18 Weeks - Over halfway???

   Hard to believe another couple weeks have passed! According to most statistics, we're over halfway for triplets! Craziness if you ask us, and boy has it got us motivated! In the next few weeks we are going to get stuff packed away for storage, the carpet cleaned, the crib picked out, the closets cleaned out, plus both of us have some trips planned... Travis' trips are way more fun than mine - considering his involve football, golf, and friends, and mine involve mostly interviewing - with a quick baby shower thrown in the mix! Anyway...
   We had an appointment with our OB doctor last week where they took a quick scan to check on the girls - they looked good, with good heartbeats, however, no pictures this time around! Travis has decided he definitely prefers the specialist's equipment - and I have to agree. We've become pretty used to seeing the girls on a bigger screen with advanced technology - guess we're pretty spoiled in that way! Everyone is doing so well that we were cleared from going into the doctor this week! Our specialist is out of town (it's technically "his" week to see us) so he had scheduled our next appointment for October 5th. Next week we'll get a good look at the girls as they'll be taking growth measurements and whatnot!
   In the meantime, I've started to feel at least one of the girls move! I have to admit I didn't know that's what it was when I first felt it.... thought I'd maybe overindulged in some fried food! We were at the Missouri Watch Party (they were playing San Diego State) and I felt what seemed like a hummingbird  wings beating in the top part of my ever-increasing stomach! The next day I felt it off and on ALL DAY and again the next... so I asked at my doctor's appointment and she said that it most likely a baby! I thought it was odd since it's so high up, but guess there's not as much padding there maybe???
   I think I'm feeling Baby Girl 'B' - and boy does she love loud music, at least I think she does! I suppose she could also hate it since anytime there's loud music playing she starts dancing away - or maybe she hates it and is pounding on my insides to make it stop - no way to really know at this point! I've felt the buzzing simultaneously (two separate points at the top of my tummy) a couple times - which would mean 'B' and 'C' were having some sort of party together. I don't think I've felt 'A' yet, but considering where she's located I think that's probably quite normal. Lots of questions to ask at our next appointment!
   At any rate, I think my belly is [finally] outpacing the growth of my booty! There are definitely some babies in there! Travis constantly has to remind me that there's three in there, otherwise it's a bit hard to handle! I've gained about 20 pounds as of last week.... I no longer check on my own and am thinking about getting up on the scale backwards from this point on! The numbers are going to get really scary, really fast!
   We took some time last week to register at Target and Babies R Us - which was both fun and overwhelming... there's a lot of stuff! Though we realize not all of it's needed, there is still quite a lot that does seem necessary! We also went and bought our stroller (check it out at: http://www.doubledeckerstroller.com/index.shtml)--we got it used from a couple who has 19-month old triplets. It was nice to talk with them and they gave us some additional suggestions on stuff we definitely need versus stuff we don't! Deena has also been a great help to us as we try to start organizing - thank goodness for wonderful family and friends. I think we're finally getting used the idea of three little ones, but bringing them home will be a whole other, crazy story!
   I suppose that's about all for now. I've posted a couple pictures of my growing baby belly - it's no longer possible to hide! The girls are definitely growing... also, for all of you name-hungry people out there - we will NOT be releasing the names of the girls until they make their arrival! Some things are more fun kept secret and since there was no way we were going to wait to be surprised about the gender, the names should keep you all guessing! We have several lists going, but really want to see the girls before we name them!
   In the meantime, for all of you interested in the growth of the girls and the gritty details, here's what BabyCenter has to say about week 18:
   "Head to rump, your baby is about 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and he weighs almost 7 ounces. He's busy flexing his arms and legs — movements that you'll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead. His blood vessels are visible through his thin skin, and his ears are now in their final position, although they're still standing out from his head a bit. A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around his nerves, a process that will continue for a year after he's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If you're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, but he may hide them from you during an ultrasound." See what your baby looks like this week.