19 Weeks, 2 Days... or 21 weeks??

I had another check up yesterday, and hubby got to go with me for the first time.  :)  It was just a quick appointment, but I was happy that he could meet my doctor.  He seemed to like him, and asked him some good questions.  It was so nice to have him there next to me.  Soooooo nice.  Everything went well.  Doc said my uterus is measuring at 21 weeks.  21 weeks?!  That scares me!  That means Harper could be here in September instead of October.  Holy cow.  It's almost June.  Holy cow.  I've gained four pounds since my last appointment.  A pound a week.  I hope to hell that doesn't continue the rest of the pregnancy.  That's 20 more pounds.  NO.  WAY.

The doctor has always had me at a week ahead of what I calculated myself at, based on the first day of my last period.  I always just go by what I calculate.  So according to me, I am 19 weeks, 2 days today.  According to him, I'm 20 weeks, 2 days today.  And according to him yesterday, I'm measuring at 21 weeks.  Holy cow.  Again.

I've been craving a Caesar salad since the day I found out I was pregnant and couldn't eat them anymore because of the raw eggs in the dressing.  I asked the doc if I could eat them, and he said YES.  Music to my ears.  He said I eat a lot worse things everyday than a Caesar salad (fast food, ahem).  So hopefully I'll get my Caesar tonight somewhere.  He said as long as it's not homemade dressing we're good, and most restaurants and stuff you buy in the store is OK and not homemade.

Hubby asked him about which hospital he prefers to deliver at and why.  We have two options.  Hubby was leaning more towards the hospital the doc doesn't like, but after our discussion yesterday, he changed his mind.  Doc gave us a list of why the hospital we were going to pick is not a good one, namely because their nurses are morons and inexperienced and shitty (at least that's what I took from the convo).  So we'll be going with the other hospital at doc's recommendation.  It's the same distance from our house as the other one (5 miles away), so it isn't a big deal.  I think we'll take a tour the next time my hubby is home to check it out and get a feel for it.

What else...?  OH we left the appointment and went and bought a crib!  It's beautiful!

We bought it from the same store where we bought our glider and ottoman when I was about 8 weeks pregnant long, long ago.  It's a cute little boutique that sells really nice, high quality stuff.  We've been debating about a crib for a few weeks now, and it's such a huge relief to have one and know we don't have to look for one anymore.  Of course now we need to get a dresser and side table, but I'm sure we won't have any issues finding those (hopefully, at least).  We bought the bedding for the crib the night before from Pottery Barn Kids.

Is that not just precious?  My hubby picked it out.  :)  He is such a dream and knows my style to a T.  I'm not going with a traditional nursery bedding set.  We bought the bumpers, skirt and fitted sheet.  I'm going to make Harper a quilt to go on the bed, and I am going to do the wall decor myself, too.  Our glider will go beautifully with this style and color scheme, and it really gives me the chance to play up different colors and patterns with everything else.  The quilt I make will go with the wall decor I choose to make, too.  It will all be tied in.  And the art work we purchased for the walls will look beautiful with this, too.  We purchased three pieces in New Orleans over the weekend after we found out Harper was a girl.  Seriously, this is going to be such a chic nursery.  I'm going to want to sleep there (and probably will be doing so for the next year or so).

Things are winding down for me here at work.  I have two weeks left tomorrow.  Wow.  Time has FLOWN by since I quit in January.  I quit before I knew we were expecting (I may have been a few hours preggo at that point), because we decided to build a house an hour east of here.  It all worked out when I found out we were pregnant.  But I didn't expect time to go this quickly, to literally fly by.  That means the first half of my pregnancy has gone in the blink of an eye and now I'm on to the last half.  It's going too fast!  I'm trying to just take it in day by day, but it seems to be skipping ahead week by week.

I'm still squeezing into my favorite pair of jeans.  My work pants don't fit me anymore, and I've basically checked out of my job anyway, so I'm wearing jeans everyday to work and flip flops.  It's not that I don't care.  It's that I don't give a shit.  My life is about to consist of yoga pants, organizing our new house, putting together the most fabulous nursery on the planet, and hopefully teaching myself to cook so my hubby and I don't starve to death.  I'm trying to convince him to send me to a cooking class.  He is NOT buying that one.

Preparations have started for my Ohio baby shower.  My best friend up there is throwing it for me.  I have the guest list, which is way too long and needs to be paired down a lot.  I have a lot of people invited simply to make others happy, and that's not how it should be.  So the chopping block will be coming today when I have a chance to look and see who should be included based on what I want.  This is NOT gonna make some people happy.  Oh well.  My baby.  My shower.  MY decisions.

Sometimes it's fun being an adult.  :)

It's a...

GIRL!

:)

I've been saying all along it was a boy.  I had a dream it was a boy.  My husband had a dream it was a boy.  I had a gut feeling it was a boy.  Wrong, wrong, wrong!

Back when we had a "Sneak Peek" ultrasound 4 weeks ago, the tech said that she "thought" it was a girl but since there was so much swelling she couldn't be for certain, so I took what she said with a grain of salt.  When I laid down and she put the belly wand on me she said she knew instantly what the baby was, but was trying to get a good view for us.  I told her that 4 weeks before she told us she thought it was a girl, and she said "Well, I'm pretty good then if I told you that at 14 weeks."  :)  I cried.  I squealed like a pig in mud.  I didn't care what the baby was, just as long as it's healthy and happy.  But to hear that it's a girl... I've always dreamt of having a little girl of my own to spoil, dress up, play with, and love unconditionally forever and ever.  I grew up with sisters.  I helped raise one.  I have a special connection with girls.  I know how to deal with them, how to handle their quirks.  I have no doubt in my mind that I would have been just as fabulous a mother to a little boy as a little girl, but deep down I wanted this baby girl.  :)  We are SO very blessed.

My hubby, on the other hand, was disappointed, I think.  He wanted that first boy, that little one that he could play video games with, bond over Star Wars and comic books.  I told him he can still do that with our baby girl.  :)  I know he's going to be the best daddy to this precious little girl.  I can just picture him with her and it melts my heart, just the thought of it.  I'm going to be a total mess when this little girl comes into our lives and I see him with her.

Harper Annmarie Bell.  That's our baby girl.  We love the name Harper, and Annmarie is a combination of my grandma and mom's middle names (Ann) and my middle name (Marie).  We both loved the name and thought it sounded pretty.  And from the sounds of it, everyone else loves it, too.  Not that I care, really.  :)

So we started spoiling her this weekend.  30 minutes after we knew we went shopping.  Clothes, bows, stuffed animals, socks, shoes, books, bibs, precious dresses with ruffles... we got it all.  Lord help us and all of the stuff we're buying.

So my next actual doctor's appointment is tomorrow at 1:10, and my hubby gets to go to this one.  :)  I'm so excited.  It's the first one he's been able to make since he's been working so much.  The appointment probably won't consist of much, but I'm excited because he'll get to meet the doctor and tell me what he thinks of him.  There's something about this doctor that I just can't pinpoint.  I know he's a good guy, he delivered my cousin's baby, but I just feel like he doesn't take my concerns into consideration.  It will be nice for my hubby to meet him and give me his opinion.

Harper Annmarie Bell.  (I can't stop saying her name...)

