18 WEEKS...HOLY SMOKES

**This is a pregnancy-related post, so please feel free to skip this post if you're not up for it. God bless.**

Happy Wednesday, everyone! I hope you are having a wonderful week so far. Here in Chicago, the almost-fall-like temperatures have just randomly decided to start creeping up to real summer heat again, making everyone (me) confused (not a hard thing to do) and sick (oh yes). I hope you're faring better where you live!

OH, and can I just say how AMAZINGLY EXCITED I am for this community about all of the incredible developments over the last few weeks?!?! We've got This Cross I Embrace with her FIRST BFP, True Good and Beautiful mere months away from her first adoption, Joy Beyond the Cross bringing home her beautiful new baby girl, and several bloggers that are newly post-op with answers and renewed hope for the future! Praise God! I am feeling so much JOY for all of you, my poor little heart can barely take it! (But I'm not complaining!)

In other news...first things first...HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY AMAZING HUSBAND!!!!

(A picture from our engagement session, which already feels like a million years ago!)

Since I know he reads this blog (occasionally), let me gush for just a second. You know T, people told us we were crazy for getting engaged after 13 short months...and at times, I thought we were crazy, too! But you were always sure, and your steadfastness has kept me grounded from day one. We have not followed the traditional path of newlyweds...instead of sweet bliss, our first year was overshadowed by so much pain and loss. But through it all, you have never left my side. You are strong when I am weak, positive when I am pessimistic, sweet when I am sour, and most of all, faithful when I doubt. You are the peanut butter to my jelly, the chocolate chip to my cookie, the ying to my yang, the Doug to my Carrie (KOQ anyone?), the Ben to my Leslie (P&R anyone?), the SUN in my sky, and everything in between. You are the most amazing husband and best friend a girl could ever ask for, and God has truly blessed me with your love and companionship. HAPPY BIRTHDAY Munchface. I love you, I love you, I love you.

Sorry for the sap! Moving on...

It was a BUSY BUSY BUSY week at the H household! Most of our weeknights were spent planning for T's BIG BIRTHDAY BASH last Saturday, which required far more work than we anticipated! Okay, if I'm being honest, T did most of the work himself...I know, I know, what kind of horrible wife lets her husband clean/set-up for his OWN birthday party?! Rest assured, I pitched in day-of, and at the end of the party both of us literally felt like we'd just run a marathon. I'm talking sore backs, pulled calf muscles, you name it. But it was worth it, because we had a BLAST!

The "theme" was "THINGS TIM LOVES!" And so, to follow this theme, I cooked up a very elaborate bloody mary bar with all the fixin's, a mimosa bar for some of the gals, and jell-o shots (he is young at heart, remember?). For food, we cooked up several dozen hot dogs/brats, mac-n-cheese, salad, and his mom brought her FAMOUS pineapple-whipped-cream-dessert that T absolutely dies for. All of this yumminess was followed by lawn games galore (badminton, bags, croquet, you name it!) in the backyard, and T was one happy camper. 

Oh, you'd like to see pictures, you say?! Well, it just so happens that I have a few... we were very proud of the finished product, after all!

Skewers were put together by my awesome MIL and great friend, Rachel! And we cooked the maple-brown-sugar bacon especially for T!

We made homemade Sriacha salt for the rims, and it turned out GREAT! (P.S. Do you like my corny sign?!)

Decisions, decisions.

One thing I was glad I could NOT have (too sweet for me)!

THIS is what was taunting me all day! Mimosas, we will be together again...someday!

PHEW!

After all of that (work) partyin', Sunday was our day to relax. Except, we couldn't. So much to do, so little time! 

T worked hard cleaning the yard/house, while I headed out with my mom and sisters to begin the tasks of REGISTERING FOR BABY! If I'm being honest, I've had an online registry cookin' for a few weeks now, but there were certain things I had to see in person. And I was able to do exactly that!

Finally got to use one of these bad boys! Dream come true!

Picked out our stroller! We are going straight for the double (that is also compatible with our infant car-seat) with the hopes of doubling our brood as soon as possible!

