18 weeks

18 weeks:

Baby:
* about 5.5 inches long (about the size of a bell pepper or sweet potato)
* about 7oz
* lots of movements that I think I am starting to feel every once in awhile.  I felt one or two about 2 weeks ago, then I haven't noticed much since.  I think the difference is that I quit wearing my prepregnancy jeans.  So maybe I'm not squishing my little sweet potato so much now.
* fingerprints are formed
* yawning and hiccuping starts
* ear bones have hardened and baby can hear now

Me:
* showing more.  I promise a picture this week.  I promise.
* Hungry hungry hippo.  I'm having lots of snacks again.
* I've finally gained about 5 lbs, but that is probably only because I broke down and ate a bunch of oreos.
* I'm wearing maternity or yoga pants now.  I have bought some work maternity clothes.  My regular jeans are starting to dig a lot.
* I'm literally falling asleep for naps without intention.  In the past I felt fatigued and laid down.  Now, I'll be doing something while laying on the couch or bed or floor and I'll wake up an hour or two later.... hopefully this won't be an issue when I start work.

So I was suppose to start work on 4 September but that got moved to 6 August.  I'm nervous and excited.  I can't go on my trip to Europe now, but I'm getting a significant pay raise and more vacation time built up before baby.  I've started looking at my benefits package very closely and it looks like I will only qualify for short term disability and any vacation time I have which I may have to use for appointments.  I only get 3 weeks at 100% pay and then the rest would be at 60% pay.  Not sure what I'm going to do yet, but we'll figure it out.  During orientation I will ask how to get in contact with HR about it.  I don't want to wait too long to tell them.  Although I have seen some people that wait until they are 6 months to inform.

We bought our crib (we got it in dark brown) and some storage furniture and baskets for clothes and such.  Later the storage units can be put on a wall or moved somewhere else and the baskets can be taken anywhere in the house if need be.  We don't plan on getting much else furniture wise for the nursery.  We already have a bunch of corner shelves in there.  I'm working on cleaning out all the office stuff.  I haven't decided if we will need the closet or not.  We'll see once we get closer.  We probably will though.  Hopefully I'll have the office cleaned out by the end of this week so I can build the crib and the storage furniture.