The belly at 18 weeks

belly week 18.jpg

(plus sheep pajamas. Holiday gift from Billy.)

I wish I’d measured the wingspan of the dragonfly tattoo before the belly got started, because it’s already stretching. Anyone want to venture a guess at what it’s going to look like in the ninth month? I’m willing to delude myself into thinking the tattoo will snap back into shape after I have the baby. (yeah. I know.)

98 Comments on “The belly at 18 weeks

  1. Well, my sister-in-law has a rose tattoo on her hip. She’s had two kids. It doesn’t look like a rose so much anymore. Just sayin. But your 18 week belly is adorable! Thanks for showing us!
    Posted by: Carole

  2. Cute belly pic. Kinda makes me wish I’d taken belly pics when I was pregnant. Ah well. I absolutely LOVE your sheep jammies!
    Posted by: Rachel H

  3. Well, my sister-in-law has a rose tattoo on her hip. She’s had two kids. It doesn’t look like a rose so much anymore. Just sayin. But your 18 week belly is adorable! Thanks for showing us!
    Posted by: Carole

  4. Cute belly pic. Kinda makes me wish I’d taken belly pics when I was pregnant. Ah well. I absolutely LOVE your sheep jammies!
    Posted by: Rachel H

  5. Cute!

    While belly isn’t the same as it was, it looks pretty good after having two giant babies. Don’t worry about the cool firefly.
    Posted by: Steph

  6. No. 1 – love the sheep.

    No. 2 – I guess you weren’t considering the stretch issue at the moment of getting that tattoo…or maybe you were, knowing the entertainment that would provide to us.

    😉
    Posted by: claudia

  7. I love preggo belly pics! I worry a little about my tatoo when or if I get pregnant but I figure that it doesn’t look all that great compared to when I first got it 10 years ago anyway!
    Posted by: emily

  8. Sweet! Ohboy, the dragonfly is sooooo good luck, though. I think it’s worth it.
    Posted by: Norma

  9. Awwwww. Look at da belly! How exciting. And it just gets better and better (for the most part).
    Posted by: kate

  10. Just moisturize moisturize moisturize that belly! If you don’t get a stretch mark on the tattoo there is a pretty good chance it’ll snap back to a reasonable likeness of it’s former self since it’s pretty high up there. At the worst, you’ll lose some pigment and need a little touchup in about a year or so.
    Posted by: Elabeth

  11. I’ve never shown you the giant pumpkins tattooed on my belly. There’s a reason…. I wasn’t as vigilant about moisturizing, so, I guess I can’t complain. But they’re not pumpkins anymore. I don’t know what the hell they are.
    Posted by: Iris

  12. 1. Re: David’s comment. Boys are so sweet.

    2. Iris has pumpkins tattooed on her belly?

    3. Totally digging the sheep pajamas.

    4. You’re looking good there, missy.
    Posted by: Em

  13. Am I the only one thinking: that’s what my belly looks like, and I’m not pregnant!

    And to echo Em: Iris has pumpkins tattooed on her belly?

    Iris: Um… gourds? Squash?
    Posted by: alison

  14. The dragonfly is pretty high up so it shouldn’t stretch too much. Lots of almond oil on the belly should help with stretch marks. Measure it now and see how much it grows in the next few months!
    Posted by: Mary

  15. Alison: >
    Ha! No you’re not the only one!!
    All the best to the mother-to-be and to the little one:)
    Posted by: steff

  16. Cute!

    While belly isn’t the same as it was, it looks pretty good after having two giant babies. Don’t worry about the cool firefly.
    Posted by: Steph

  17. No. 1 – love the sheep.

    No. 2 – I guess you weren’t considering the stretch issue at the moment of getting that tattoo…or maybe you were, knowing the entertainment that would provide to us.

