18 Week Update

Week 18

Hello Sunshines,

       I don't know about y'all, but I love taking random notes throughout the weeks to remember small details about my pregnancy. This is such a special time in my life and I really want to remember AS MUCH as I possibly can, but pregnancy brain is real and it is alive in my life.

       So far I've written in "The Belly Book", which I love ($10 on Amazon.com), random statuses on Facebook, posted pictures on Instagram (@MAMArnett if you want to follow), and now I feel like I need to condense all that information into one easy go-to spot which is why I've decided to start filling out these questionnaires weekly, maybe every 4 weeks, I haven't really decided yet. I want them to be interesting so we'll see if things change enough to fill one out weekly.

      Anyways, I've been reading other pregnancy blogs and I keep seeing the same survey on every.single.one and I can't really find any others so I guess I'll jump on the bandwagon. :)

P.S. I love surveys and questionnaires so if you find a different kind or format please let me know! :)

I love a book with a sense of humor!

Week 18

How far along? 18 weeks 3 days in normal people time. (See: Excuse Me, What? The Guide to Pregnancy in Weeks and Months.)
Total weight gain/loss? 6 pounds. I started out at 112 and I am now 118.
Maternity clothes? Yes.
Stretch marks? Thankfully no. I've been using body butter since I found out I was pregnant so hopefully I continue to stay stretch mark free and my mom, grandma, and aunts never got any so hopefully I inherited their good genes.
Sleep? No. I am having the hardest time staying asleep and once I wake up, I can't fall back asleep. It's a horrible cycle.
Best moment this week? James talking to our baby and telling it how much he loves him/her.

Miss Anything? I miss my tailbone not hurting and having no lower back pain. Oh and sleep, I also miss sleep.
Movement? Not externally.
Food cravings? The grilled chicken caesar pasta salad from Cheddar's! I can't get enough of it so I've started making my own version at home! I also can't get enough turkey sandwiches and cereal, oatmeal, yogurt, and ohhhh the chocolate chip cookies!
Anything making you queasy or sick? Onions and anything greasy. No fast or junk food for me.
Have you started to show yet? I just think I look fat, but my husband and family say I'm definitely showing.

Gender? We find out Friday, September 25th, 2014 at 1:30 pm. That's when my life will change! :)
Labor Signs? Oh heck no!
Belly Button in or out? I don't think my belly button will pop out at all, but we'll see.
Wedding rings on or off? On, but my wedding ring is really big so I can see myself wearing it on a necklace here soon.
Happy or Moody most of the time? I have been moody the entire pregnancy, but I have lightened up A TON now that I'm not feeling sick 100% of the time.
Looking forward to? Tomorrow, Thursday September 18, 2014 I have a doctor's appointment and I get to hear my little one, but I'm more excited for next Friday September 25, 3024 where JC and I get to actually see, hear, and find out our baby's gender! :)

I hope you've enjoyed this so far and I will continue weekly/bi-weekly/monthly, basically whenever things change. :) So Thank you and have a wonderful evening.

Last night at 18w2d. My double chin would not cooperate.

 Additional Edit: I bought the "Tiny Beats" fetal heart rate moniter app for my iphone and it is AMAZING! I can hear his/her heartbeat clearly and it tracks how many beats/minute also! I do recommend using this with headphones although it is not required, but I heard it a lot more clearly with than without. I unfortunately purchased "My Baby's Beat" heart rate moniter before "Tiny Beats" and it was awful. It just sounded like static and I even had a hard time hearing my own heartbeat. So I urge you (only if you want) to buy "Tiny Beats"!! I love love love love love love love it! :)

24 Wives Tales to Predict the Gender (for fun)

He or She What Will it Be?

My hubby and I find out the gender September 25, 2014 and I am 17 weeks tomorrow (Sunday September 7, 2014), but me being an impatient Aries, I just can't help, but toy with all the 100% correct 50% of the time gender predictors.

