Pregnancy 1: Week 18 & 19

Week 18:

Symptoms: Honestly all the symptoms have been what I have expressed previously. I know the main things were still feeling nauseous a few days this week, breasts tenderness/soreness still is bothering me, fatigue is also huge (I require naps, not want...NEED them)

Weight: I have gained just under a pound since last week and am now only -1.5lbs my pre-pregnancy weight.

Nausea: WHAT?! Why still. I started this week out still sick and feeling pretty terrible. I broke emotionally a bit. I realized I had been flaking on a responsibility I had of mine with my in-laws and really hated that I kept letting them down. I went out of my way to make sure I still went to my obligation this time...and as soon as I walked in the smell of the food sent me right back to the bathroom. My MIL comforted me and said it was fine but instead of feeling better I just started crying and walked out for some fresh air. I felt trapped. I wanted to be there for everyone and fulfill my commitment but I also just wanted to go curl up with a trash can at home. I messaged my hubby and he was very clear about how I was done doing that to myself. So, I went and talked to my FIL (Father in law) and he made me feel better expressing that he wanted the baby to be the priority and it was okay if I couldn’t do this anymore. So I left halfway through feeling slightly relieved by his response but also still beating myself up a bit for not being able to do it.

I have been so sure we are having a boy, especially with what others have said combined with the wives tales we have heard of. For example, my go to food cravings have all been salty and savory which is said to mean boy. Also a theory many suggest to be highly accurate, Ramzi’s Theory to Ultrasounds, suggests that if the baby appears top left or bottom left you are having a boy and the opposite would be a girl, our little one in our 8 weeks Ultrasound was top left. However, the other night this week I had a vivid dream about me in the hospital with Tomek holding our baby with a pink bow headband on her head and then I woke up. I now am curious if people are guessing wrong (I mean we only have a 50/50 chance either way) and if the wives tales are wrong.

I have to admit when I had this dream I woke up crying. I realized so many people, including myself, and wives tales had all made me just straight up think I was having a boy, like there was no alternative. When I awoke I felt crushed that I was having a girl. However, it was an eye opening moment. I want to thank God for this opportunity to carry one of his children, to give birth to a healthy baby, and to help guide them in a Christian life. I am blessed to be carrying this child boy or girl! So after hitting that I now have switched to team girl, while Tomek remains firmly team boy. We will find out in 2 weeks!

I have definitely been feeling our little baby now. I will say I have heard so many call them “butterflies” in your belly. Nope. Not for me. When I feel the baby I am laying down on my back and the feeling is like a pressure wherever our little one is located in the uterus. The pressure isn’t a downward feeling (that would be gas) but rather a pressure that feels as if baby is pushing outward towards my belly out. Hopefully that makes sense as it is the best way I can describe. I have had this feeling about 3-4 times now since the mid to end of week 17.

Week 19:

Symptoms: Oh man my breasts hurt! I know some of you are like, “Brandi TMI” but seriously! It occurs randomly so it isn’t constant which is nice but when you are out in public and you just get a pain in your breast, rubbing it seems inappropriate so I look like I am hugging myself instead...yes I am that ridiculous. Heehee.

Other symptoms still include nausea, constant peeing (yep we never lose this one I guess), fatigue, I did have occasional (yet rare) cramping but it felt more like my body stretching than it was like period cramps, I am still very sensitive to food smells (I LOVE the smell of bread!), and lastly standard moodiness I typically see associated with just being tired as it comes on around 7-8pm.

Weight: I have gained another 1 pound and so I am ONLY 0.5lb less than my pre-pregnancy weight. I kind of like this as my starting point as I have basically made it half of my pregnancy without any crazy weight gain. For me it was important to save that for the end (knowing that you do tend to gain quite a bit 30 weeks on).

Next week we find out whether we are having a little witch or wizard (HP BABY). After my dream experience and processing I can tell you I am honestly excited for either! I can’t wait to bring our little baby into this world!

We have been finishing this week working on our nursery!!! EEP! We are so excited for this nursery design. Tomek let me have most of the power on this but his design eye is a huge guide for me. He also bought me a new rocking chair with ottoman that is perfect, hung up the baby monitor is such a professional looking way, hung everything I wanted on the walls, and so much more. Seriously, my husband rocks!! The room has changed from a storage room when we moved in to truly feeling like a homey vibe and a place for our precious little one when they arrive. We wanted to do our best to finish a lot of this so we can share the room at our witch or wizard party here early in week 20. After the room is completely done I will share pictures here (probably in a couple of weeks).