18 weeks 2 days... it's been awhile

Well it's been awhile.  Quite awhile... since my last post.  I'm ashamed but things have gotten crazy at work.  I've been training my replacement (my sister) since April 30, so there hasn't been much free time at the office to work on my blog.  So here goes a recap.

I think I've had one appointment since then.  It wasn't my favorite appointment.  I thought the doc would do an ultrasound and maybe tell me the sex of the baby.  Instead he told me I wouldn't have another ultrasound until Week 26 with him.  When his dumb ass nurse told me this, I naively asked "how will I find out the sex of our baby?" and she told me that my doctor doesn't like to know the sex, therefore, we wouldn't know either.  Hmm.  Well, stupid nurse and equally stupid doctor, this is MY baby, not yours.  She told me I could go somewhere and pay to find out.  You're damn straight I will.  When the doc came in I made it very apparent that I was NOT a happy pregnant woman, and he decided to tell me a story where his wife was pregnant and her doctor told him the sex (but not her), and when the baby came out it was a different sex.  Now, doctor, this was 30+ years ago, and modern medicine has come a long way since then, but whatever you have to tell yourself to keep from doing more work with your patients is fine by me.  Whatever makes you sleep better at night.

So long story short, my hubby is home from work this weekend, and we are going to New Orleans to the place that did our little "first glimpse" ultrasound on Saturday to see if they can tell us the sex.  I hope they can.  We are so excited to find out, and not knowing is eating away at us.  We can't properly shop until we know, and that's driving me nuts.  I went to the Carter's outlet on Saturday and very nearly bought boy AND girl clothes.  The temptation is there.  We just want to know!  We have names picked out and everything (that's how much of a planner I am... I would NEVER be able to wait until after the birth to name our baby, that's just stupid).  So, if we have a baby girl, her name will be Harper Annmarie Bell.  We both love the name Harper, and Annmarie is a combination of my favorite, sweetest grandmother's middle name and my mom's middle name (Ann) with my middle name (Marie).  I think it sounds so beautiful and southern and precious.  And if it's a boy, we're carrying on the Bell name and will have a Robert Neil Bell IV.  I love carrying on my hubby's name.  I have some people that don't agree with it and want us to be "original," but news flash: this is OUR baby, not yours, and I will not hesitate to put you in your place and tell you to suck it.  It leaves a warm fuzzy feeling inside to think that we will have a 4th generation of Bobby Bell's, and I love it.  Just love it.  :)

So in the past four weeks I've been feeling really great, just pretty tired still.  My appetite is back in full force and nothing is off limits anymore.  Everything (but bananas) sounds good.  And I finally started gaining some weight, probably because I stopped listening to my doctor telling me to cut out all sweets and good foods, and I've just been indulging in what I feel like.  I did cut out all pop and most desserts, and I feel like that should suffice.  I kind of feel like he was training to use a scare tactic on me, threatening me with a c-section if the baby was too big.  But I won't let him scare me.  I have to trust that everything will be OK and we will hopefully have a epidural-loving vaginal birth.

Speaking of birth, I tried to talk my hubby into hiring a doula.  This nice southern boy wasn't falling for that hippie shit.  Oh well, I tried.  :)

I've been thinking a lot about nursing and child birth.  I wish I could stop.  Hell, I'm still 22 weeks from delivery (if we go full term, I guess).  I've really been enjoying this part of the pregnancy and I'm loving the expanding belly and all the happiness that comes from a new life growing inside of you (especially the increase in sex drive, which is absolutely bananas).  But as I get bigger and closer to the big event, I get realyl terrified.  These first 14 weeks since we found out have literally flown by.  If these next week go just as fast, we will have a baby before we know it.  I just want it to slow down.  It's going too fast.  I think the thought of everything changing really scares me.  There is so much going on in our lives right now.  I am done working in less than 22 days.  Our new house is very nearly finished and we are working on mortgage stuff right now.  Then the baby.  It's a lot to take in.

Just gotta remember to breathe.  Like my hubby said, one thing at a time.  House, then baby.  Easier said than done.

I felt the baby move for the first time two weeks ago, right at 16 weeks.  I was walking to my car at lunchtime and had to grab unto the hood of the car to keep from falling over.  It felt weird, like jello moving around in my belly.  To be honest it scared the hell out of me.  But then I thought about it and thought "that has to be the baby, or else my internal organs are shifting in a way they probably shouldn't be."  It was soooo neat and immediately gave me a high that I can't describe.  I've felt some movement ever since then, but nothing like that first little jump in the uterine trampoline.  I'm hoping I'll feel more as the weeks progress.

I celebrated my first Mother's Day as a momma-to-be two weeks ago, May 13.  Hubby was working but he bought me cards before he left and had them on the table for me to open.  One from him, and one from baby.  It was the sweetest thing ever.  I kept them (and all the other cards I got from people) in the pregnancy journal book my mother-in-law bought me.  I love keeping track of things like that.  Here I am on Mother's Day, before meeting the family for lunch...

So I am 16 weeks, 5 days there.  That's one of the maternity dresses I bought.  My hubby bought me a bunch of maternity clothes for Mother's Day from Motherhood Maternity, and then I also went on a little shopping spree for myself and bought a bunch more from there, too.  Clothes just don't fit anymore.  Maybe it's those 5 pounds I gained and that protruding belly out front.  I love it.  Love it, love it, love it.  I need to get a bathing suit, though.  I have a feeling I'll be spending a lot of time in the pool this summer.  There's one by my in-laws and one at the baby's fairy godfather's house.  So I guess I can take my pick.

So I guess that's about it.  A lot of nothing but a lot of somethings.  This weekend should be the big weekend.  Once we know what the baby is all bets are off.  The shopping will BEGIN.  And we can start calling the baby by it's name instead of all these pet names we have for it.

Finally.

14 Weeks! 2nd Trimester!

I forgot to post this picture of my 13 week board last week...

Me being weepy was an understatement.  I think my hubby inadvertantly made me cry 3 or 4 times over the weekend.  He wasn't being mean.  He just didn't say the right thing, apparently.  :)  I cry at the drop of a hat nowadays.  Everything rubs me the wrong way.  I felt so bad every time I cried, but I just couldn't help it.  You can't stop the waterworks when they start.  Add to that some very unnecessary family drama going on, and I've been a total mess.  There is a particular person that I unfortunately have to associate with, but I've had it.  You try and try and try to make a relationship with someone that is just not the kind of person you want to associate with, and eventually you give up.  I have given up.  There was all of this drama going on on stupid FB that forced me to defend my sister (which I will ALWAYS do, no matter what), and it eventually ended with me texting said person that I appreciate her and her family for what they do, and I didn't get a response.  That's OK.  Proves the maturity level of this person.  I can't tell you how many times I've apologized or tried to explain myself or make things right, but get nothing in return.  Like my hubby said, he realized a long time ago that you can only be shit on so many times before you just deal with it, distance yourself, and don't trust this person.  My life is simpler now and less stressed, but it's sad.  Oh well.  I need to eliminate stress and unnecessary bull shit out of my life, for our baby's sake, and I have done so.  I will be civil around said person, but like my hubby says, the only people that matter are us, the baby and Fritz.  I love that man.  He is my sanity.

Sigh of relief.

