eighteen weeks

how far along: 18 weeks

gender: unknown today, however, a sonogram is scheduled for tuesday. we should know by then if it is a boy or a girl!

symptoms: still no real sickness. one morning i did wake up feeling queasy and it was a bit difficult to get ready without sitting down every ten minutes. however, after i ate i felt better. i think i was just hungry. also, the nosebleeds have continued about once a week. i think i have gotten used to them and view them as routine now. about a week ago while driving to school i experienced a foot cramp which made it difficult to drive. that night i woke to a horrible leg cramp. and a few days later i felt the beginnings of another muscle cramp but after standing on it for a bit it went away. i haven't experienced any muscle cramps since. if i do i will call the birth center and ask what they suggest i do. for now i am trying to keep my water intake high and eat as many bananas as i can stand. does the texture of those things ever gross anyone else out?

energy level: (scale of 1-10) 9 - my energy is back. and it feels good. i typically wake up a few minutes before my alarm ready to take on the day. i shower and get ready for school. my sweet husband gets up a bit later (way before he needs to) makes my protein smoothie for breakfast and packs my lunch before i head out the door. i get to school about an hour before the kids arrive. i love having this time to prepare for the school day. after a full day of teaching i head home and work on grad school work. i am currently in week two of my fourth class. it is time consuming and stressful sometimes but i am working my way through it and will be so happy when it is done. after a full day i love to have dinner and relax on the couch with my man. sometimes he has to remind me to sit down and put my feet up, and i am thankful for that.

mood: it has been better since my energy levels rose. i am very happy the majority of the time. this girl is loving being pregnant! only had a couple of emotional fits. bobby is always around for those, lucky guy. knowing i can show him my biggest insecurities and gripes i usually save my breakdowns for him. 

cravings: mac & cheese. which i remedied yesterday for thanksgiving... and had the leftovers for lunch today. is there anything better than carbs and cheese?

food aversions: none so far. i still love food. <---- i will be shocked if this answer ever changes.

sleep: i am still typically getting about 8-9 hours each night. trying to do my best to sleep on my left side (because that's what they tell us pregnant women to do), but i am waking multiple times a night on my back. i hope i get used to it soon because i love sleeping through the night.

what i am thankful for this week: my bestie chelsey. her family owns a dallas-famous business, barry a. martin paint contractors. we were interested in having an old dresser updated to use as a dresser/changing table in the nursery. they picked it up from our house this week and are painting it. they do absolutely wonderful work and we are incredibly grateful to have such a special piece in our little one's safe haven.

"pregnancy brain" evidence: bobby would tell you that i say a lot of funny things that make absolutely no sense. i would agree.

how my body has changed this week: the bottom of my belly is beginning to harden. i think this is where the little babe likes to hang out. one morning after being on my left side the night before i felt the "hard spot" specifically on the lower left side of my belly. after laying on my back for awhile, checking email, instagram, and facebook, the "hard spot" had traveled back to the lower center of my belly. i thought it was the coolest thing ever to physically "feel" my baby.

inspiration for this post found at becoming m