18 weeks.

i look:
PREGNANT! the belly is in full force...i've been trying to get a picture, but i haven't been pleased with any of them. my face reveals the tiredness my body and mind are feeling and it's just not pretty!

this week i started to notice that i have "linea nigra" ~ the medical term for the dark line that extends down from a pregnant woman's belly button. i was sorta disappointed...i wanted to have that perfectly flawless belly that you see in pictures...but i'll take it and whatever stretchmarks that come as a badge of mommy-hood honor ;)

i feel:
i started feeling the "butterflies" of baby movement a few weeks ago...on wednesday I was able to feel it from the outside too! it's amazing!! i'm obsessed. i just want to sit around waiting to feel it again. hehe. matt hasn't felt it yet ~ baby j is being shy when matt's around. we're hoping he'll be able to catch it sometime this weekend :)

physically, i feel good. i have more energy, am sleeping pretty well and haven't had the same aches and pains as i did last week. i am definitely getting to a point where lying on my back is becoming a little uncomfortable and lying on my stomach is almost out of the question. {kind of a bummer for a back/stomach sleeper}

i crave:
dairy. i'm realizing that this has been a pretty consistent craving of mine throughout this pregnancy. still loving cream cheese, milk, yogurt...
over the past two weeks, i've started eating chicken again AND i've been able to eat salad again! i can see why women say the second trimester is the best one! {i love to eat}

i think:
my body is rebelling against all the school work, late nights and busy days i've been having. i have a little cold...and it's no fun! i'm so excited that the remainder of this level of nursing school consists of one week with one lecture and one exam to go. level 3 will start with "nursing for the childbearing family" followed by "pediatric nursing" ~ could there be a better line-up for the next 4 months!!?! {i think NOT}

i hope:
baby j lets matt feel him/her...SOON!
{daddy is really excited to experience you, baby j!}

docs say:
no new updates here...my next appointment is a week from tomorrow. friday the 20th! we'll have our ultrasound to determine the sex of the baby and have the information sealed in an envelope until the big reveal party! so excited.