:)

Old Wives Tale #1: Legs
If your legs get really big, you're having a boy. If your legs stay in shape and lean, it's a girl.
Boy






Old Wives Tale #2: Moodiness and a Little Pecker
If you are really moody, you are having a girl since you have extra girl hormones in you. Your pregnancy will make you smile and be more happy if you are having a boy because there's a little penis inside you. Not sure how true this is, but it sure does make me laugh!
Girl






Old Wives Tale #3: Bread
If you eat the ends of bread, it's a boy. If you eat the middle of the load, it's a girl.
Girl
(but who eats the ends anyways? I say a half point)






Old Wives Tale #4: Chinese Gender Chart
The Chinese Gender Chart claims to have an accuracy rate of over 90%. It is based on how old the mother is at conception and the month that she conceived. 
Boy 







Old Wives Tale #5: Mom's Beauty
Basically you're having a girl if your beauty disappears during pregnancy. It is said that the girl "steals" the mother's beauty. If you think that pregnancy has never made you look more beautiful, you might just be having a little boy.
Definite Girl
(I have never had such bad skin in my life)






 
Old Wives Tale #6: Dream of Sex of Baby
If you have dreams that you are having a boy, you will have a girl. If you dream about having a girl, it will be a boy. Dreams show the opposite of what you are having.
 Tie
(I've had 2 boy dreams and 1 girl, but the girl dream was twins so who know. I call a draw)

 

 

 Old Wives Tale #7: Clumsy vs. Graceful

If the pregnant woman is graceful throughout her pregnancy, she's having a girl. If she becomes clumsy, she's having a boy.

Girl

 

Old Wives Tale #8: Toddlers

If a toddler boy expresses interest in a pregnant woman, she is having a girl. If he doesn't show interest, she's having a boy.

Girl

(My stepson who is not the cuddly type has been all over me kissing my belly, rubbing my belly, laying his head on me, patting my back. He's been clinging to me like crazy. Hmmmm...)

 

Old Wives Tale #9: Side You Most Rest On

If a pregnant woman prefers to lay on her left side, she's having a boy. If she prefers resting on her right side, she's having a girl.

Boy

 

 

 

 

 

 Old Wives Tale #10: Hands

When the pregnant woman is asked to show her hands, it's a boy if she keeps her palms down and a girl if she shows her palms up.

Girl

 

Old Wives Tale #11: Dad's Weight Gain

If the dad-to-be gains weight while you are pregnant, it's a girl. If he doesn't gain weight, you're having a boy.

Girl 

 

 Old Wives Tale #12: Breast Test

If a pregnant woman's left breast is larger than the right breast, she's having a girl. If the right breast is larger, it's a boy.

Tie

 

Old Wives Tale #13: Necklace Over Hand

Have someone hold a necklace over your hand. If the necklace swings back and forth, it's a boy. If it moves in a circle, it's a girl.

 Tie

(It swung back and forth at first, then circled, then back and forth)

 

Old Wives Tale #14: What Do You Think?

71% of the time, the mom-to-be knows what she is having.

Girl

  

Old Wives Tale #15: Morning Sickness

If you had a smooth pregnancy with no morning sickness, it's a boy. If you were sick or felt really nauseous during your pregnancy, count on a girl.

GirlGirlGirl

(I've been sooooo sick)

Old Wives Tale #16: Areola

If your areola (the part around your nips) have darkened, it's a boy.

Girl

(luckily I'm the same as pre-pregnancy) 

Old Wives Tale #17: Protein

When a pregnant woman craves meat and cheese, count on a boy, but if you crave sweets or citrus, girl.

Tie

(I crave cheese and milk, but pastries and pie)

Old Wives Tale #18: Feet

Are your feet colder now that you are pregnant? If so, you just might be having a boy. If your feet have stayed the same before pregnancy and during, you're having a little girl.

Girl 

Old Wives Tale #19: Hair on Legs

If the hair on your legs has been growing at record speeds, you might be having a boy.

Girl 

Old Wives Tale #20: Hands are Dry

If your hands are constantly dry, it's a boy.

Girl 

Old Wives Tale #21: Urine

What color is your pee? If it is bright yellow, you will have a little boy. If your urine is a dull yellow, plan on a girl.

Girl

(does clear count as dull yellow?)

Old Wives Tale #22: Nose

Do you feel like your nose is growing and getting wider? If so, you might be having a boy.

Girl

(I don't need a wider nose thank you.) 

Old Wives Tale #23: Headaches

If you are having headaches, you might be carrying a boy.

