Lots of movement!

A couple of weeks ago, I reported feeling Peanut move. No kicks really, just like s/he was moving positions. But now it's clear. We either have one of these:

or one of these:

Kicking or dancing: whatever it's doing, it's doing with conviction! Most of the time, I think Peanut is sleeping, but I have already started to notice patterns in the movement. S/he has lots of strong kicks/punches/jabs/grand jetes starting around 9:30am (must be a late sleeper like it's daddy) until about 10:30ish. Then I figure it has worn itself out and sleeps all day and most of the evening. After dinner is when Peanut gets another wave of energy and moves some more. It is such a wonderful feeling...I love having little reminders of the little life growing inside.

The Hubs and I have tons of pregnancy books, but one of my favorites is a week by week book that talks about changes in me, changes in the baby and pictures on a week by week basis. Last night were catching up on Week 18 because lately I've been traveling a lot for work. Anyway, there was an amazing picture of how the baby looks inside right now. I couldn't find the exact picture online, but here is another I found that is equally cool:

Everyone together: "awwww...."

A Very Healthy Peanut!

Sorry for the lack of updates...this week was absolutely crazy as I had two work trips and found myself on four different planes in four days. It was a lot for this mama--up by 5:30am, done around 8pm. While most of it was work, the end of the day was followed by drinks and dinner with customers or other work colleagues. I know that should be "fun", but considering my cocktail was water, every day I just wanted to go to my hotel room, order room service and pass out in my king size bed.

By day four, I could tell Peanut wanted to do the same because as I was getting dressed I looked down and....HOLY FEET! What are those?! My feet were insanely swollen, to the extent that I could not zip my boots. I barely squeezed them in and left them unzipped. I had no choice. It was either boots or heels. I spent the day guzzling smartwaters and secretly removing my shoes under the giant table I was seated at in my meeting. Needless to say, I was THRILLED to come home Friday night and I'm proud to report that feet are back to normal.

I also came home to some great news on my voicemail. Peanut's genetic screening has been completed (a combination of the NT ultrasound I had during week 10 , and blood samples given every month) and the results could not be better. Chances of Down's syndrome are less than 1 in 20,000, chances of a neural tube defect are less than 1 in 4,000 and chances of a Trisomy 18 or 13 are less than 1 in 100 (which is the lowest they go!). She said this is the best possible result for each category. Peanut is already a high achiever! :) Hooray!

18 weeks

Your fetus has become amazingly mobile (at least compared to you), passing the hours yawning, hiccuping, rolling, twisting, kicking, punching, sucking and swallowing. And, baby's finally big enough that you'll be able to feel those movements soon.
*For those of you like me who are wondering what that is...it's a sweet potato :)