YIPPEE!

Helloooo Second Trimester!!!! 

I'm officially 13 weeks along today and I couldn't be happier!  I know I am getting ahead of myself and possibly getting my hopes up in vain, but you know what, we'll get the opportunity to possibly find out the sex of our baby this trimester so I am beyond excited.  Even though it seems like being pregnant is all I talk about, sometimes the seriousness of bringing a new life into this world hits me and I am totally taken aback.  Especially when I think about how complicated it is trying to navigate through life just for myself as a person - as a woman and as a wife - and then having to help a little person through the same things throughout time.  It's not that I'm scared so much that I am in awe of the responsibility.  I am definitely a faithful person and I believe that this is part of the plan God has in mind for me and I am wondering how He sees such potential in me.

12 weeks & 5 days here and starting to show!
(aka, looking bloated and fat!)

Now, to a much less heavy subject: are there any of you moms or moms-to-be with a belly piercing?  I've had mine going on eight years now and I've started to notice that it's getting a little cramped for room lately.  It's not painful and it's not irritated or anything at all - I've still got plenty of room for the piercing - but I know in time things will start to change quickly.  Have any of you tried out pregnancy belly rings or have any of you looked into it?  I'm starting to look into it and wonder if it's worth it to keep it in or if I should just take it out.  I plan on talking to my doctor about it the next time I see her, but I was wondering if anyone had opinions.  Anyways, wishing you all well and excited for the upcoming weeks!

Love!

First Trimester Blues...

So, I am not a fan of the first trimester.  Or, at least my first trimester experience.  The first pregnancy "sign" I had was that my boobs got very sore.  On a trip to Memphis to visit friends, I was swimming and you know when you dive into the pool your top (and bottom sometimes!) slide down and you have to quickly pull them up?  Well, I did that - a lot - that day and thought nothing of it.  We all went for a night swim later in the day and the pain from my boobs was UNBEARABLE; it felt like they were on fire!  On top of that, my poor boobs had been feeling kinda achy for about a week solid.  During the same trip to Memphis in which I was still oblivious to being pregnant, I had a couple drinks just a few days before finding out I was pregnant.  I still guilt myself over this one and think about the implications often.  Anyways, I was drinking and really wasn't feeling a "buzz" more than I was feeling like the alcohol just really wasn't settling well.  So I stopped drinking alcohol and started drinking water -- thankfully -- because I just really felt dehydrated.

As soon as we got home from Memphis, I took a test just to be sure and if you read my blog about that - I was definitely shocked!  Since that point, I have been constantly feeling nauseous and having food aversions all the time.  I've had the occasional "craving" (tuna salad sandwich from Hungry Hobo, Chinese from my favorite local place: Ming Wah, all kinds of junk food...) but really, thus far, I've just felt like laying down until I feel better or flat out sleeping the day away.  I am just praying I won't be one of those pregnant ladies who feel sick the entire time and I'm definitely looking forward to starting my second trimester very soon.  And in just about three weeks we get to see our baby again with a free ultrasound at a women's clinic!  Second trimester is looking optimistic... really, only because the first trimester has pretty much sucked royally the entire time!

So, I shared my very first pregnancy symptom... what was yours?

That's all for today --

First Ultrasound!

This past week was such an amazing week of bonding with the sweet little baby in my belly!  On Monday I had an appointment with my OB and it was at that appointment that I got to hear the baby's heartbeat for the first time with the nurse!  I couldn't believe that what I was listening to was my baby's heartbeat... it was VERY surreal and amazing.  I didn't think that the week could get any better but our first ultrasound was this week as well!  (Thankfully Tony got to be there for that because he missed out on the heartbeat and I felt SO bad that he didn't get to be there for that.)  So anyways, the ultrasound was a little uncomfortable since they had to do it vaginally - but it was completely worth it because not only did we get a sweet picture of the babe, but we got to see him/her move around.  I was seriously in awe and completely unable to speak during the whole ordeal.  Our baby even danced around while we were watching and it was the best thing I have ever seen!!!