So hubby is back to work now.  He was home for a few days and it was wonderful (with the exception of my emotional crying fits, sorry hubby).  We went to an outside source Saturday for an ultrasound.  The first one hubby got to see.  It was amazing.  After fighting torrential rains to get to Nola early Saturday, we made it and got to hear baby's heartbeat (156 BPM!) and see Le Petite Bebe just a bouncing around in there.  Bebe even waved to us, saying hi to daddy for the first time.  Bebe even kicked back and laid around.  The tech said bebe was so active because I hadn't eaten.  Don't worry, I engorged myself in Juan's Flying Burrito shortly thereafter and bebe was very happy.  We went to the French Quarter and picked up bebe's first present from daddy, a giant, soft, fluffy alligator and a book for the nursery library.  We did a lot of house finalization stuff that needed completed, so it looks like we just have to sit back and wait for it to be done at this point.  Another sigh of relief.  :)

So now we are 14 weeks!

Hubby put his artistic skills to the test and drew his work place.  :)  2nd trimester.  The first really flew by.  I think I'm finally getting some energy back, but it's hard to say.

My sister is moving down south today!  She is actually taking my place at my job, so she starts training with me Monday.  I have so much to do here to get ready for that.  Wish I hadn't procrastinated so much.  That my mode of operation, though.  Wait til the last minute.  I'll probably have to come in this weekend to finish up the training stuff.  I do so much on a daily basis that it's hard to pinpoint everything and put it into writing.  Luckily I had a manual to work off of, but I do a lot more now than I did when I originally started.  She'll be shacking up with us until she gets her own place (hopefully soon lol).

I still haven't gained any weight yet, which has me kind of wondering.  I started eating better because of my sugar, but I've been slacking on that.  I feel like I should be gaining some kind of weight.  I know my belly is getting bigger because the one pair of jeans I wear do the roll over maneuver.  I may pop by the maternity store this weekend to pick up some jeans.  I have maternity capris, but I need something to wear to the office that isn't capris.  I got a really cute maternity dress from Target last week that is going to be a God send this summer in this south Louisiana heat.

My next appointment is next Wednesday... maybe I'll talk to the doc about not gaining weight.  I'm sure the minute I mention it I'll put on 20 pounds.  :X

13 weeks!

13 weeks... so crazy.  Seems like just yesterday I peed on a stick and it changed our lives forever.

Things are going really well.  I'm not sick anymore (!), which is fabulous.  I'm still really tired, been asleep before 9 every night.  I'm sooooo sick of hearing people say "sleep while you can!"  Yeah, I get it, sleep is flighty, at best, when the baby comes.  I'm not stupid.

Oh yeah.  I'm still a raging bitch.  Maybe more so than before.  Thanks hormones.

Hubby finally gets home tomorrow after being gone 25 days.  That is a l o n g damn time when you're pregnant, emotional, mad, sad, happy, bitchy, sick, tired.  I'm so ready to see him.  We're going to celebrate our 2nd anniversary while he's home, since he'll miss it and be gone for it this year (April 30).  Hopefully the next time he comes home we can find out the sex of the baby!

The cat is out of the bag at work now.  Everyone knows I'm leaving (an e-mail was sent out), my replacement (my sister!) begins training April 30, and I'm outta here June 15.  Looks like I'll still be tied to this place after I leave, doing some recruiting from home, but I'm good with that.  Extra money, and it will give me something to do between now and baby time.  Everyone is really happy for us, with building the house, moving, and having the bebe.  I think a few of the guys here almost cried when they came to talk to me about leaving.  Kind of funny and sad.

I made this really cute dress over the weekend to accomodate an expanding belly.  It makes my rack look HUGE (although a full coverage hooded sweatshirt does, too), but it turned out pretty cute.  It's long and flowy and makes me look like a whale, but I love the fabric and colors, and I'm pregnant, so I don't care.

This past weekend, besides sewing, was full of activities.  Most weekends lately have been comprised of sleeping, napping, taking the pup to the dog park, and sleeping some more, so this was a nice change.  Went to a little birthday party on Saturday and had a much needed girls night out with some fabulous friends.  Three hours later I was totally falling asleep at the table of the restaurant (along with another preggo friend).  10pm is like 4am to me.  I met up with some family on Sunday and went to the Strawberry Festival over in Ponchatoula.  It was very fun, but a little warm and after indulging in fried food, a giant lemonade, and some shopping, I was overheated and sick.  :x  Baby was ready to go home and take a nap!  (and throw up a little bit, I hadn't eaten much sugar or fried foods lately because of my blood sugar, so my body was on crappy food overdrive, I guess...)

12 weeks, 3 days

Chalkboard Countdown

How cute is this?



I've seen these little countdowns all over Pinterest so I had to do one, too.  I think it's so cute.  Hubby ordered these great chalkboard wet markers from Amazon and they worked out awesome.  Love, love, love it!

12 Weeks! 3 Months! YAY

8 weeks ago we found out we were expecting our bundle of joy.  Fast forward to today and it feels like yesterday.  I'm not sick anymore (well, with the exception of opening up our dog's treat bag and gagging because the smell overwhelms me), I'm just really tired.  I'm trying desperately to set up an ultrasound for when my hubby comes home, since he's missed the first two.  I hope they'll let us.

How far along?  12 weeks!
Maternity clothes?  I have my capris, but I need to get some more.  Clothes just aren't fitting very well.  I've become best friends with zip up hoodies and jackets.  Trying to hid the fatness.
Stretch marks?  More and more each day.
Sleep?  It depends.  I slept like a rock last night.  I slept like shit the night before.  No rhyme or reason to the sleep patterns, it seems.
Best moment this week?  Making 12 weeks today!
Miss anything?  Coke.
Movement?  Nope.
Food cravings?  Salads.
Anything making you queasy or sick?  The smell of dog treats, blech!
Have you started to show yet?  I think so...
Gender? Still thinking boy...
Labour Signs? Nooooooooooooo.
Belly Button in or out?  In.
Wedding rings on or off?  On.
Happy or Moody most of the time?  I'm becoming less of a bitch, but it's still there.
Looking forward to going into labor?  No.  Not after watching this totally horrible documentary called "The Business of Birth."  Want to scare yourself?  Watch that.  It's awful.

Bump bump bump bump bump

Here's the bump pics so far.  The first one is probably just a "I had too much lunch" picture :)

7 Weeks, 3 Days

9 Weeks, 3 Days

11 Weeks, 5 Days

I feel like the bump is much more pronounced in the last picture.  I'm working on doing one of those weekly chalkboard things all the girls on Pinterest are doing, like this:

The chalk markers are ordered and will arrive Wednesday.  I'll be 12 weeks then.  :)



11 weeks, 2 Days

I had my check up yesterday.  I thought I was in the all clear for this blood sugar thing, but instead I got a lecture from my doc about my blood sugar, saying it was "normal but high," so I have to eat on an ADA diet (diabetic diet) to try to get it lowered.  He said if it doesn't get lower, that I may run the risk of having a large baby and have to have a c-section.  I really, really don't want a c-section, so I'm going to try my best to eat well.  No sweet, no fried foods, no snacks (I will miss my chips).  I know I can do it because I want a healthy baby and a healthy pregnancy, but I would just love to have a normal pregnancy like other women where you can eat what you want, what you're craving, instead of having to watch what you eat.

Oh well.

