Week 18

No more excuses - I really need to post photos soon! I still haven't had a chance (or the patience) to figure out how to load the pictures off my new camera, but I am sure Corey could do it for me. I will have him take pictures today or tomorrow since that marks 18 weeks and then we will load them. My belly looks so different from the last pictures on here at week 14 or 15. I am loving my belly - although I feel very large. I guess when you work hard to eat well and exercise to keep a flat stomach, it is hard to see it grow. At least I am growing life in there and not cheeseburgers!

Things have still been really hard since losing my dad and I am not sleeping well. I can't get over the thought that he suffered in his last hours and that no one was there to help or comfort him. I keep getting told that he wasn't alone and that he wasn't suffering because God took care of him. I really want to believe that. I am pretty sure that if I didn't believe in some form of God that I wouldn't be as optimistic about the situation as I am. I am trying to stay positive and I am trying to keep my stress level down because I don't want to cause any harm to my baby. I know my dad would want me to celebrate his life and to be happy that he is no longer in pain. I still reference my parents a lot (not just my mom) and then I realize that I no longer have a dad to turn to. My dad was my rock and helped me so much emotionally and finacially and was always a good listener. No one will ever replace him! I believe that he is watching over me and my baby every day and he can't wait for me to the mom I always talked about being.

Tomorrow marks 18 weeks and baby will be the size of a sweet potato- about 5.5-6 inches and weighing about 7 ounces. I am finally feeling a lot better and no longer throw up all the time. I am only taking nausea medicine about once a day and that is if it is a bad day; otherwise I can go all day without taking anything. Last week however I came down with a really bad cold and decided to go to Instacare on Sunday night since I was not getting any better and thought I may have ear infections. I did not have ear infections, but I did have a sinus infection so I am on antibiotics which finally seem to be working today. Lots of drainage and my ears are starting to feel better.

Last Tuesday (April 26th) I went to see Dr B and I took my mom with me. We heard Baby's heartbeat and my mom was thrilled. Corey and I decided to invite our Mommy's to our ultrasound appointment that is on May 12th (9 days to go!). I am so excited to find out what we are having. I think once we know it will give me motivation to clean out the guest room that will be turned into the nursery. I am still thinking we are having a girl, but we will know for sure in just over a week. Corey is leaning towards a boy, so one of us has to be right!

Mother's day is on Sunday and I know all the holidays are hard for my mom without my dad here, but we are all here for her and helping her get through things. No better time to celebrate what an amazing woman my mom is! I think we will do brunch and then I will probably figure out if Corey's family is doing anything. Rylee's second birthday was just two days ago and we had a monkey themed birthday party - I love monkeys! The party was low-key which was great and I think we all had a good time. Rylee sure loves money!