13 weeks!

We celebrated 13 weeks with our sweet little one on Friday! If you squint really, really hard you might start to see a little bump (or pudge).  I'm definitely starting to feel like I'm growing all over and have been feeling some major growing pains these last few days.  The little one even made my belly upset this weekend for the first time over these past 13 weeks - just a little hello from inside! 

Size of Baby: the size of a peach (according to thebump.com)...about 2.9 inches from rump to crown.  His/her body is starting to play catch up to that large head - which is now about 1/3 the size of his/her body

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I was up 4 lbs as of my last dr visit (2 weeks ago)...and I actually think it's still about the same now. How did I gain weight so quickly!?  Eeek!

We have a scale in the house, but it needs batteries and I have been forgetful and have not gotten them at the store yet - I'm afraid for the day that I do.  

Maternity Clothes: I haven't had to buy any Maternity clothes yet! I have a feeling the bellaband is going to be a wardrobe staple very, very soon.

Gender: ?? The family seems to think girl so I will say a boy

...but I really have no clue!

Movement: none yet...but I cant wait for the movement to start

flutters are supposed to start in about 3 weeks!!!

Sleep: pretty good...

but getting up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom is really no fun at all :)

What I miss: nothing....maybe a glass of wine with dinner

Cravings: nothing really! I'm always loving pizza (which is nothing new) :)

Aversions: nothing really!

Symptoms:  my face is breaking out horribly! I'm hoping that will calm down in the coming weeks...

Best Moment This Week: Sharing more and more about our little one with friends. I've loved feeling pulls and tugs inside because that means he/she is growing!  I also can't wait to hear the heartbeat again in 2 weeks!

We also told our most favorite pup the news and thought he could pose for some pictures.  With his squirming, wiggling and rolling over - we didn't get a single one that I loved. Nonetheless, these outtakes are pretty great.  Love that little man!

"What! A big brother?? Hide me."

"I'll sit here - but I won't smile"

"Will you still love me???"

"Oh yeah - I'm excited! And, can I have a belly rub?"

"I'm sleepy now...shhh"

The Sweetest Story Starts Now

I am so ready to share and embrace this wonderful new journey we are starting on!  It has been 12 memorable weeks and a wild journey that has had me in disbelief, acting like a nervous nelly and excited beyond words.  We are expecting our first precious little baby in January!  Whew that felt great!  Everything I read, from blogs to books, shares without question that every woman's pregnancy is different.  Every emotion is different from one person to the next and this journey is what makes us who we are.  

Four months ago, as our littlest angel was just a hopeful thought, I planned for the moment we would see a positive on that little stick. I expected myself to be overjoyed, even needing to be held back as I tried to shout it from the rooftops for all to hear!  How does excited even begin to describe life's most precious gift? I would tell the people at the bank, the dry cleaners, whistle my news to strangers on the street and sing sweet lullabies as I drifted off to sleep (maybe...)!  

When we found out we were pregnant (that story I will share one day), I was surprisingly shocked.  We had been wanting this moment to happen, we had been hoping and dreaming about starting a family and now, ohmygosh, it was here.  But, really, now it had actually happened to us?! We felt blessed beyond belief but, as we saw that faint (very faint) little line, we simply stared at each other for awhile and just blinked - did we yell, cry, dance, embrace? Well, no. We did none of those things - we just stared, smiled and blinked big blinks.  

These last 12 weeks have been me doing a lot of staring, smiling and blinking.  We were overjoyed to share with our families and their happiness made me so happy.  But to others, I was tight lipped.  I really surprised myself at my tentativeness!  I wanted to hold our news close to our hearts.  I can't explain it and I'm not sure I could put it into words but I do know that holding our news close kept me and my precious gift feeling safe and secure.  I've tried to be as healthy as I can be (while of course indulging in the all too often pizza...) and haven't been sick at all.  I've just been trying to keep our newest little love happy, healthy and secure.  Now that we're ending our first trimester (already?!) and we've started to share our news, family and friends have been so supportive and happy for us.  And their joy for us makes me, C and our little one feel so loved.

We've heard the heartbeat twice and have had two ultrasounds - the most recent had him/her jumping like the cutest little bean! He/she is the most special part of me now.  We are one and I'm more connected now than I thought I would ever be. And, I feel ready, world, to shout it from the rooftops!!!

I'll be sharing and updating frequently - I want our journey to be one I can come back to and reflect upon.  <3

A beautiful quote that I found that I felt so much truth behind.  This newest baby has such hope for the future - a plan that I cannot wait to unfold and discover.