BoyBoyBoy

(I have the worst headaches, omgoodness) 

Old Wives Tale #24: Baby Names

It is said that when you can only think of specific names for a boy or a girl, you will have that particularly baby. 

Girl

(we've had our girl name since before I was pregnant, but we just can't decide on a boy)

  

So let's tally it up ladies and gentlemen!

Girl: 16                                                      Boy: 4

Tie: 4

We'll see in a few weeks how accurate this was for me!

So what answers did you get and were they right or wrong?

Don't forget this is just for fun and has no scientific evidence backing these up so take it with a grain of salt and don't get your hopes up on one specific gender because of these results. Pregnancy is turning out to be a tricky tricky thing and has all kinds of surprises in store for you.

I hope y'all have a wonderful evening, come back soon. :)

Additional edit: I know when I read a blog like this, I wish they would tell us what they ended up having at the end of a gender prediction survey so I didn't have to go click around and read extra blogs if I didn't want to or if I couldn't find the answer. So frustrating! So ladies and gentlemen, the "Old Wives Tales" turned out in our favor because we're expecting a little girl February 15, 2015! :)



Fun Pregnancy Survey

About the Mommy!
Name: Megan
Age: 24
Hair Color: Ombre' 
Eye Color: green and blue with specs of gold and brown
First Child: Yes 

About the Daddy!
Name: James
Age: 25
Hair Color: Dirty Blonde
Eye Color: Blue
First Child: No

Finding Out!!
What day did you find out?: 9 p.m. June 1, 2014
How did you feel when you found out?: Shocked, excited, disbelief
Who was with you?: James was asleep in the bedroom and Reagan was asleep in his room
Who was the first person you told?: James
How did they react?: After a few minutes of waking up, he just grabbed me, gave me the biggest hug, and told me how much he loved me!

Telling the Grandparents!!!
How did your parents react?: I called my mom right after telling James and she was happy then I called my dad after that and he was excited. They are great parents and will be even better grandparents
How did his parents react?: Happy, but a little indifferent
Are they helping with baby names?: No, we already have our names and have for months
Have they bought anything for the baby yet?: My Wuwu bought a picture frame for Baby Arnett's first picture 
How often do they call to check on you?: My mom, everyday. My dad, once a week

About the Pregnancy!!!
When was your first appointment?: June 4, 2014
When is your due date?: February 15, 2015
How far along are you?: 16 weeks 5 days
Have you had any ultrasounds?: I've had 2.
Have you heard the heartbeat?: Yes, 3 times
What was the heartbeat?: 6w3d- 132, 10w3d- 123 (I was really sick around this time and couldn't keep anything down so I was really dehydrated. They told me that was the cause of the lower heartbeat), 14w3d- 148
Sex of the baby: We find out September 25th, 2014

About the birth!!
Do you know what you are taking with you?: I have not even thought about it
Who is going to be with you?: James and my mom
Are you going to videotape it?: James really wants to, but I don't know about all that
Natural or Medicated?: I'm going to go as long as I can without the epidural, but I definitely want medicated
Do you think you will need a c-section?: I'm really tiny so I might. It just depends on if I'm able to push
Will you cry when you hold your baby for the first time?: Probably
Do you think Daddy will cry?: He said he is going to 
Do you know what you will say to the baby when you first hold him/her?: Knowing James and I we'll both be saying how perfect he or she is

Names!!
Do you have a name picked out?: Yes!  
Is your baby going to be named after someone?: We are combining several family names for the girl and just choosing names we like if it's a boy

Other Random Questions!!
Have you felt the baby move?: I feel little pings here and there in different spots, but I don't know if that's baby
What was your first symptom?: BOOB SORENESS
Will your baby have God-Parents?: I don't think so
What is the baby’s room theme?: We'll decide after we find out the gender
What was the first thing you bought for the baby?: Nothing yet, we're waiting on the 25th
Will you cloth diaper?: I can't stomach that.
BFing or Formula?: Breastfeeding for sure.
What is your favorite pregnancy book?: The Belly Book
What do you look forward to doing again once you are no longer pregnant?: Working out full force and having the energy to leave the house.
What physical features do you hope baby will get from Daddy?: His physical build.
What physical features do you hope baby will get from you?: Everything else. :)
Is he ready to be a Daddy?: He already is.
Are you ready to be a Mommy?: I already am. :)

Excuse Me, What? Pregnancy: Weeks 2-13.