    😉
    Posted by: claudia

  18. I love preggo belly pics! I worry a little about my tatoo when or if I get pregnant but I figure that it doesn’t look all that great compared to when I first got it 10 years ago anyway!
    Posted by: emily

  19. Sweet! Ohboy, the dragonfly is sooooo good luck, though. I think it’s worth it.
    Posted by: Norma

  20. Awwwww. Look at da belly! How exciting. And it just gets better and better (for the most part).
    Posted by: kate

  21. Just moisturize moisturize moisturize that belly! If you don’t get a stretch mark on the tattoo there is a pretty good chance it’ll snap back to a reasonable likeness of it’s former self since it’s pretty high up there. At the worst, you’ll lose some pigment and need a little touchup in about a year or so.
    Posted by: Elabeth

  22. I’ve never shown you the giant pumpkins tattooed on my belly. There’s a reason…. I wasn’t as vigilant about moisturizing, so, I guess I can’t complain. But they’re not pumpkins anymore. I don’t know what the hell they are.
    Posted by: Iris

  23. 1. Re: David’s comment. Boys are so sweet.

    2. Iris has pumpkins tattooed on her belly?

    3. Totally digging the sheep pajamas.

    4. You’re looking good there, missy.
    Posted by: Em

  24. Am I the only one thinking: that’s what my belly looks like, and I’m not pregnant!

    And to echo Em: Iris has pumpkins tattooed on her belly?

    Iris: Um… gourds? Squash?
    Posted by: alison

  25. The dragonfly is pretty high up so it shouldn’t stretch too much. Lots of almond oil on the belly should help with stretch marks. Measure it now and see how much it grows in the next few months!
    Posted by: Mary

  26. Alison: >
    Ha! No you’re not the only one!!
    All the best to the mother-to-be and to the little one:)
    Posted by: steff

  27. Not everyone gets stretch marks so it very well might snap right back. You look great! 🙂
    Posted by: Karen

  28. Oh the belly is adorable and so are your PJs! Stock up on the cocoa butter is all I can say about the stretch marks! For my girlfriends, they sweared it made a difference.
    Posted by: Shelley

  29. Libellule is my favourite French word, for dragonfly 🙂 Though if I had one on my belly before I was pregnant, it would now be a luciole (firefly) thanks to the shiny silver streaks that now make a nice little roadmap post-baby…

    Cool P.J.s too 🙂
    Posted by: Lee Ann

  30. It’s funny, but I don’t think your 18 week belly looks so very “belly”. I find it fascinating how each woman/child belly is so unique in size. Size not being a good indicator of the length of the pregnancy at all.
    Posted by: Gina

  31. Well, stretch marks fade over time. Mine were HUGE, but now (12 years later), they are just skinny little silver stripes. I didn’t really moisturize, though, so I’d listen to everyone’s advice on that! I did hear that something called “mother’s little helper” (some type of cream) is good for avoiding stretch marks. Maybe you can find it at a local store. Or, try anything organic with lots of good nut oils!
    Posted by: Bad Hippie

  32. You can think of the growing dragonfly as a metaphor for, uh, your own broadening wingspan as you prepare to take off in motherhood. Or something. I think it looks cool now and will probably get better. Your bump is cute!
    Posted by: Jenna

  33. I found Kiehl’s Creme de Corps to be a swell belly moisturizer. You look wonderful, and who knows? When you get back to your pre-pregnancy size, your tattoo may well snap back into shape too, though it will likely need a little bit of touching up.
    Posted by: regina

  34. So darn cute! I love pregnant belly pictures and watching how they grow over the months!

    The dragonfly makes it even nicer, though I’m not willing to guess on the stretching. I am however willing to participate in deluding oneself. 🙂
    Posted by: Rebecca

  35. Am I cynical to point out that stretch marks are related only to the amount of collagen in your skin and either will or will not happen regardless of how much cocoa butter or other miracle cream you slather on?

    Just sayin’.

    I wish you an easy, happy pregnancy and a stretch-mark-free belly.
    Posted by: Traci

  36. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!!! I love coconut butters but try everyone’s suggestions. And I really hope your dragonfly goes back to something like it was to start with. That is why turtle and dragon and knots are all on either my hips or my back.

    But I love the dragonfly.

