Pregnancy Diaries - Week 18

Edging ever closer to the half-way mark of Week 20 - and when we find out what gender this little one is.

Here are some of the highlights of the last two weeks:

* The baby is about the size of a turnip right now, and despite what I still see as a small size - I am starting to feel some movement!  It's not all the time, but when I stretch my torso to reach something, or the last few days at night when I'm resting and then move quickly I feel a little jab from either an elbow or foot.  I've had to stop a few times and remind myself that it's a baby moving in there - which is fun but still a little crazy to think about.  I don't think I've wrapped my head completely around that we have a baby coming!  

* Cravings
- banana peppers!  I was driving one day running errands with the kiddos and I could not get a veggie Subway sandwich loaded with banana peppers out of my head.  Every so often I try to talk myself out of a craving - but not this time!  And, then I bought another bottle of the peppers to take up with us to Bear Lake for the 4th of July.  I have loved cramming as many as possible onto my sandwiches :)

- cheddar cheese!  Wow - I feel like I should be on a dairy commercial promoting the beauty of cheese!  They were giving out samples of Tilamook cheeses last week at the store, and I suddenly realized that cheese was my new best friend!  I bought one of the smaller loafs of cheese and I've already worked half-way through it!  My favorite snacks are cheese & apples or cheese & grapes - the only complaint so far is that the kids say my breath stinks after eating cheese :)

- California Rolls.  I've only wanted these every so often - about once every 2 weeks.  I love the punch of the wasabi and the ginger with it!

- Crab Legs.  I've actually been wanting these for about 6 years, since we had them for Bryson's brother's birthday at their house.  Oh they were so good!  I've gone to buy them a few times, but I never plan the right time & try to buy them at peak time...which looking at the price tag deters that craving.  I am determined that at least once during this pregnancy I will get my crab legs!  Bryson and I went out to lunch for my birthday last week, and we went over to Market Street Grill - I was thinking I might just get crab legs - only to discover that their price at that time was $75 for 2 King Crab Legs.  No way!  I opted for fish tacos instead - which were actually fabulous and now that I'm thinking about it...I should have those again soon :)

Other random or weird things -

* My hair really does feel different - the texture is off, and I can't figure out if I need to change shampoos or what to do.  I don't notice a huge difference when my hair is done & the texture of my curls - but when I wash my hair it's noticeable.  I wish I could figure out what it needs....

* I have gotten a little too excited some mornings and get up and start out with some fresh apricots or have started to get ready before I eat.  Bad idea.  Those are the mornings that I am quickly reminded that my body isn't going to handle things until it has some protein & a better start to the morning.  It's not often - but I have gotten sick about once or twice a week in the past two weeks...oh, and there was a random night when I was up later & most have overdid it during the day, because I was sick that night too.  It really is random to me at this point, but thankfully again it's not daily!

* I'm starting to get much more energy during the day - finally!  The last week I had 2 great days making jam with the bazillions of apricots from the huge tree in our yard & I've also done weeding & yard work - I love that I feel good enough to be outside & doing something active!