Beach Bonfire

Last night we celebrated our 4th Annual Beach Bonfire! I can't believe these wonderful people have been in our lives for four years. We've made some wonderful lifelong friends.

Photography by the awesome D Park Photography

Website

Instagram

Week 14 Update

Hello Second Trimester!

How far along? 14 weeks! Officially in the 2nd trimester and I can't believe we made it!

How big is baby? The size of a nectarine

Total weight gain: I'm back to my normal weight +1lb

Maternity Clothes? Some maternity, some normal

Stretch marks? Not yet

Sleep: This week I've only been getting up once a night to go to the bathroom but I have a harder time falling asleep.

Best moment this week: Last Christmas Tims parents gave us gift cards to Glen Ivy so on Monday we took a spa day. It was so nice relaxing by the pools all day. They have these awesome floating bean bags that I wanted to steal. We also had the best nachos ever. Thanks John and Debbie!

Miss anything? Not being out of breath walking up the stairs.

Movement: Not yet! I felt a little blip earlier but I think it was just my breakfast digesting :)

Food Cravings: My cravings completely switched from savory to sweet. Now I could live on Ice Cream and cookies. Luckily I still have some will power.

Food Aversions: Greek food! We used to eat it once a week and now it sounds so gross. Last week we went out for Greek food with our Life Group and it was delicious but I was up all night feeling so sick.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Certain smells and being in the car

Gender: Not yet. I had a dream it was a boy but I've read that whatever gender you dream of, it's the opposite...hmm..

Symptoms: Fatigue, some nausea, getting more emotional (if that's even possible)

Belly Button in or out? In

Looking forward to? Our next appointment at the beginning of the month.

12 Week Update

This week I'm really feeling large and in charge which is silly because I know it's only the beginning! I have to keep reminding myself that this is whats supposed to happen and I haven't just let myself go.

I've decided to do bi-weekly updates just to keep a record of whats happening throughout the pregnancy.

How far along? 12 weeks 5 days

How big is baby? The size of a plum!

Total weight gain: I'm back to my pre-pregnancy weight after losing 4 lbs

Maternity Clothes? I bought some maternity shorts and they are SO comfortable!

Stretch marks? Not yet

Sleep: I've been waking up 1-2 times a night to pee and toss and turn quite a bit.

Best moment this week: Our 12 week Ultrasound and sharing the news

Miss anything? A turkey sandwich from Jersey Mikes :(

Movement: Not yet. I'm wondering if I'll even notice any little flutters.

Food Cravings: Nothing really. In the beginning I couldn't get enough Mexican food, it's all I could stomach, but now I don't crave anything.

Food Aversions: Pretty much everything, but mostly chicken and even that comes and goes.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Not eating soon enough, swallowing my prenatal pill, and any strong smell.

Gender: Still waiting!

Symptoms: Fatigue, Lower back pain, Nausea that usually hits in the afternoon, and anxiety

Belly Button in or out? In

Looking forward to? The second trimester!!!!

Something tells me we will have a very protective Big Brother on our hands!

Oh Baby!

For this child I have prayed and the Lord has granted the desires of my heart. 1 Samuel 1:27

It's true! We're pregnant! We are the proud owners of a teeny, squirmy, healthy 12 week baby..err...fetus!

It feels so good to be able to share the news.

We found out super early (too early in my opinion) and decided to wait till 8 weeks to tell our families and 12 to tell the rest of the  world.

I always had plans to document every little thing and take weekly bump pictures from the very beginning but that changed very quickly when morning sickness hit at 6 weeks and I couldn't muster the energy or desire to care. With the Second Trimester less than a week away I'm feeling more myself and ready to document this pregnancy!

Like I said, we found out super early....like 3 weeks pregnant. Oh, did I mention we were getting ready to start fertility treatment in a couple weeks!? I did manage to write down how that went so I wouldn't forget it:

3 Weeks:

Although I still have a week until my next expected period I just had this feeling that I should test. I've had tons of practice preparing for nothing to happen so I knew that it being so early chances would be very slim. I waited for Tim to go pick up his dry cleaning and I took a test. A VERY faint line came up right away. Normally I stare at it forever, squinting and trying to make myself see a second line but this time I didn't have to squint. I took it in every room to see it in different types of light. It was there. Ive always wanted to surprise Tim in a fun, creative way so I wrapped the test in its package and put it back in the box. It took Tim 15 minutes to get home and I probably unwrapped and rewrapped the test back up 10 times to look at it again. I heard the door unlock and my desire to come up with a creative way to tell him went out the window. I grabbed the test and went out to meet him. He had his back to me and when he turned around I was standing there holding it. He said, "Whats that?" (He knows what a pregnancy test is but after almost 4 years of weird things happening and me peeing on about 1000 tests, it seemed like a logical question). That night I took a digital test that said "Not Pregnant" but I've always heard those aren't as sensitive. The following morning I woke up and took two more. This time the line was a little darker and the digital said "Pregnant 1-2 Weeks"! Tomorrow I go for a blood test to confirm. I'm super excited but more nervous. I'm trying not to let myself get so wrapped up in this till we have more reassurance.

Those first 8 weeks were some of the most anxiety ridden weeks Ive ever experienced. Our previous pregnancies never made it past 6 weeks so I was fortunate enough to see a specialist right away and had weekly ultrasounds to make sure everything was going as planned. At 8 weeks we heard the heartbeat and it was music to our ears! I'll never forget that moment.

Since then the anxiety pretty much stayed the same until yesterday at our 12 week appointment when a tiny, busy little thing popped up instantly! It was moving around like crazy and it actually looked like a baby. The ultrasound tech pulled the wand away from my stomach and I said, "That was it moving, right? So it's alive, right?" I just needed that reassurance! It was the cutest little thing ever, playing with its hands, rubbing it's eyes, and my favorite picture of it's little bum and legs crossed at the ankles.

This has been quite the journey and I can't believe how different it is than what I imagined all these years. All of my mom friends tell me this is only the beginning of the worry, but with each milestone I feel myself accepting that this is getting more and more real. 

I just feel so blessed to have the opportunity to be a Mom and carry a child. There were so many times when I thought it wouldn't be possible. Tim and I are so thankful for all of the love, support, and prayers we've received on our journey to parenthood and I can't wait to share our joy with our loved ones!