    And Iris, we need to see the pumpkin!
    Posted by: Mia

  37. I had a huge belly but only have a few stretch marks on my hips. I used the Body Shop cocoa butter body butter but I also know women who got wicked stretch marks and rubbed with the most expensive creams known to man – it’s all genetics. But the lotion rubbing sure feels damn good. (And I’ll be a sick puppy and say that when I got really huge, a few times the dog licked the lotion off my belly and that was one of the most fabulous feelings in the world – like a mini-massage.)
    Posted by: Liz

  38. Wow, what a difference 8 weeks makes. You look great! Please keep us posted weekly with photos of the dragonfly.
    Posted by: melissa

  39. so while i’m waiting for your page to load, i think to myself, it’s been awhile since i visited cari’s page. ooo, nice dragonfly tatHEY! Heyyyyy!

    i’m typeless.

    a baby?! the lover and i were talking about whether or not we’re ready for a baby just last night and now this.

    i am too done.

    and so very, very happy for you and billy. yay for the continuance of your genes on the planet.
    Posted by: nakachi

  40. What a fun pic. At least you had the – um, unintentional foresight – to get a tattoo that would still look interesting if stretched. I wager the dragonfly will look pretty cool even if it gets looonnnnng wings.
    Posted by: Lizbon

  41. Not everyone gets stretch marks so it very well might snap right back. You look great! 🙂
    Posted by: Karen

  42. Oh the belly is adorable and so are your PJs! Stock up on the cocoa butter is all I can say about the stretch marks! For my girlfriends, they sweared it made a difference.
    Posted by: Shelley

  43. Libellule is my favourite French word, for dragonfly 🙂 Though if I had one on my belly before I was pregnant, it would now be a luciole (firefly) thanks to the shiny silver streaks that now make a nice little roadmap post-baby…

    Cool P.J.s too 🙂
    Posted by: Lee Ann

  44. It’s funny, but I don’t think your 18 week belly looks so very “belly”. I find it fascinating how each woman/child belly is so unique in size. Size not being a good indicator of the length of the pregnancy at all.
    Posted by: Gina

  45. Well, stretch marks fade over time. Mine were HUGE, but now (12 years later), they are just skinny little silver stripes. I didn’t really moisturize, though, so I’d listen to everyone’s advice on that! I did hear that something called “mother’s little helper” (some type of cream) is good for avoiding stretch marks. Maybe you can find it at a local store. Or, try anything organic with lots of good nut oils!
    Posted by: Bad Hippie

  46. You can think of the growing dragonfly as a metaphor for, uh, your own broadening wingspan as you prepare to take off in motherhood. Or something. I think it looks cool now and will probably get better. Your bump is cute!
    Posted by: Jenna

  47. I found Kiehl’s Creme de Corps to be a swell belly moisturizer. You look wonderful, and who knows? When you get back to your pre-pregnancy size, your tattoo may well snap back into shape too, though it will likely need a little bit of touching up.
    Posted by: regina

  48. So darn cute! I love pregnant belly pictures and watching how they grow over the months!

    The dragonfly makes it even nicer, though I’m not willing to guess on the stretching. I am however willing to participate in deluding oneself. 🙂
    Posted by: Rebecca

  49. Am I cynical to point out that stretch marks are related only to the amount of collagen in your skin and either will or will not happen regardless of how much cocoa butter or other miracle cream you slather on?

    Just sayin’.

    I wish you an easy, happy pregnancy and a stretch-mark-free belly.
    Posted by: Traci

  50. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!!! I love coconut butters but try everyone’s suggestions. And I really hope your dragonfly goes back to something like it was to start with. That is why turtle and dragon and knots are all on either my hips or my back.

    But I love the dragonfly.