First Comes Love, Then Comes Marriage, Then...

 

I'M PREGGIES!!

 

 

 

I am happy to announce that my dear husband and I are expecting our first bundle of love child together February 15, 2015. :)

Our birth announcement. :)

 

Apparently I'm so "in tune" with my body that I found out at about 2 weeks that I was carrying a blob of cells inside of me.

May I just debunk a few "first" pregnancy symptoms though?
These I think are not things that you can just look up on Google.

At that early of a stage of pregnancy, you don't have a curbed appetite, you don't have super smell senses, you don't pee every 30 seconds, no nausea going on, no glow, but let me tell you what...

YOUR BOOBIES HURT SO MUCH.
How I knew for sure was THE SIDES of my boobs hurt more than any other part and apparently that is a for sure sign.

When you pee, it's not your normal "I can control the stream of my pee, pee. It's a dam bursting between your dang legs that says,

"Let me out, I've been holding it for centuries and I will come out with RAAAAGE".
If you don't like TMI, quit reading because girl (OR WORSE, GUY), it's about to get the realest up in here.
Creamy.White.Discharge.
It's not pretty or spectacular, but it's a pretty obvious tell tail first sign.
I was a little poofier in my ahem... area if you will and

OH.MY.GOODNESS

THE FATIGUE!!!!

I am usually a bouncing, bursting with energy bundle of love, sunshine, rainbows, and joy, but girl please, that just a'int the case at the very first stage of pregnancy.

I am usually a go-getter, an outdoorsy goodess of go go go, but I barely wanted to get up to GO to the bathroom, eat, or take a shower. (My poor husband)

The verrry first signs of pregnancy are subtle and you have to really know your body to know that something is different and all those "signs of early pregnancy" websites I believe start at 6 weeks and up because usually normal people who don't have a lifetime of body-image issues and obsessing about their physique probably notice after 6 weeks.

I'm.not.normal.

Hello, My Name is Megan and I have issues. :)

 

 

My First Ultrasound
 

So, because I only took an at home test and had NO IDEA how far along I was, I made my first OB/GYN appointment on 6/4/14.

How nerve racking was it that when they did do the ultrasound the doctor goes,

"Hmmm, Mrs. Arnett, I don't see anything. It's not ectopic, but I'm just not seeing anything. Come back in a month and we'll see if there is anything in there."
Excuse me, what?

I started shaking with fear.

This is not what I had hoped to hear or what I expected. I mean, way to tell a first time bio-mom (I have a 2 in October step-son) that you don't see anything.
"Well, am I pregnant?" I questioned my doc.
"Yes Megan, you're definitely pregnant and your uterus is thickening up quite nicely" he responded kind of laughing at me, just a chuckle. Actually it was a polite chuckle at that and I wasn't offended, just reassured.
I guess because I had RJ (my ss) with me, they thought I had done this before. Whelp doc, no I haven't and you just scared me to death.

They of course asked when my last period was and I tried to tell them from the time I was 12, I only got 3-4 periods a year and that wasn't a great measure of time to figure out how far along I was, but they were persistent on using that last dang cycle. (My cycles are usually 80 days so how I got pregnant in less than a month after getting married is complete divine intervention. God said,

"Make babies NOW",

so we did.)

Anyways, I left crying, calling James and my mom for comfort because I was scared that I was pregnant with a ghost or worse, not pregnant at all.
What, I could love a ghost baby.

They both comforted and calmed me down and I went in 3 weeks later to find out that I was 6 weeks 3 days pregnant with what looked like a beautiful bouncing baby bird in my Candyland Gumdrop Castle. A.k.a, my uterus because come on, that shiz looks like a spectacular gumdrop. :)



My little bird in his or her gumdrop castle at 6 weeks 3 days

Symptoms: Month 1 & 2

 Let me just put you in the right mood for my symptoms because I don't think you can completely understand what I went through unless I throw this analogy at you.

When God placed this wonderful little love child in me I think he had a flashback to the 1980's and was jammin' Pat Benatar's "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" because LET ME TELL YOU, I had the one of worst 1st DIEmesters a girl could have.

