The First Ultrasound

Apologies to all those whom I promised would get to see baby pictures yesterday. I fully intended on putting the pictures up but the day just got away from me!
Our ultrasound visit was at 10:00am yesterday. On the drive over, I was contemplating whether or not I wanted to know for certain I was having a girl. (All of my dreams and gut feelings thus far have pointed me - without a doubt - to the fact that we are having a girl). The funny thing is, on the way to the doctor, I did not care any more if it was a surprise or not because I just knew what it was. (Alex likes to say that temptation just got the better of me... but I don't listen to him.)

When we went into the room, the very first question from the ultrasound tech was of course "Do you want to know the sex?" I looked at Alex and said, "All he's going to do is confirm it's a girl." This comment of course made him want to know right then, just so he could prove me wrong. The tech placed the monitor on my belly and as soon as he did he started cracking up. There she was, her legs spread wide open for the "camera" revealing that my intuition is not in need of a tune up.

Our beautiful little girl sat perfectly still during the entire process, occasionally stretching a leg or moving an arm (she was resting with her arms above her head which is exactly how Alex and I both sleep... weird!). The crazy thing was, whenever the ultrasound tech would say he needed her to move to a different position, she would move for him, and he never needed to move the monitor! It sounds insane but he even said it was like she could hear him. (Which means Alex and I already need to make sure we start watching what we say!)

Alex and I watched her heart beating, her spine moving, and her hand waving. The visit was completely humbling and absolutely amazing. We left the doctor's office in a state of awed silence, I think we couldn't (and still can't) believe how life changing this whole experience has been. Each little situation makes us that much more excited to be parents and the anticipation is intoxicating.

Helpful Advice Needed

There are a lot of things I can accept as far as this pregnancy is concerned. I can live with the fact that I am still battling nausea and bad skin in the second trimester (even though my doctor promised it would go away after the first three months). It no longer bothers me that strangers think I am just fattening myself up for winter instead of realizing that I am pregnant. All of this I can handle, take with a grain of salt, even smile through. But this child is already ruining my sleep and this I cannot take lying down (ha!).

So I need helpful advice. Someone please tell me how you made it through these last 4 months with at least one decent 8-hour rest. I have a body pillow, which has helped somewhat. But forcing myself to sleep on my side has left my shoulder twisted, my hip aching, and my back in pain (part of that may come from the fact that Snoopy likes to sleep right next to me and kicks me periodically all through the night. But I've already decided I'm going to hog tie his legs together before bed. So that problem's solved). I know there must be a way to make this a more comfortable experience.

Please anyone... everyone... help a suffering woman out. Because my last resort is to just brace myself against the wall and sleep standing up.