17.5

We're 17.5 weeks into this pregnancy. I can't decide if time is going quickly or slowly - both I think.

This past week has been the best yet. Finally, some of my energy has returned and I'm not feeling so sick and tired. I'm still dealing with some really pesky pregnancy symptoms like this horrid taste in my mouth that never goes away (despite brushing my teeth, chewing gum, sucking mints or hard candy). It's really getting old. Did this happen to anyone else? If so, any tips?

This week, we have an ultrasound and hope to find out the gender. I will let you know - we're very excited and have absolutely no preferences. All we want is a healthy, happy little baby.

It's all feeling very real now and I'm beginning to encounter new feelings that I honestly didn't anticipate feeling. We've worked hard and long for this blessing and I just always imagined that once I got here, it would make everything complete. Don't get me wrong, I am still tremendously happy and excited, but I have started feeling a bit scared and anxious about how this will all "work." I am sorting through what life will be like when the baby comes, what that means for my job, what the means for our finances, our life as we know it, and everything else that comes with a major life change. I'm just realizing that things are going to be different and I'm wondering what different actually looks like.

So, until I figure out the answers to all of life's questions, we're doing our best to get our house in order, clean out the baby's room, and get things as ready as can be. It's exciting.

Thanks again for the continued prayers and well wishes. I still have to pinch myself sometimes that we are actually here.

Now, for the much-anticipated pictures.

View from the top.

17.5 weeks. Pardon the crummy self-portrait.

I swear one night I went to bed just looking fat and bloated and the next morning I woke up with a belly.