BLOAT IS MY NAME AND MAKING YOU LOOK FAT PREMATURELY IS MY GAME

MAD MOODY MEGAN UP IN THA HOUSE

OH HEY, A TOUCHING DOG MEME, LET'S CRY ABOUT IT

Not to mention nosebleeds, pounding headaches, acne (before this I had the clearest skin), boob and bacne, extreme fatigue, exhaustion, sore growing boobies (I'm up to a 34DD and started at a 34C, yikes), blue viens on the boobs, insomnia (which was really difficult with how tired I was), muscle cramping, muscle weakness (probably due to fatigue), dehydration, CONSTIPATION AND DIARRHEA alternating day to day, and ohhhh the sickness.
There is no "morning" to morning sickness. That is a myth.
I was sick from sun up till sun down and it woke me up those few hours I was actually able to sleep.
IT.WAS.AWFUL.
I got absolutely no relief.
I tried Preggie Pops, ginger ale, raw ginger, candied ginger, ginger gum, gin gins (which worked while they were in use) Sea Bands (worked for a couple hours and then they started cutting off my circulation), but I did not have insurance at the time so I couldn't ask for a prescription without blowing my husbands savings. One prescription can be over $800 and I just can't justify spending that much on a few measly pills that will be gone in a week or so. I just put my big girl panties on and took it as it came. 
I swear though, I was about to go to the hospital because I was so dehydrated and ask to be hooked up to an IV, but then again, no insurance, so I did what I could and prayed that our love child didn't die waiting on mommy's body to get it together and provide him/her with the proper nutrients.
I felt so bad for our little baby and I was scared for his or her life.
Somehow our little firecracker just wouldn't give up and made it through those horrible months so it looks like we have a stubborn one on our hands.
If he or she is anything like Mommy and Daddy, Lord help us because we are two of the most stubborn people I know, but Mommy more than Daddy. ;)

3 am migraine and JC went to the store just for tylenol.
Time for a selfie.
Obviously.

8 weeks, Sunday, 7/6/14 about to go eat wings

Week 5 (6/15/14), Week 7 Bloat (6/29/14), Week 12 Bloat (8/3/14)

 

Cravings

I think my cravings during the first 2 months were weird. Really up until week 8, I could only stomach junk food and I thought, why? Why is it that the thought of veggies and salad make me want to hurl, but I can eat the greasiest, most unhealthy food out there? And when I thought of pregnancy, I thought cravings were there to stick, but mine shifted from day to day.
Is that normal?
 Am I doing this wrong?
Everything I thought about pregnancy has turned out to be a lie.

Pizza
Cheeseburgers
WIIINGGSS
Hotdogs (of the chili cheese sort)
Oatmeal Cream Pies
Ice Cream
Warm Chocolate Chip Cookies

Those are the things that I craved and I didn't understand why.
Funny thing is, I didn't gain any weight and I totally thought I would have. I've always watched what I eat, I mean, I'm not super healthy, but I've always been aware of my shape and  tried to nourish my body and not just splurge. I did eat whatever I wanted whenever I wanted, just protion controlled. Most of what I wanted was pretty healthy though so I can't complain.

Now week 8-12 was a WHOLE other story. I couldn't stomach a dang thing and I didn't understand how my baby was still alive. I felt horrible emotionally and physically for feeling like I wasn't giving him or her the proper nutrition that he or she needed, but when they say that the baby will take any and all nutrients, they weren't kidding because my baby is still alive and well. :)
 I will say at the end of month 3 all I craved was turkey sandwiches, cereal, and MILK. I'm a sandwich diva though and will only eat them a certain way.
Wheat, sharp cheddar cheese, turkey, pickles, ICE COLD CRISP lettuce, a dash of black pepper, lather on the mayo and mustard, and chips please. I won't eat a sandwich without chips.
Sandwich.Diva.
 



Forever 21 non-maternity top

 

If you've made it this far, thank you and I'm sorry if I am too much.

 I'm known to spout off what comes to mind and I'm a very open person because I don't want you to feel alone. If you are going through this, YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

I am curious though as to what your cravings and symptoms were at this stage.

Did I get the short end of the stick or do I have any soul sisters out there that were hurting as bad as I was? I'm sure there are worse cases, but girlfriends, I think I had a horrible 1st DIEmester.

Thank you for bearing with me and I hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday.

Keep your head up sunshine, it get's better. :)