Other than that, the appointment went well.  He did an ultrasound on my belly and we saw Le Petite Bell just bouncing around on my uterine trampoline.  It was pretty neat.  The minute he put the wand on my belly the baby was there, letting us know it was alive and well.  The doctor didn't listen for a heartbeat.  Since I had cramping at the beginning of the pregnancy, he didn't want to risk smooshing anything around and hurting anything trying to find a heartbeat.  He was happy with seeing an active baby in there just pouncing away like a little monkey.  I got to see the face, an eye, the mouth.  Very, very neat.  I videoed it for my hubby to see, since he's off working.  It will be nice one of these days he's home and can go with me to an appointment and see this in person (I'm really hoping for the gender ultrasound... if he's not here, I will make the doctor not tell me the sex, and hubby and I will go once he's home to find out together).

I've started feeling better, which is such a relief.  Coffee actually finally sounded good this morning, so I had a cup of decaf.  I know everyone says it's OK to drink a little caffeine, but I'm anxious by nature, so even a Coke makes me jittery.  I'll just steer clear of it until after baby is here.  I don't want it getting the jitters, too.  And hubby thinks if I drink it the baby will come out bouncing around and being crazy.  :)

So no morning sickness this week, but food still doesn't sound really good.  Just salads, which I guess is a good thing.  My clothes are starting to get pretty tight.  My work pants do a nice roll down maneuver when I put them on.  I'm really trying to refrain from buying new work clothes since I'll be done working June 15.  I do not want to buy stuff I'm not going to wear.  Those maternity clothes are expensive!

Burrrrrrrppppppp

I had some reprieve from the sickness last week, but it's back again.  I was up for hours last night sick and totally wide awake.  Made getting up for work really, really fun.  I was an hour late.  Oh well.  What are they going to do, fire me?  Nope.

I'm burping like you wouldn't believe.  It all started around the time of Jerseylicious last night (oh the irony, trashy show, trash burps), and continued all night long into today.  It kind of feels like I'm burping to keep from either A. feeling sick or B. throwing up.  Either way I'm not enjoying the increase in air going on right now.  I will be 11 weeks on Wednesday.  Then 3 more weeks until this first trimester is over.  I'm hoping I start feeling better soon.

The exhaustion is totally kicking my ass.  I can't even believe it.  Maybe it's because I was up half the night last night, but I can barely muster a walk down the hall to pee.  So pitiful.  I can't wait to get home and plop my butt on the couch for the night.

My pants are doing an interesting roll over thing.  The belly must be getting bigger because I don't think the pants are shrinking.  I'm only up one pound today since we found out we were expecting.  I was up two, but I went down over the weekend.  Not sure what the deal is there, probably water weight fluctuating.  Either way I think the bump is developing.  Why else would my pants do the roll over maneuver?  I'm ready to look pregnant and not just overweight.

My next appointment is Wednesday.  Looks like I'm heading to this one alone.  I'm OK with that, but I just keep thinking "What if there's no heartbeat and I have to find that out alone?"  Eternal pessimist.  Just hoping for a strong heartbeat and everything to look OK.

My best from home is throwing me a shower up north in Ohio on July 28.  I'm so excited for that.  She's the best.  She's even going to come down for a few days after the baby is here and after hubby goes back to work, so I don't have to be alone and can make that transition.  It will be so fab to have her here.  I miss my friends more than anything.

10 weeks, 2 days

We made it to 10 weeks yesterday.  So exciting and hard to believe that 6 weeks ago we found out we were expecting.  I was really, really sick on Monday, but since then I've been feeling OK.  Pants are a little tighter, boobs feel bigger, and I noticed a new stretch mark this morning on my belly that wasn't there before.

I had a long talk with a good friend that's about 20 weeks pregnant with her 2nd baby the other night.  It's soooo nice to have good friends that are pregnant at the same time.  Most of my friends have had babies, so they're my go-to's.  We chatted for like an hour and a half about lots of stuff, including her trying to convince me that her new mini van is the greatest thing since sliced bread (no one will ever convince me of that, ever).  I had made the mistake earlier in the day of googling childbirth to check out the various stages and whatnot, which kind of got my anxiety going through the roof.  She told me to stop googling.  That everyone's experiences are different.  Her first childbirth was a dream, but that's not to say mine will or won't be.  Everyone's different.  I'm a chronic worrier, so the fact that I'm already worrying about childbirth 30 weeks before the baby's supposed arrival is not surprising to me.

For awhile I've said I want no one other than my husband in the room with me when I give birth.  It's a private thing.  I'm modest.  I don't want people seeing me cry and scream and punch my husband.  But my friend told me that she had both her mother and mother-in-law in the room with her and her husband when she gave birth.  She said her mom was there to provide support to her, and her husband's mom was there to provide support to him, because inevitably he would need it at some point.  That sounds like a good idea, but I do NOT want my mother or MIL in the room with us.  No way.  That's just way too many emotions and estrogen in one room.  But I think I'm going to ask my sister.  I want someone there to be able to take pictures for us, especially pictures of hubby cutting the cord, and those first few moments of baby's first breath, me holding baby, etc.  I think my hubby will be too tied up with me to worry about a camera.  I've talked about it with her before, and she does not want to be in the room, but I know she'll do it for me if I ask her to.

I'm tired.  So tired.  The pup and I were asleep last night before 9.  It's sad when you look forward to the weekends so you can sleep them away.

9 weeks, 6 Days

Well the results came back from the one hour glucose test and all was fine.  Of course, I had to call to get the results (I'm not really happy with the nurses and office of this OBGYN), but at least they were in normal range.  I knew they would be.  I knew when they tried to send me for the 3 hour glucose test they were jumping the gun.

We did some shopping this weekend.  We bought a glider and ottoman for the nursery.  :)  It's beautiful.  The most beautiful glider I've ever seen.  I got to pick out the fabric (a nice brown and ivory print, so it's very gender neutral), and they will hold it and have it delivered to our new house when it's ready.  We almost bought the stroller/pram combo, but we're still doing some research on that end.  I also think it's too early to buy baby stuff right now.  The glider/ottoman will be used in the living room once it's done in the nursery, so it's multi-purpose and not just baby-specific.  I'll feel more comfortable buying baby stuff once we hit the 12 week mark.  (I'm very superstitious.  I didn't even want to tell anyone until 12 weeks.  Hubby told me the other day "we are going to have a baby, stop it."  It's not that easy for me!)

So the store we got the glider/ottoman from is called All About Baby in Covington, very close to where our new house is.  Good for their business, bad for our wallets.  I think we plan to get the nursery furniture from there, too, which will cost a small fortune.  But I told hubby that I would be willing to sacrifice new furniture for us if it meant our baby got beautiful bedroom furniture.  And that's the honest truth.  This baby is spoiled already and it still looks like an alien.

My SIL suggested this Metromint water from Fresh Market to help with the morning sickness.  I've still been feeling a little queasy lately, so I bought out our local Fresh Market of the stuff.  I love it.  It tastes great and the mint really helps.  I hope they restock by next weekend so I can get some more if I need it.  I would drink this stuff even if I didn't have morning sickness.  It's really refreshing and delicious.

