice), seeing the adorable kids come trick or treat made my night.  Phil and I dressed up as Thing 1 and Thing 2 (with Thing 3 of course)! I joke that if my life were childhood stories this week, Monday would have been 'Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day' (self-explainable). Tuesday would have been 'Cloudy with the Chance of Meatballs,' as there were a few storms, but at the end of the day, I did have to laugh at a few items. Then today would be 'Where the Wild Things Are,' since of course it was Halloween, but also because while I want to run away sometimes and get away from what I think is horrible, I always come back to the realization that I am meant to be where I am.  And there will always be hot supper (i.e. comfort) waiting for me when I return.


Through all of the difficult times though, it really makes me stop and think of what I do have.  I think I get so caught up in wanting what other people have, or wanting a stress-free work place and thinking I deserve the easy route.  Then I realize that it's these moments that make it all worth it.  Without stress, I wouldn't know how strong I am.  Through the emotional breakdowns, I realize that I have a loving family and friends there to pick me up. And of course, at the end of the day, there's always going to be chocolate (especially since this preggo lady definitely plans on hitting up the grocery store tomorrow morning for cheap candy)!

In terms of pregnancy items, there's not a lot to report.  While I think I did feel the baby move for the first time, I'm not sure.  So, here's to hoping that baby continues to move more and that I can truly be sure that I felt movement.  Cravings are not extreme, but I'm continuing to enjoy cheese of any kind (from string cheese to that fake cheese that you get at concessions stands with your pretzel).  I also enjoy cheeseburgers, Nestle crunch candy, bananas and fruit snacks this week.  Baby T is about 5.5 inches long (sweet potato) and weighs almost 7 ounces (hair brush or 80 M&M candies). Here's to continued growth, cute baby bump and happy days ahead!