What Happened During Week 18 & Black Hawk Down

Pregnancy is weird.  It seriously steals your time or makes life feel like you've been living in the same moment for 100 years.  The first trimester draggeddddd on... as I figured it would because I was feeling like death.  Now, the weeks seem to be going by pretty quickly.  And here I am, updating you on week 18!  I feel SO blessed to have had an issue-free pregnancy thus far.  Our baby is (currently) healthy and moving around in there!  But, prior miscarriage or not, any preggo mama knows the daily fear of worry.  And, I may be biased, but I think this fear weighs more heavily on those who have had a loss.  Daily - never knowing if the little babe is ok or not is torture.  And, knowing that there's really nothing I can do about it is worse.  Thankful is an understatement when it comes to how far God has let us keep this little bebe so far!

Week 18 was thrilling for multiple reasons:

1. Spring Break (college style) - Funny to think that just a mere 5 years ago I would be doing flabongos at some sketchy apartment and hitting the beach bars with my friends.  I would probably find some way to dance to Soulja Boy on a table and take tequila shot after tequila shot (throw in a PBR to spice things up).  I would end up in bed with a hot slice of pizza and my bestie, Emily.  Maybe, just maybe, I would even go home richer after a man in a mink coat shoves $100 down my shirt.

Spring Break 2016 (teacher/adult/pregnant style):

• 1. Getting Crazy - ordering pizza AND making it through an entire On Demand/Netflix movie.
• 2. Sleeping In - making it to 7am and feeling well rested.
• 3. Staying Up Late - not falling asleep before 9pm.
• 4. Looking Hot - keeping my makeup on until right before bed time and wearing a v-neck sleep tee instead of a crew neck (throw in yoga pants for extra sexy points).

2. California

This was a blast because Darius and I were able to do some sight seeing as well as visiting with his family.  We knocked out the entire crew in just 3 days!  The trip was short, but so well worth it.  I was able to enjoy FOOD and fight the jet lag.  His family threw us a gorgeous little baby shower where we were overwhelmed with love.  There was even a prop photo station to take pictures and put in an album for Baby Cross.  It was PERFECT.  And to top it off, I got the stroller/car seat of my DREAMS! One button click and the ENTIRE stroller folds up!  It's phenomenal!  It's funny to think that 2 years ago I was wanting Michael Kors purses and now here I am, drooling over a stroller.  WTF.  Darius and I even hit up Catalina Island which I truly only thought was a made up place from Stepbrothers.  It was so fun and the baby really *popped* out to be a part of the adventure!

Baby bumpin' by some cave on Catalina Island (photo bomb by Palm Tree)

Clearly, we know what Darius thinks the baby is.

I'm going to leave this blog on one note (and this is mostly to husband's/bf's of preggo mamas).  If you suddenly one night decided that the BEST (absolute worst) thing to do is to convince your loving, pregnant wife/gf to watch Black Hawk Down... rethink that.  Remember, your wife/gf is full of amazing, out of control hormones that send her skyrocketing in all different directions.  So, during the scene where the Army guy jumps out of the helicopter and misses the rope and falls and breaks his back and she is hysterically crying - just remember that I warned you.  I told you not to do this.  I told you to turn it off.  And when she takes that moment and turns it into "What if one day we have a son who is in the military and wants to do that job and breaks his back" and now there's snot rolling down her face, don't come crawling to me.  I warned you.  You should have just put on Stepbrothers.  If you don't trust me, ask Darius.  The next night, we watched The Land Before Time.

How far along? 19 weeks 4 days

Maternity clothes? YES!  All of the stretchy things!

Stretch marks? So far, so good!

Sleep: In anticipation of Gender Day, my dreams are out of control and so a deep sleep hasn't really happened recently.  But naps are good!

Best moment(s) this week: 10 days off work.  Days. Off. Work. = No. Alarms.

Miss Anything? In California, I would have loved to have an ice cold tropical drink while sitting along the beach.

Movement: Here and there! I am not panicked that it's not consistent.  It feels like flutters or bubbles moving around in there.

Food cravings: BURGERS.  My friend Erica had burger cravings and she had a boy.. just sayin'.

Anything making you queasy or sick: The smell of coffee and chicken.  I can eat it at  restaurant but cooking it my own is not happening.

Gender: 2 days away from knowing!

Labor Signs: No

Symptoms: Gagging (mostly early morning and late night or when it's cold out or when I am extremely thirsty or when brushing my teeth or the smell of anything remotely "gross" in my book), aching back, ligament pain (when lying down, coughing, getting up too quickly), growing belly!

Belly Button in or out? In

Wedding rings on or off? Still on, although I can already tell I won't be making it the entire 40 weeks.

Happy or Moody most of the time: I think I've been more happy lately.  Although I find myself EXTREMELY emotional.  Like crying when I'm happy and when I'm sad.

Looking forward to: IS IT A BOY OR A GIRL?!!? WE WILL KNOW ON TUESDAY!