Time is really flying... it's kind of scary.  I know I'm going to blink and I'm going to be full term and "ready" to have this baby.  But I'm scared I'll be physically ready, but not mentally prepared.  I still don't really feel pregnant, just sick and exhausted and tired.  I know they say 40 weeks is a long time, but these first 6 weeks since we've found out have FLOWN by.  That scares me.

9 weeks, 3 days

Just wanted to pop in and post my 9 weeks, 3 days bump pic :) The last one I posted was a little after 7 weeks.  I think I actually look smaller in this picture than the last.  :P  Maybe from the morning sickness?  OH.  I'm wearing my maternity pants today.  I may never go back to real pants ever again.

9 weeks, 2 days

Still haven't heard from the doc about the results of my glucose test last Thursday.  I'll probably give them a call tomorrow if I haven't heard by then...

Nothing much new to report, still pretty nauseous and tired.  Hopefully 3 more weeks of that and it will go out the window and I can continue on and actually enjoy this.  :)

We went to a maternity store last night.  My pants are starting to roll over when I sit, so I got one of those belly band things to hold up my pants, and got my first pair of maternity pants.  How in the hell had I not noticed these prior to getting pregnant?  These are the most awesome, comfy pants on the planet.  Hubby told me I wasn't allowed to wear them after I had the baby.  Ha!  Yeah right!  If he could wear pants without a waist band he would, too!  I picked up some fat girl underwear, since my dog keeps eating mine.  :P

How far along?  9 weeks, 2 days
Maternity clothes?  Picked up my first pair of maternity capris last night, and a belly band that I'm wearing today.  Stretchy and comfy.  Two things I love in clothes.
Stretch marks?  Yep, always had 'em.  Just lubing up on belly butter.
Sleep?  Like a rock.  We got new pillows last night that are AMAZING.
Best moment this week?  Coming home to the dishes being done and the kitchen picked up last night.  Best hubby ever.  It's the little things.
Miss anything?  Food sounding good.
Movement?  Nope.
Food cravings?  Last night it was an ice cream sundae.  And jalapeno potato chips.
Anything making you queasy or sick?  Just a general nauseated feeling generally all day long.
Have you started to show yet?  I feel like my belly is getting a little bigger and more difficult to suck in.  But I think I need to poo, too :P
Gender? Still thinking a boy... hubby had a dream it was a boy.
Labour Signs? No.
Belly Button in or out?  In.
Wedding rings on or off?  On.
Happy or Moody most of the time?  Getting a little less bitchy.
Looking forward to going into labor?  Still coming to terms with this... I don't think I'm scared, just unnerved about the unknown.

First Preggy Trip

We took our first trip as a preggy couple this weekend to see the Bristol NASCAR race.  We got to spend some time in the mountains of North Carolina.  It's so beautiful and peaceful there.  Really calming and lovely.  Of course, I got back to the office this morning to over 130+ e-mails.  Ugh.  Only 87 more days of this stress.

Everyone officially knows about our little bean.  We told hubby's parents (and entire family) on Thursday evening on our way out of town.  Then it went on Facebook and spread like wildfire.  I knew it would once we told hubby's side of the family.  Not many secrets anywhere.  So everyone knows, and everyone is just as excited as we are (if not more, if you're my mother).  Now I don't have to worry whether this person knows or if we've told this other person yet.  Now I can just concentrate on being pregnant, taking care of myself, and enjoying the pregnancy.

After a lot of bullshit on Thursday, I finally went in to do that one hour glucose test at the lab.  I still haven't heard anything back about it.  I really hope it comes back OK.

We are in the 9th week here.  It's going by REALLY quickly.  I'm ready to start showing.  I haven't gained any weight yet, but I am starting to feel better.  I wasn't really nauseous at all on our trip.  There were a few times where I threw up or felt sick, but I think that was mostly from the curvy mountain roads and bouts of car sickness from sitting in the backseat.  It was a great trip but I am so glad to be out of the car and not have to drive any long distances for a long, long time.

Ugh

Well Dr. Breen's office called me today and said the results were back from my blood test and my sugar was high.  They asked if I had eaten that morning, but I can't remember what I did 5 minutes ago, let alone what I ate a week ago.  I remember eating crackers in the car on the way to the appointment, and if it was like any other day the past few weeks, I've had either a glass of OJ or cranberry juice in the morning, along with two pieces of toast with peanut butter.  I'm hoping that is what happened... that I ate that morning and that's why it was high.  I'm so nervous.  I have to go in the morning to do another test, this time fasting (I would have fasted that morning last week had I known!).

Ugh.  Fingers crossed all goes well.  Tomorrow is the day we tell hubby's parents and whoever else happens to be at their house at the moment.  Should be fun.  Then we plan to make it facebook office on Friday... I'm still a little hesitant about that, but hubby wants to.  Just hoping everything turns out OK and this doesn't backfire.

I'm the eternal pessimist.  :P

This is Fun...

I saw this on another pregnancy blog and thought I might do this on a weekly basis...

How far along?  7 weeks, 6 days
Maternity clothes?  Not "maternity" clothes, but I did buy a jacket to wear to hide up any potential bump before I'm ready to reveal it at work.
Stretch marks?  Hell, I had them before I got pregnant (doesn't every REAL woman?).  Of course they're there.  But hubby bought me Mama Bees to try to keep my belly semi-normal.
Sleep?  It's OK.  Over the weekend I was up numerous times to pee one night, but not since then.  Strange.  I was still up at the ass crack of dawn today despite springing ahead.
Best moment this week?  My hubby coming home and wanting to see the ultrasound picture.
Miss anything?  Caesar salads and not feeling nauseous.
Movement?  Nope.
Food cravings?  Anything fresh, cold and fruity.
Anything making you queasy or sick?  Everything!  Not a damn thing sounds good.
Have you started to show yet?  Nope, still just look like my same 'ol fat self.  :P
Gender? We think it's a boy... I guess we'll find out in May!
Labour Signs? Oh sheesh, I hope not.  :/
Belly Button in or out?  In.  Outties are so ugly.  Please God, let me belly button remain IN.  I won't be able to look at myself in the mirror if it's out!
Wedding rings on or off?  On!
Happy or Moody most of the time?  I'm a big 'ol pile of bitchiness.
Looking forward to going into labor?  Not right now.  Still scares me shitless.  I don't want my who-ha to get all weird and deformed and stretched and cut.  I'm sure I'll come around to that idea eventually...

Happy Wife

I'm a happy wife, my hubby is home from work for at least two weeks.  When he got home last night he asked how the baby was.  Makes me melt.  He wanted to see the ultrasound picture, too.  When your hubby works as much as mine does, it really makes you appreciate the time he is home and the little things.

I was superrrrr sick this weekend.  Not constantly throwing up or anything, just a nagging nausea that would not go away.  I ate through the pain (a good friend gave me this advice, eat even if you don't want to, for the baby), but it was not fun.  My pup wasn't feeling well, either (shots), so we just laid around on the couch all weekend watching the Jersey Shore marathon (the lack of brain cells on that show is not helping my pregnancy brain at all).  Maybe that's what we both needed.  Hubby got to experience my first bouts of sickness last night after we ate dinner.  "Don't throw up the food you just ate!"  Easier said than done.  :x

On a side note, I cannot wait until my last day at my job.  June 15.  Each day I show up here, the more I hate it.  I never thought I would be so miserable in a job.  I work with a lot of assholes, and it really gets to you.  You never feel good enough, adequate enough, smart enough.  Hands down, giving my notice here is the best decision I have EVER made in my life (except for moving down south and meeting my husband, forever changing my life in the best way possible).  Even if I wasn't quitting to stay home with our babies, I would still be quitting to find another job elsewhere.  It's not worth the unhappiness I experience everyday here.

