Week 18 ~ To Peek or Not???

Your Pregnancy: Week 18

Baby's now the size of a sweet potato!

Baby's become amazingly mobile (compared to you, at least), passing the hours yawning, hiccupping, rolling, twisting, kicking, punching, sucking, and swallowing. And baby is finally big enough that you'll soon be able to feel her movements.

As your growing uterus starts shifting your center of gravity (belly forward, bottom out), hormones are causing your ligaments to relax and joints to loosen. The result? Back pain and soreness. On the bright side, if you want to know baby's gender, this might be your first week for a sneak peek.  www.thebump.com

How your baby's growing:

Head to rump, your baby is about 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and he weighs almost 7 ounces. He's busy flexing his arms and legs — movements that you'll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead. His blood vessels are visible through his thin skin, and his ears are now in their final position, although they're still standing out from his head a bit. A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around his nerves, a process that will continue for a year after he's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If you're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, but he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.
 

How your life's changing:

Hungry? An increase in appetite is pretty common about now. Make it count by choosing meals and snacks that are rich in nutrients instead of empty calories (chips, French fries, candy, and other sweets). Bigger, more comfortable clothes are a must now as your appetite and waistline grow.
Your cardiovascular system is undergoing dramatic changes, and during this trimester your blood pressure will probably be lower than usual. Don't spring up too fast from a lying or sitting position or you might feel a little dizzy.
From now on, when you do lie down, it's best to lie on your side — or at least partly tilted to one side. (When you lie flat on your back, your uterus can compress a major vein, leading to decreased blood return to your heart.) Try placing a pillow behind you or under your hip or upper leg for comfort.
www.babycenter.com

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I'm actually writing this 2 weeks late, but life is busy these days.
I feel amazingly well and have lots of energy.  The baby is steadily moving around and making it known that he or she is in there.
My visit with Toni, my midwife, went well 2 weeks ago.  The baby's heart rate was 156 which is still pretty fast but not unusual.  If i remember right, a faster heartbeat can mean girl?? or boy, for that matter!  It will definitely be one or the other!  Also, interesting to note, if i haven't already, that i think that since i am not anemic this pregnancy, my blood pressure has been in the normal range for the first time of any pregnancies.  I normally have low blood pressure at around 92/56 ish.  This time I've been up at 115/70ish.  Probably why i feel so much better too!

Many have asked if we are finding out the gender this time and the answer is no.  After our experience with #5, being told he was a girl after 2 3D ultrasounds, we decided that it's best just to wait.  We waited on the others and really enjoyed the "surprise" at birth.  Although, now that i think about it, #5 really was a surprise since we were told he was a girl (85% sure) and he came out very much a boy.  My hubbie held firm that he thought the baby was a boy even though they said girl, and he was right!  Thankfully, i wasn't completely convinced either so i prepared for a girl but had all of my boy stuff ready to grab, just in case. 
Through that experience, I've come to realize that the Lord wants me just to be patient and wait, so that's what we will do, this time ; )