The frame that works with our Chic.co Keyfit Carseat!

The Pack-n-Play that we are still considering...moms, any suggestions on Pack-n-Plays that you love?

And then, after a jam-packed and too-short weekend, we were back to work. I had been planning a big work outing for months, and it finally came to fruition last night! The event consisted of dinner at Dic.k's Last Resort, followed by a boat cruise on the River/Lake Michigan. It was a lot of work, and a bit of stress, but thankfully... a success! And I managed to capture this gem from the dock of the boat:

I sure do love my city.

So now, after all of that craziness/funness (yes, funnness)/exhaustion, we can finally, FINALLY relax. Well, until next weekend that is, when we head to IN for the first of our 5-wedding round-up! We can't wait!

On to the bumpdate, shall we?

Please excuse my chins...not the best angle!

How far along?  18 weeks, and baby is the size of a sweet potato! (Though not so orange, my baby app claims).

Clothing? Exclusively maternity/leggings on the bottom, and mostly non-maternity on top. I have also found a solution to my rib-pain in the form of a true over-the-shoulder-boulder-holder, the likes of which my husband has never seen before. NOT the sexiest thing I've ever seen, but man is it comfortable!

Stretch marks? Nothing new!

Sleep? Not terrible, other than tossing and turning with a scratchy throat last night! 

Best moment of this week? Feeling a few more pops and pokes, though I am PRAYING for some stronger and more frequent movement to reassure this anxious mama!

Worst moment of this week? Welp, let me tell you. Every day for work, I walk a total of 4 miles RT...no big deal under normal circumstances, but it's starting to get the best of this pregnant weakling. The beginning of the walk almost always makes me queasy these days, but usually I power through it. Not the case yesterday! I was barely a block down the street when all of the sudden I realized I was VERY dizzy, and very nauseous. Inconspicuously (or so I thought) I crouched down on a curb, and then started gagging. In the middle of downtown Chicago. During rush hour. LOVELY. Thank goodness T was with me, not only because he was able to put me in a cab (where I proceeded to nearly faint/dry heave all the way to work), but also so that he could point out to me that "everyone was staring at me." Thanks, sweetie.

Miss anything? Was craving a cold glass of champagne at the birthday bash...but other than that, really nothing!

Movement? Yes, but like I said, I am craaaaaving more. Earlier this week I felt three pretty strong pops on my left side that even made my shirt move a bit, but nothing that strong since. Mostly still getting wavy/swishy movements and occasional taps. Baby, you can bend it like Beckham whenever you're ready!

Symptoms? Not too tired/headachey this week, which is great! Rapid HB/dizziness when I walk or get up too fast, breast tenderness/rib pain, some uncomfortable RLP, a growing belly, backaches, achy joints, becoming full really easily, and my (crooked) linea nigra! 

Food cravings? Still definitely craving chocolate, coffee, and wine. Oh well!

Gender? Still feeling girl, but not AS sure as I was before.

Labor Signs? No siree.

Belly button in or out? Half-in/half-out in the morning....but come nighttime, it's mostly out. Weird.

Wedding rings on or off? On, but this heat is making my fingers swell! Ouch!

Mood? Antsy at times, but mostly HAPPY, and feeling so blessed. Jesus, I trust in You!

Rituals? Nighttime lullaby, holy water on the belly in the morning, holy oil on the belly at night. And staring at my ultrasound pictures/watching the videos as often as I can!!!!! Along with routine bedtime chats.

Milestones? Being TWO SHORT WEEKS away from half-baked! I can hardly stand the excitement!

Looking forward to? MY FIRST REAL STRONG "OW THAT KINDA HURT" BABY KICK, a weekend of R-E-L-A-X-A-T-I-O-N, and my 20-week appointment on Sept. 4!

This week's pregnancy-small-talk-gems (aka things other people say to pregnant ladies without thinking): "If you choose not to find out the gender of your baby, then your baby is kind of like this amorphous blob until it's born...you can't really connect with it!"- co-worker. Okay, if you say so?!

Prayers for continued peace and joy, lovely ladies (and occasional gentlemen). Have a great week!