Rant over.

We started talking about family cars yesterday.  My 2001 Honda Civic is paid for, but maybe not the safest car.  Hubby's truck is nearly paid for, but not exactly a family vehicle.  So I think we've decided to get another car.  With his job, we get a pretty sizable discount on Ford vehicles, so I think we'll go that route.  I like the Ford Edges, but there's a few other cars we like, too.  So we shall see... I am leaning towards a small SUV, something that can carry us into our next child, whenever that may be.  I would hate to buy a slightly smaller car now, and then have to upgrade again when we have another baby.  I have never had a new car!  And it's been over 6 years since I bought my used Civic.  This will be exciting.  :)

Spring forward is going to kick my ass today.  Getting up at 5:30 was like getting up at 4:30.  Boo.  Boo.  Boo.  I'm gonna need to find a hole to crawl into to take a nap today.

Goodies!

My hubby is the absolute best.  Hands down, there is not another out there that can beat his awesomeness.  I just love him.  A big package from Amazon arrived on Wednesday with lots of preggers goodies, including a really cute Ohio State preggy shirt (I can't find a picture of it, but eventually I'll take a picture in it and post it) and this awesome stuff:

A pregnancy pillow, since apparently you can't sleep on your back after the 1st trimester.  I'm a back sleeper, so this is gonna be a life saver.  I've been using it and I love it.  Only problem is it's huge and when my hubby will be in our bed, it will be interesting to see how we all fit in the bed (me, him and puppy) with the pillow.  Looks like a king size bed is in our future in the new house.

Preggy pops for my bouts of nausea.  They're pretty sour but I like them and they work.  He also sent me a bottle of pills for nausea, but I haven't had a chance to try those yet.  I love candy, so these pop drops are winners in my book.

Three containers of Mama Bee's Belly Butter.  He must be worried that my belly is gonna get gigantic and warped.  But I think I'll end up using all of it and probably order more.  I'm not a fan of lotions in general, but I like this stuff.  There isn't a smell to it and it isn't oily and greasy.  I'm been using it morning and night.

And some belly buds!  So neat!  Just pop these on your belly and you can talk to the baby or have the baby listen to music (or Real Housewives of New Jersey).  I can't wait to use these.  My best told me they used these with her last baby and she came out knowing her and her hubby's voices.  That's pretty neat if you ask me.  :)

Needless to say, I have a hubby that treats me like a queen, and I love him more than anything.  Not  just because he buys me things, but he's just wonderful.  Period.  I love you hubby.

Oh, one more picture... I want to take these belly photos weekly.  Now, since I'm slightly larger to begin with, I think I always kinda look pregnant, but I'm gonna call this belly in this photo a bump and go with it.  7 weeks 3 days.

Bliss

Just all smiles.  :)  Yesterday was a dream.  My first appointment.  My mom met me at the doctor's office, and besides having to wait an hour past my appointment time, it was bliss.  I peed in a cup (trust me, that was bliss, too), they drew 6 viles of blood (not so blissful), I met my wonderful doctor, Dr. Breen.  The nurse first asked me when the first day of my last period was to date the pregnancy.  Now, I went in knowing that if I told them the date (January 18) they would probably not do an ultrasound on me.  The nurse told me that on the phone.  I needed them to do an ultrasound.  It wasn't real until they did.  I wouldn't believe it.  This would make it more sound.  So going in with that info, I told the nurse and Dr. Breen that I did not know the date, (just that it was sometime in mid-January).  So they did an internal exam, and he dated me "early."  Yep.  Then we trotted over to the ultrasound room where the tech handed me a giant dildo covered in a condom and asked me to insert it (hehe), and then, VOILA, there was a baby on the screen.  Our little embryo.  Our little padawan.  Our little Gucci (as my 12 year old sister so lovingly nicknamed the baby).  A little heartbeat and everything.  It was amazing.  Mom was crying, but it was too cool for me to cry.  Maybe I would have cried if my hubby had been there with me, but I'm not much of a crier in that sense, so maybe not.  I didn't even cry at our own wedding.  It was a happy day.  I cry for sadness, not happiness.

It was bliss.  7 weeks, 1 day (I could have told them that).  Due date October 18.  A Halloween baby.  My favorite time of year.

Bliss.

Our babies...

No Doctor Luck

Well my appointment was supposed to be this afternoon, but the office called yesterday to freaking reschedule.  First I have a doctor with no bedside manner, now a doctor with poor time management skills.  So my appointment is tomorrow at 10:00am now.  I guess it isn't a big deal, but I was really looking forward to taking the afternoon off from work today.  Oh well.  I'm still pretty nervous.  What if there's nothing there?  What if this is all in my head?  I guess it won't feel really "real" until tomorrow for me.  I hope he'll do a vaginal ultrasound.  The nurse didn't seem to think he would.  Don't you think that's kind of a natural first step to confirm the pregnancy (besides a blood and urine test)?  I'm going to guilt trip him into it: "Well, you cancelled on me yesterday.  To make up for it, lube that stick up and let's see our baby."  Hmm.

I was nauseous most of yesterday.  I must have been hungry last night, though, because I inhaled a Subway veggie sub in about 3 seconds flat.

Oh yeah, I told my boss yesterday.  I had been dragging my feet with that one.  I gave notice at work about a month ago, before we knew about the bebe and all, and my last day will be June 15.  It's just a lot to take in for her.  She doesn't handle change well.  But she's excited for us, not that I really give two shits if she's excited or not.  I just can't wait to get out of here.  You know you have those ex-employees that like to come back and visit and shoot the shit?  Yeah.  That won't be me.

I am so tired today.  I slept like crap last night (and most nights).  I woke up having to pee, but was way too lazy to get up, so I just laid there, bladder full, but not wanting to disrupt Sleeping Beauty (aka puppy).  He's been really sweet lately.  I'm not sure if he knows something is up or what, but every night he has been sleeping right by me on the bed.  Usually he putz's around all night, but ever since my hubby left for work two weeks ago, he has not strayed from the bed once at night.  Of course, I woke up to him this morning right in between my legs.  Lol.  It was so funny and cute.  Maybe he's soaking up as much baby time as he can get before the actual baby arrives.  He's been the baby for over 3 years... he'll still be my baby, but just a different kind.  Sweet pup.

Wonder if I can muster up some motivation to do something today besides search Etsy and Pinterest for cute baby stuff...

Probably not.

Barf. Barf. Barf.

Or at least I constantly feel nauseated and like I'm GOING to barf.  Wooeeeee this must be what morning sickness feels like.  I did throw up last week after eating, but since then, it's just a nagging nauseated feeling 24/7.  And the only things that sound good are fresh things: berries, watermelon, grapefruit, pickles (?).  Seriously.  Last night's dinner consisted of half a sprinkled donut (all I could stomach), 3 dill pickles, a fruit cup and raspberries.  Relatively nutritious.

