18 Weeks: Fear the belly...

Can you believe its been a month since I updated on E2?

Heavens.

Maybe after the party is done this weekend, I'll have more time to think.

By a show of hands, who believes that will actually happen?

Exactly.

So here we are at 18 weeks. I feel pretty good. Tired, of course. But that likely has more to do with work, a toddler, a husband and a house than E2.

Still can't eat chicken and unlike with Aubrey Kate, Mexican. I cook it and then watch AK and Chris eat it from the safe distance of across the room on the sofa.

But PF Chang's or Pei Wei...I am all over that.

The dreams continue although they have gotten less violent. I haven't seen someone die in a few weeks. Could be the stress of the Party taking over though but I hope not.

My back gets tired really easily and my hips tend to get achy at night. Last time, I had round ligament pain in my back. So much so that we actually went to the emergency room one Sunday because I thought I might have a kidney stone. All that to say, I am assuming the back pain with my pregnancies is part of the growing process.

And picking up a 24 pound toddler.

Now. Let's pause a moment and reflect on the word "pregnancies".

Mir.a.cle.

Okay.

Weight gain has slowed down significantly. I'm also being more careful. I'm not really all that hungry. I eat when I about can't stand to not eat any longer.

However, despite the slow down, the fabulous comments on my girth continue. Today someone asked me how far along I was and after I told her proceeded to tell say "whoa, you already have a big belly there."

Awesome. And I was feeling cute this morning.

A couple of weeks ago someone at work actually asked me if I was sure there was only one baby in there.

People will just say anything to a pregnant woman.

I didn't enjoy that comment anymore than I would have enjoyed being asked my due date if I weren't pregnant. You know, there are just somethings you shouldn't say.

But my sweet husband doesn't think I look much bigger than last time. Of course, he's suppose to say that. I think I'm a little bigger. I just think I popped sooner and I didn't tell anyone until 13 weeks so they just all the sudden saw a belly.

Here's AK at 18 weeks:


And E2 at 18 weeks:


Hum.

Oh well. Regardless, E2 is healthy and growing. That's the best part. I haven't felt him yet (nothing major at least, just some little nudges) and really, I'm down with that. I suspect this little guy is gonna be a lot busier than his older sister was.

Aubrey Kate thinks its a fun game to look for the baby. She doesn't understand that she can't see him but that doesn't stop her from trying to look down my shirt or pull up my shirt to find him. So cute.

I suspect she won't want to find him that much once he comes.

The name game continues as well. We might, maybe, possibly be close. But I doubt it. Chris wants to do a Facebook pole to determine likability. Or un-likeability. I'm fine with that. My guess it will be split between men and women. Women will like my ideas. Men won't. Chris has no ideas so there's nothing for him to share.

Really, it's all still unbelievable. I see the belly. I wear the maternity clothes. I toss and turn to get comfortable at night. And yet, it still seems completely unreal. A miracle I am in no way worthy of. Oh how He loves us.