 

 That's our sweet little baby!

During the ultrasound, Tony and I each separately came to the conclusion that we think it's a boy based on the baby's movements and just to overall feeling we got!  Isn't that crazy?!  All along I've been hoping for a girl and now I totally am hoping for either sex - depending on my current mood!  I am just starting to get SO excited and I just feel that this is REAL and that next year we are going to be PARENTS!!!  Even though that last part still blows my mind, I am so glad that I am feeling more excited and more ready for this journey.  And even though this is not the path we would have chosen for our life at the moment -- I am finally getting the feeling that this is totally where we needed to be at this moment.  Our God is so awesome at giving what is asked of Him; I've been asking for peace and right now I am definitely feeling it.  We also made it facebook official this week so all our friends and family know and have shown us sooo much love and support which has helped TREMENDOUSLY.  We are so incredibly blessed.

I hope everybody feels at peace over the weekend about their life -- maybe over something that has been troubling you or even in a decision that needs to be made -- because giving your worries to someone who has a bigger plan for you is such a great feeling.

First Appointment... kinda!

So yesterday was my first taste of the pregnancy appointments!  I met with my Dr.'s nurse and we talked all about the family history junk.  She gave me a folder of their practice information as well as a new month by month pregnancy book put out by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists... as if I didn't already have enough pregnancy books!

Yes, sadly, I am that person who over-prepares, or really in this case, the person who overly anticipated.  For the past couple years I've found a couple of nice used book stores I like to raid and over time I accumulated many books on marriage, weddings, pregnancy, and motherhood.  My pregnancy book list includes: What to Expect When You're Expecting (duh), What to Eat when You're Expecting, The Girlfriends Guide to Pregnancy, Your Prengnancy Week by Week (written by an OBGYN), & Your Pregnancy Questions & Answers.  Pretty excessive, right?  Back in those days I also bought Tony the Expectant Father book.

So, back to the appointment, I answered a bunch of questions and then the nurse tried to find the heartbeat.  Unfortunately, she couldn't detect it so that we could listen to it.  I am only 10 weeks along, so she said this wasn't out of the ordinary or anything to worry over.  But I was definitely so bummed... I just kept thinking in my head, "Okay little one, please stop being so shy and let us hear you!"  But, no luck.  So after that swing and a miss I went upstairs to do some lab work for them and that was essentially it.  I have my yearly pap at the same office with my doctor next week and my nurse said they'd try again then to hear the heartbeat!  I actually have appointments there for three weeks in a row - first the family history appointment, next the pap, and finally I get to meet with my OBGYN for pregnancy stuff!  I'll be 12 weeks by the third appointment, so this baby better make it's vocal debut, especially since Tony will be there too!

On other pregnancy news, I am definitely starting to show.  It's nothing much and is pretty easily masked with clothes, but it's hard to deny if you saw me without clothes.

Here's a picture of Tony & I from our family trip to Mexico about a week and a half ago.  I just look (and felt) bloated.  I just can't believe there are such big changes so soon.  And what really sucks is I have completely stopped working out or going to the gym at all because I usually feel too hot or too sick to do anything.  It definitely doesn't help that the A/C in my car doesn't work.  I hope I am not one of those pregnant ladies who feels sick the entire time because so far, that's what it feels like.  I'm really SO lucky that Tony is such a supportive and caring guy because he truly puts up with a lot from me... already!


Here's another picture of us in Mexico with my sisters & their significant others.  We definitely spent most of our time with them because it seemed like we all wanted to do the same stuff or at least went along with what the majority of us wanted to do.  It was a great time but it definitely made me feel so appreciative of living in the United States.  I never would have guessed I'd feel like that afterwards but I honestly think being pregnant & feeling uncomfortable while traveling really impacted me.  There are so many beautiful places in our country I'd like to visit before leaving again.

