18 Weeks

This week: 18 weeks - I'm still not wearing maternity clothes but a nice pair of stretchy work pants are going to be my next purchase! I can no longer button any of my pants at all. And some I can't even zip!
Total weight gain/loss: I'm not sure if it's changed since last week - our scale needs new batteries.
Sleep: Good
Best moment of the week: I felt the baby move for the first time! It was truly unlike anything I have ever felt and I wouldn't describe it the same way as I've heard other people describe it. It doesn't really feel like a flutter or bubbles or anything like that. It just feels like I'm being jabbed from the inside - gentle jabs - but definitely distinct jabbing.
Movement: Since I felt the baby move on Monday, I have felt him (her) pretty consistently - I love it! It's nice to know something really is in there!
Food cravings: I have had a growing aversion to meat. I'll eat it but I don't want it all the time. Since it has been so warm here, I have just been craving summery, light, fresh foods like cold pasta salads and fresh fruit.
Gender: Two more weeks until we find out! I'm still convinced it's a boy and will be very surprised if it is, in fact, a muchacha.
What I miss: Hot dogs
What I am looking forward to: Having a baby to dress up in cute summery clothes and honestly, I am looking forward to having a little person to take care of. I may bite my tongue later but I really think I will enjoy being a mom and everything that goes with being a mom, including being depended on and needed.
Weekly wisdom: I finally told my boss the big news and he was very supportive and congratulatory. In an attempt to be as open and flexible as possible, I stated that I wouldn't have to take much maternity leave if I was working from home (the plan, if I am able to relocate with my job to Wyoming, where there is no KPMG office). Given the nature of my job, I feel like it will be doable for me to take care of the baby and do my work productively at the same time. My boss told me that pregnancies don't always go as planned and would like to come up with a contingency plan in the case that I actually do need more time. He and his wife have had 5 or 6 kids so he told me that once you get to the 4th, 5th or 6th kid (oh, please no!), you may kind of know what to expect but with the first, it's all a mystery. I thought that was very thoughtful of him to consider and prudent of course since I am the only one that currently performs the work that I do. He's covering his bases too but it was good advice and helpful to know that he is supportive!
Milestones: Squirt is a bell pepper this week. He weighs about 7 ounces and is 5.5 inches long. He's also a little elfish right now since, although his ears are in their righful place by now, they still stick out a little. And he's working away, flexing those arms and legs! As for me, my cardiovascular system is undergoing some major changes and I have felt the result - I definitely get more dizzy and am noticing that I have to move slower when I stand up.