I ate some buttered toast this morning, but I'm regretting it at this point.  I'm drinking cranberry juice, but I'm about to switch to ginger ale to try to get some relief.  My best friend keeps telling me how sick she was with her last baby, and how she lost 25 pounds in the first trimester.  I'm kind of waiting for that to happen to me.  Lord knows I need to lose a few pounds.  It might as well be right before I gain a ton of weight to kind of balance it out.

So my first appointment is tomorrow.  I'm nervous.  It's a new doctor.  Obviously I wasn't going back to Mrs. Personality at Women's Hospital in Baton Rouge, LA (FYI her name is Dr. Pearson, in case you're looking to find a doctor that will inevitably bring your mental state to shambles).  My new doc was recommended to me by my cousin-in-law, so I trust her, but it's still a little nerve wracking, especially when this is solely dealing with our first child (still a little strange to say...).  Child.  Our child.  Our baby.  Our first kid.

Yay.  :)

I went to get my nails done on Saturday... the minute I walked in the fumes totally bombarded me in a way they never had before.  I had to wait about 15 minutes before they were ready for me, and by the time I sat down at the chair I was dizzy.  So weird.  I asked the lady for a mask, and she immediately turned to her little friend next to her, and they began their crazy fast diatribe, in turn looking at me, pointing to my belly, and asking "You pregnant?"  Yep, no secrets at Cena's Nails.  This spawned a fun convo with everyone in the shop, asking me what I'm craving ("fresh fruit") and their gender predictions ("BOY!  You having BOY!").  I even got my first belly pat.  I think I'm really going to hate that about pregnancy, the belly pats.  I know I've been guilty of doing it to my friends, but now that it's happened to me, my first inclination is to slap the hand that's going for my belly.  I'm not a touchy feely kinda person.  I get offended when someone invades my bubble, let alone reaches to actually touch me.  This should be interesting.

Well I'm off to keep my head out of the toilet and try to get some work done.  I'm ready for tomorrow afternoon.  I wish I wasn't so tired and sick, but I think that means the bebe is growing, so I'll suck it up for the bebe.

I never thought the day would come...

I knew I was not feeling well when my hubby asked "Melting Pot doesn't even sound good?"

Sigh.  No.

I never thought the day would come where food just doesn't appeal to me.  Nothing sounds good.  Except fruit, which is really strange.  I want fresh, whole food.  I'm not craving anything in particular, just juices and grapes and apples and shit like that.  What the hell.

I made these mushroom ravioli last night for dinner.  I wasn't hungry but I just kept eating.  I'm sure you can guess what happened next.

And if you can't guess, I literally had to run to the bathroom to keep from hurling all over the kitchen floor.  That was pretty fun.  I also puked so hard I peed my pants.  Awesome.

So it was back to toast and cran/apple juice this morning, as well as a glass of calcium enriched OJ to wash down my pre-natal vitamins.  I feel like I should be losing weight, but I gained two pounds.  Strange.  Of course, all I did all day long yesterday was snack.  Chips, carrots, cucumbers, and dip... the list goes on and on.  I'm heading over to visit my new nephew today and see my sister-in-law, and I told her I would bring us Steak 'N Shake to eat... but the only thing that sounds appealing to me right now are the pickles.  Crunchy, dill pickles.  We'll see how that goes.  I hope I don't puke in front of her or anyone else.  Surely they would pick up on that and ask if I was pregnant.  People aren't dumb, ya know.

After I stop to see the new little man I'm heading to my momma's for the night.  I'm sure by now the entire town in which she lives in knows our big news.  Woman can't keep a secret.  We shall see tonight... hope I can keep my dinner down and not be too obvious at a party tonight that I'm drinking ginger ale instead of a cold beer.

6 Weeks!

A new week for Baby Padawan.  And as I sit here thinking about the little bean growing inside me, my sister in law just welcomed her newest baby into the world via c section.  Welcome to the world, Liam!  Can't wait to meet you!

I've been feeling a little punky lately.  I spent the entire weekend laying about and doing a whole lot of nothing.  Napping was about the extent.  But I feel like my body needs it, so I'll happily oblige in naptime.  I felt some late morning morning sickness on Monday.  I was at work and thought I was going to puke all over my desk.  I had to run to the bathroom, but I hate throwing up, so I just kept it down and sucked it up.  I went home for lunch and had some delicious toast and a cheese stick.  I'm kind of craving cheese sticks right now... which I guess is good, since I'm supposed to be getting like 3-4 servings of dairy a day, I think... I had more sickness yesterday morning with banana in my mouth.  I was driving to a client facility for work and I almost puked all over the dashboard.  Maybe bananas are gonna be my no-no for my pregnancy.  I think it's a consistency thing.

My first appointment is in 6 days.  I'm so nervous.  I wish my hubby was home to go with me, but my mom is gonna tag along, so at least I won't be alone.  I really want them to do an ultrasound, but if they don't, I'm gonna see if they'll do one when my hubby is home in March.  That would make it much more special for us, and I'm OK with waiting if it means my hubby gets to be there with me and the little bean.

I told my best friend last night about our news.  So my 3 best girlfriends know, my hubby's 2 best friends know, my 2 sisters, my mom and step dad know.  And hopefully we'll keep it that way until we decide to divulge the info.  I think we plan to tell my in-laws in March when hubby gets home.  I'm sure they'll be over the moon.

I guess that's about all of the happy funness I have for this week.  I'm ready to feel pregnant.

To my precious little bean... I'm thinking about you all the time.  Every time my stomach twitches in hunger, every time I'm laying on the couch at 6:30 ready to go to bed, every time I see a commercial on TV with a momma loving on her baby, every time I think about how much I love your daddy and can't wait to see him love on you... I'm just so thrilled, so excited, so happy, so relieved, so ready for the journey to continue.  I love you already, and you're just a tiny little bean.  xoxo

Morning Sickness?

I dunno.  Is this morning sickness, or just eating too much pasta the night before?  I woke up around 3 with the immediate urge to barf, but I was entirely too tired to get up, so I just pushed through the pain and fell back asleep.  I have a little nauseous nagging feeling going on right now.  I threw away half of my banana... I never throw away food I'm eating.  Especially now.  Hmm... I'm so curious to see what the next few days and weeks bring.  I hope I'm able to keep this big secret a big secret until at least April 1.

How can I be nauseous AND hungry?  What a horrible combo.

It wouldn't be official without pee stick pictures

I guess it wouldn't be "official" without posting the pee stick pictures.

First test taken on Sunday, February 12... the faint line test that prompted an immediate text to my best friend asking if she saw the line, too...

The test I took the next day...

And the test I took the day I missed my period.  The digital test!

<3 And two happy lovebirds the week they found out about their Baby Padawan <3



Day 36, Week 5

Yay!  The beginning of Week 5!  I woke up today with a little nausea... I hope this is the beginning of morning sickness.  I feel like I will feel more "pregnant" once I start throwing up.  I'm still so incredibly exhausted and hungry non-stop.  I was in bed last night at 7:15.  I didn't fall asleep until 9, but the pup and I just laid there cuddling.  Hubby went back to work last night, so I figured why not just be a total slug in bed?

Two weeks until my first appointment with my new OBGYN.  Looks like hubby will be off working until mid-March, so my momma will probably have to go with me.  She'll love that.  She'll probably want to tag along to every other appointment, too.