Well, I think that's about it for this post.  I can't wait until we share the news with everyone!!!  Just a few more weeks. 

Happy Tuesday!

Well, guess what!

I really haven't blogged (or spoke openly) about being pregnant yet.  We haven't told everyone yet - just our closest friends and family members - and we're waiting for the uncertainty the first trimester brings to pass until we will speak more candidly about it.  Thankfully, not many of my everyday friends follow my blog so I've decided to write my first pregnancy blog entry.

We found out we were expecting late Tuesday night on July 5th.  We had just spent about five days in our hometown Memphis, Tennessee with friends and family members and I had a feeling that something out of the ordinary was going on with my body.  Thankfully I had a pregnancy test at home so I asked Tony if I should take it.  He told me that if it would give me some peace of mind that I should take it.  So I ventured in there, took the test, and waited for the outcome.  About 30 seconds later I glanced down to see two VERY dark, distinct lines, much to my surprise!!! I immediately started shouting, "Oh my God! Oh my God! TONY!" over and over again until he came into the bathroom.  (That's usually what I say when there is a spider or bug in the apartment so he was reluctantly coming in to kill what he thought was going to be a huge spider!)  Much to HIS shock, I showed him the positive pregnancy test.

 Our big, fat positive!!!

So ever since then I've been trying to grapple with exactly what that means for us.  Even though we both like kids and wanted them for ourselves, it just happened so quick!  We weren't trying to get pregnant by any means, but I guess we weren't really being as careful as we should have been either. 

So anyways, I suppose that's enough information for the first pregnancy blog.  My first appointment is Monday, so definitely more to come soon!

New Day!

Feeling fresh from just leaving the shower being back in the United States after our trip to Mexico, I am sitting at the computer desk with nothing but the shiny sun beaming into the room.  I really feel like today is a new day! I'm not sure what this new sense of being refreshed really that means yet, but I am sure it'll hit me later.

Tony and I are heading to church in a bit - the first mass we'll spend together since our wedding in May.  It is much needed and I am looking forward to it VERY much.  Afterwards we're going out to eat to one of our favorite restaurants and then watching a movie at the cheap theater.  This is easily my ideal date combination. 

I haven't written in a while and I hope to get back into it now that the summer semester is winding down.  I didn't plan on going back to school in the fall but it is looking like that is exactly what I'll need to do.  But it's so easy for me to get stuck on my plans and forget that God is the one who is planning my life; He's the one who's in the driver seat.  So I am really remembering what it's like to sit back, relax, and have a little faith. 

I'll write again soon!  Happy summer....

Twenty Statement Challenge.

As a requirement for one of my classes, my professor ask that we make a list of twenty or so statements about ourselves. Here is the initial prompt:   Make a list of twenty statements about yourself. Begin each statement with "I am..." and then finish that statement.  After writing the statements we will then be asked a series of reflective questions.  If you feel up for the challenge as well I suggest you make the list before reading the reflective questions because they may sway what you put down.

1. I am a twenty-three year old female.
2. I am a wife and a newlywed!
3. I am a sister.
4. I am a daughter.
5. I am a loyal friend.
6. I am a food addict. 
7. I am spontaneous.
8. I am always running late.
9. I am good with kids because they never cease to make me happy.
10. I am always getting sick.
11. I am not the best student.
12. I am pretty dang lazy.
13. I am tired often as I don't get much sleep.
14. I am in LOVE with music.
15. I am looking to live a more spiritual life.
16. I am aspiring to be a human resource manager.
17. I am hoping to move back down South.
18. I am white.
19. I am funny.
20. I am a good writer.

We are then in charge of writing a response after giving thought to the following questions: What do you notice about [your list]? More positive or negative statements? How do you know these things about yourself (social comparison/reflected appraisal processes)? If someone who knew you well saw your list would they agree or disagree with any of your statements?

I will post my reflection after completing it!

Have a nice week & good luck if you plan on taking this self-reflective challenge,

Ali