Making Memories of Us: Parenthood!

As we are quickly approaching our 2 year wedding anniversary, we have been blessed with a wonderful miracle! The best anniversary gift one could as for!

As many of you have probably already heard...we are expecting a little one due November 4th! We are extremely excited about what's to come in our future with starting a family. This first blog is going to be a novel (I apologize - stick with me). I want to give a little intro to the last few months. This new journey started back in March....

I was feeling VERY tired each day returning home from work. I was coming home and literally crashing into a deep sleep on the couch. I would sleep until dinner. Wake up. Eat. And head back to bed for the night. I was exhausted! I had just associated my extreme fatigue with our new puppy and waking up during the night to let her out. After about 3-4 days, I realized my "monthly visitor" was overdue, too. And I was still very tired - it was hard keeping myself going at school with my students. I had to keep resting at my chair for a bit. Stephen mentioned my tiredness (some sarcastic comment about being lazy, ha ha) and I joked back saying I was baking a bun in the oven and needed my rest. :) We both laughed and shrugged it off.

The next morning, March 22nd, I decided to take a pregnancy test before hopping in the shower to get ready for work that day. To much of my surprise...... 2 lines showed up!! One was still quite faint...so again, I dismissed it and got into the shower. After all, I had been on birth control for almost 8 years - so I thought there was absolutely NO WAY! Once I had gotten out, I peeked again and it was a solid second line! No mistaking two lines now. I didn't know what to do and/or how Stephen would respond (as children were not in our near future plans - at least a couple more years out). I put the test back in the box and told myself I would take another test later in the day just to be sure...

As I continued getting ready with many thoughts spinning through my head, Stephen came in and noticed the pregnancy test box sitting on the counter. I smiled and grabbed the test out of the box. With a HUGE grin on his face he just said, "Looks like we're having a baby!" I felt SO many mixed emotions all at once, and for those of you who know me well...tears started FLOWING! I was excited, nervous, and anxious all at once! I kept thinking, "Are we ready?" "Is this the right time?" "What about our jobs?" Stephen had just started his own business, and I was still on a non-continuing teaching contract. YIKES!

Now looking back I know there is never a "perfect" or right time and this baby is truly a blessing from above! I have always said everything happens for a reason, and there is a reason God gave us this miracle!!!

March 25th was our 1st doctor's appt. to confirm pregnancy. Sure enough - positive. :) My doctor guessed we were about 4-5 weeks along. We scheduled an ultrasound to check the gestational age the second week of April.

April 7th we found out we were 10 weeks along. Almost 2 1/2 weeks further than we had originally thought! My goodness! It was a magical experience - we got to see our little peanut (already forming little arms and legs) and hear the heartbeat too. It was fast -180 bpm! A strong little one. :) It was such an incredible feeling to know that baby was growing in ME. We were really going to be parents! That was the moment that made it real....we left with huge smiles on our faces...proud parents at 1st sight! :)

9 weeks 6 days. Our little peanut!

The pictures below are from our 13 week check up on May 3rd (end of 1st trimester). Doc said baby was looking very healthy and developing nicely. :) Heart beat still strong, but down to 168 bpm.