    And Iris, we need to see the pumpkin!
    Posted by: Mia

  51. I had a huge belly but only have a few stretch marks on my hips. I used the Body Shop cocoa butter body butter but I also know women who got wicked stretch marks and rubbed with the most expensive creams known to man – it’s all genetics. But the lotion rubbing sure feels damn good. (And I’ll be a sick puppy and say that when I got really huge, a few times the dog licked the lotion off my belly and that was one of the most fabulous feelings in the world – like a mini-massage.)
    Posted by: Liz

  52. Wow, what a difference 8 weeks makes. You look great! Please keep us posted weekly with photos of the dragonfly.
    Posted by: melissa

  53. so while i’m waiting for your page to load, i think to myself, it’s been awhile since i visited cari’s page. ooo, nice dragonfly tatHEY! Heyyyyy!

    i’m typeless.

    a baby?! the lover and i were talking about whether or not we’re ready for a baby just last night and now this.

    i am too done.

    and so very, very happy for you and billy. yay for the continuance of your genes on the planet.
    Posted by: nakachi

  54. What a fun pic. At least you had the – um, unintentional foresight – to get a tattoo that would still look interesting if stretched. I wager the dragonfly will look pretty cool even if it gets looonnnnng wings.
    Posted by: Lizbon

  55. That reminds me of when I wished that I’d measured the distance between two prominent moles in about the same spot, maybe a little lower, as your dragonfly is, before my belly started growing. Take heart. My belly button piercing survived two pregnancies quite well.
    Posted by: Siri

  56. oh man….too cute for words. i’m not an expert in pregnant bellies nor tattoos for that matter…however everyone else sounds like the know what they are talking about.
    Posted by: jacqueline

  57. You look GORGEOUS!!! And check out http://www.glamourmom.com for the best nursing tanks EVER. They’re a bit pricy but I kid you not — I wear them constantly. You can get them cheaper off of eBay sometimes.
    And all my dogs have been rescued dogs. Love that you have that on your sidebar!
    Posted by: Beanmama

  58. What a great looking belly! (And it’s going to be fun to see how that dragonfly changes as the baby grows.)
    Posted by: Becky

  59. *whispering* um, we’re sure there’s just one heartbeat in there, right? Am I the only one thinking this? I’m just sayin’…

    My friend had flames tattooed all over her belly. They really did snap back, after not one but two pregnancies. It can happen, i think it’s all genes. I love the dragonfly. It’s perfect.
    Posted by: sarah g.

  60. Baby’s lookin great- love the tattoo.
    Palmer’s Cocoa Butter lotion for the belly- it’s the best, and it smells so yummy!
    Posted by: Amy

  61. the tattoo will pretty much snap back into shape after a bit. Mine did (same location as yours and all black ink), although the stretching during pregnancy faded it a little. May need to get it touched up.
    Posted by: Kim P

  62. That reminds me of when I wished that I’d measured the distance between two prominent moles in about the same spot, maybe a little lower, as your dragonfly is, before my belly started growing. Take heart. My belly button piercing survived two pregnancies quite well.
    Posted by: Siri

  63. oh man….too cute for words. i’m not an expert in pregnant bellies nor tattoos for that matter…however everyone else sounds like the know what they are talking about.
    Posted by: jacqueline

  64. You look GORGEOUS!!! And check out http://www.glamourmom.com for the best nursing tanks EVER. They’re a bit pricy but I kid you not — I wear them constantly. You can get them cheaper off of eBay sometimes.
    And all my dogs have been rescued dogs. Love that you have that on your sidebar!
    Posted by: Beanmama

  65. What a great looking belly! (And it’s going to be fun to see how that dragonfly changes as the baby grows.)
    Posted by: Becky

  66. *whispering* um, we’re sure there’s just one heartbeat in there, right? Am I the only one thinking this? I’m just sayin’…

    My friend had flames tattooed all over her belly. They really did snap back, after not one but two pregnancies. It can happen, i think it’s all genes. I love the dragonfly. It’s perfect.
    Posted by: sarah g.

  67. Baby’s lookin great- love the tattoo.
    Palmer’s Cocoa Butter lotion for the belly- it’s the best, and it smells so yummy!
    Posted by: Amy

  68. the tattoo will pretty much snap back into shape after a bit. Mine did (same location as yours and all black ink), although the stretching during pregnancy faded it a little. May need to get it touched up.
    Posted by: Kim P

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