18 Weeks!

Saturdays are the days that I add a week to my pregnancy, but I don't get on the computer much during the weekends, so the updates in the middle of the weeks will have to do for now. :) We have had a busy but enjoyable week so far. I have a love/hate relationship with the time change. I love that it's actually light outside now when I leave to go to work. It makes it easier to wake up and get going. Alas, I do understand that as the days get "shorter" we will probably return to the dark mornings again soon. But, I do NOT like that it's already getting dark when I go home from work. I enjoy watching the sunsets while in traffic, but it makes me sleepy at 7:00!! On Monday, I wasn't feeling 100% (as my dad would say), and I decided to lie down on the couch to watch TV with Travis and the puppies. Well, that was at 7:45, and the next thing I know, it's 9:30 and Travis is waking me up to go get in the bed! Since Tuesday is my day to drive Travis to work, it usually means us leaving later and sleeping later, so I got about 11 hours of sleep that night! Wow! I was still tired on Tuesday afternoon, but I think my body is trying to adjust to the mixture of pregnancy and the time change!

Last night, we traveled up north to Jennifer (Standley) and Kevin Smith's apt. for supper. We had steaks and taters, yummy! It was great to see them and their nice apt., and get to catch up on stuff. Thanks Jen and Kev!!

Wednesday nights are busy for us both because we both work with the youth. I lead a senior girls small group and Travis works with the middle school kids. That reminds me that I haven't planned dinner tonight... ughhh!!

Hopefully we will get to go out to dinner tomorrow with a giftcard we recently received and then on Friday, my parents are coming back to Austin because their is a UT home game this weekend. They'll be here next weekend too, because my dad is running in his first (and maybe only) marathon in San Antonio next Sunday. Pray for him and his injuries and endurance to finish the race!

On the baby front, it has been very nice to be certain when referring to the baby as a "he" or "him" and it's been fun to talk to Hudson and call him by his name. :)

Baby at 18 Weeks:

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 boy, his genitals are noticeable now, but he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.

Jesus,

Thank you for the miracle of Hudson. Thank you for the great report that we received at the doctor's office last week! I pray that he continues to develop at a normal rate and that his little blood vessels work correctly to pump that life-giving source to his little body. Though he only weighs a little over 7 ounces now, I know that you have big things in store for this little baby! Thank you for the ability to tell that he was a boy, even if it took some patience! :) I pray that I continue to feel well, even during the evenings, and my evening appetite would return soon.

I love you!

-MH