18th Week Journal...

How far along? 18wks today
Total weight gain/loss: 10lbs
TP Test: xx squares of toilet paper (haven't done this in a week or so)
Maternity Clothes: "Morning" Sickness: Nothing significant to report thankfully...
Signs of Pregnancy: Very dry skin, burping, feeling my insides move, headaches & backpain
Stretch Marks: Nothing new...
Sleep: I got a few nights of sleep last week and I think it's because I tried sleeping without the body pillow - I'm able to spread my legs out more to accommodate my hips. We'll continue this and see how it works. However, I may have spoken to soon... I had a horrible night of sleep on Saturday. I had tremendous back pain and I could barely sleep.
Best moment this week: Hearing the heartbeat again! We had our 5th month appointment on Friday and although the office was packed, our appointment was great! The doctor we met with was not the same as last time (Dr. E was on vacation) so we met with Dr. S. She is new to the practive but very sweet. This was the first appointment, since the initial ultrasound at RSC, Dan had gone to so it was nice for him to be able to hear the heartbeat again. My weight & blood pressure are good and right on track. She listened for the heartbeat and she didn't seem to be able to find it at first, so or course I got nervous. But then we heard it. It sounded a bit slow to me but the doctor said that it sounded perfect to her and that I had an active baby. We could hear the heartbeat on both the right & the left side. (Dan wonders if we are having twins, but I figured the doctor would have mentioned it.) Then I had my AFP test (blood test) which we'll get the results in a few days. We also went across the hall to schedule our ultrasound - yay!
Worst moment this week: The round ligament pains started to increase and especially when I cough, it stinks. I let the doctor know and she said that's very normal and unfortunately it'll get worse before it gets better
Concerns/Fears: When you start to feel things inside move (ribs & organs), at first it's a bit scary but being able to wait a second and figure out what it is before I run to pick up the phone. Plus, checking with the books & different symptoms has been helpful. But man, when those ribs start to move - that's a scary feeling.
Movement: Dr. S says we have an active baby. I don't know that the feelings I feel are the peanut or ligament pains. And if it's a combination of the baby & the pains then I definitely have an active baby & ligament because it's pretty frequent.
Food cravings: Nothing specific this week and I tried to lessen my amounts of potatoes.
Gender prediction: I'm definitely thinking girl over the past few days but hopefully we'll find out this coming week providing Baby C cooperates.
Labor Pains: N/A
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On - a bit loose even
Weekly Wisdom: Try different ways of sleeping. If you had migraines or backpain before getting pregnant - just be prepared: it only intensifies once you become pregnant (at least for me it has).
Milestones: Hearing the heartbeat & scheduling our ultrasound appointment!

The ultrasound is scheduled for the end of the week so keep your fingers crossed that the little peanut cooperates and gives a peak whether or not if the peanut is a he or a she. I'll definitely start a pool to see how many people think what...