I'm still craving Taco Bell.  Maybe if I can keep my eating under control until this evening I'll reward myself with burritos.  :)

xoxo
T

Taco Bell, Anyone?

Well, Baby Padawan, I want to thank you for my extreme hunger and cravings these past few days.  I ate non-stop yesterday.  King Cake (Happy Fat Tuesday!), potato chips, pickles, a salad from Cracker Barrell (strange craving to have, but I love their salad dressing so much)... it was a non-stop eat day.  I'm doing better today, but merely because there aren't any delicious snacks roaming freely through the office.

Speaking of office.  There are so many changes going on everywhere.  I quit my job about 3 weeks ago, since we're moving an hour east of where we live.  Change #1.  I find out last week I'm pregnant.  Change #2.  We are in the beginning stages of building our first house.  Change #3.  Nothing like knocking out three huge changes all at once.  Go big or go home, right?

I'm craving Taco Bell right now.  All it took was a tossed sauce packet outside our apartment to spur the craving.  But since I had pizza rolls for lunch (seriously, where is this coming from?), hubby insists we eat "healthy" for dinner, so Subway it is.  Doesn't he realize my pregnant self does not want healthy?  He means well.  :)

Well, our mouths are beginning to leak like a faucet.  Hubby told his two best friends yesterday about our big news.  I told one of my other best friends today, simply because she's pregnant, too, and who better to share this experience with than a great friend?  She lives up north, so it's not like we can get together and swap sore boob stories, but she's just a phone call away.

xoxo
T

Our Padawan Pregnancy Journey-Day 34, Week 4

Well, we honestly didn't think we would be at this spot for a very, very long time.  It was just last month that I went to my OBGYN asking for her advice on how we can up our chances of getting pregnant on our own.  I left that appointment hysterical and crying, not knowing if we would ever be able to conceive without fertility help.  Long story short my hubby is working with, what my OBGYN said, was 3% normal sperm.  She basically told me in that appointment that getting pregnant on our own was going to be virtually impossible, that we could try on our own for a few months, but our best options would be AI and then IVF if that didn't work.

So after my hubby got me calmed down, he came up with a game plan: we would try for 6 months, actively try, tracking ovulation and whatnot.  After six months, if there's no success, then we would seek fertility help and begin whatever kind of treatments they suggested.

So we tracked ovulation, we got the happy face on the OPK pee stick, we did everything we were supposed to do.  I took a pregnancy test on Thursday, February 9, knowing very well my period was not due until the following Wednesday, but I had a few extras lying around, and lately my hobby is peeing on sticks.  Negative.  I knew it would be.  My sister came into town that Saturday and we went to a Mardi Gras parade on Sunday, February 12.  Just for shits and giggles, I came home and took it test.  That bright pink test line that always shows up, pregnant or not, came up like it always does immediately.  I looked at it and said to my dog, who happened to be sitting at my feet, "nope, not pregnant."  (I really need to stop talking to him like he's a human.)

But I stood up and looked again.  Hmm.  There's another VERY faint line on that stick.  I mean, I have to squint to see it.  Hmm.  Strange.  There's NEVER been another line, faint or not, on these sticks.  Hmm.  Hubby is offshore working.  I told him I would never call him with pregnancy info over the phone like this.  So that led me to the next best thing: my best friend from home in Ohio.  The girl I've been going to since November when we went off the pill (but weren't trying at that point).  I texted her a photo of the test, and she told me "a line is a line!  You're gonna be a momma!"  I ran out that night, picked up more tests, including digital (which read "Not Pregnant" that same night), and smiled a goofy ass grin all night long.

Whoa.  Wait.  Didn't my OBGYN just tell me 3 weeks before that I would more than likely not be conceiving on our own without the help of fertility treatments?  Yep.  She did.  And what you're saying is, on the first damn try of tracking ovulation and actually "trying," my hubby hit the ball out of the park and scored a home run?

Yep.  That's exactly what happened.

Now.  I could call my OBGYN a dumb bitch (which I have quite frequently over the past week), but instead, I'll just write her a little note thanking her for her useless advice, and letting her know we'll be moving on to a different OBGYN (closer to where we're moving, so that's a plus).

So in those first 48 hours of finding out I was, in fact, pregnant, and trying to keep my excitement from my hubby on the phone, I took like 10 pee tests.  All positive.  I waited to take the digital until later on in the week.  My hubby got home on Monday, February 13, the day after I took the first pee test and got that big fat positive (BFP).  I had a cute plan and surprised him when he got home.  He was... shocked, to say the least.  Floored.  Dumbfounded.  "Are you sure?"  Well... I think so.  Those tests don't lie.  What a wonderful Valentine's Day present for us.  :)

Wednesday was the day, the Aunt Flo day.  She never did show her wretched head.  Nothing on Thursday... Friday... and so on.

So Thursday, February 16 (technically 4 weeks preggo at this point), we decided to tell my mom and sister the good news.  I didn't want to; I was nervous.  I didn't want to jinx anything.  But with the way my hubby works, someone else had to know, in case something happened and I needed some support.  So we met them for dinner, and I sent a text message with a picture of the "Pregnant" digital reading from a digital test.  My sister got it first at the table at the restaurant.  She threw her arms up in the arm and just said "WIN" with a big stupid grin on her face.  It took my mom's phone about 2 extra minutes (seemed like a freaking eternity) before the text came through.  She looked at me, said "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?" and started crying, right in the restaurant.  She jumped out of her chair, nearly knocking it over, tackled me with the force of a linebacker, than ran for my lovely hubby.  She was shocked, too.  She was on the receiving end of the hysterical phone call after I left my OBGYN's office just a month before, reassuring me that we would hopefully be able to conceive on our own, but if we couldn't, there are other options.

So.  My hubby knows.  I know.  My mom and two sisters and step dad know, because they were all at dinner with us.  The Melting Pot waitress who waited on us on Valentine's Day unfortunately knows because she was very nosy, trying to get me to have a cocktail, and after my many "no thank yous," I had to finally tell her why I wasn't divulging in the booze she was offering.  And my best friend.

So this will be a big fat secret until, we're hoping, around April 1.  I'll be about 10.5 weeks by then.  I dunno if I can keep it a secret that long.  I want to tell everyone, but I'm a realist.  We'll wait until things look fabulous enough to tell.  My first appointment is March 7, with a new OBGYN located closer to where we are moving.  Another reason I had to tell my mom... in case my hubby isn't home to go to the appointment with me, she'll be the stand in hubby.

We're excited.  I'm thrilled.  Elated.  Scared shitless.  I woke up stressed yesterday morning, thinking "oh my gosh, we won't be able to sleep in anymore!"  :)  Obviously I'm worrying about other things, but sleep is, and always has been, a #1 in my life.  Speaking of which... I can't get enough right now.  Thanks tiny embryo!  I'll be glad to be tired if it means your little tiny being is growing and getting healthy and becoming the greatest love of our lives.

xoxo
T

OH PS... about the "Padawan" thing... I told my hubby we had to come up with a nickname for our tiny being.  Something clever.  Cute.  I was thinking like Buttercup, Sweetness, something cutesy.  He came up with Padawan, which apparently is a Jedi in training.  Yep.  We're already breeding a first class Star Wars nerd, just like my hubby, and this embryo just looks like a tadpole at this point.