Bump watch 2009

(taken yesterday at 15 weeks, 4 days pregnant)

I've been having Andro take pictures of my 'bump' so I can monitor it's progress. Unfortunately, he has little patience for taking the pictures, and the angle on this one is a little off. I haven't really gained much weight so far (only about 5 lbs. at 15 weeks) but it's amazing to me how the belly seems to grow on its own.


(taken at 12 weeks, 4 days pregnant)

It's hard to see the difference, but believe me, the bump is definitely bigger than in the 12 week picture. At that point, it was still comfortable to wear normal jeans with a belly band over them, but (as mentioned previously) that ended last week and I am embracing pregnancy jeans.

In non-baby news, I'm getting really excited to decorate for Christmas. Andro has a firm "no decorations before Thanksgiving" rule so I pulled out everything today and have it all waiting in the nursery until I get the okay to start putting things up next week. (Although, I have snuck up a few small things that he hasn't noticed yet). I'm hoping to eventually wear him down on this rule. I don't think 3 weeks is enough time to fully enjoy Christmas decorations (especially when they take so long to get up!).

WOW

Just a quick one--I'm going to try to post photos of "the bump" sometime soon (if I can find my camera, etc.). Yesterday, I had an appointment with the maternity center's nurses in the Lake Forest Hospital's Center for Women's Health. The appointment was fine, just a big class full of other preggos to get acquainted with the practice. Actually, I felt like an old hand, because while I was 15 weeks, most of the other girls were like 7-8 (I transferred from my first doctor after we moved, so had to do this class a little later than normal).

But the class was not for nothing. I didn't get to do a full tour yet, but it is my understanding that I will deliver in this building and let me just say WOW. I have never seen a more beautiful hospital. Andro and I are going in for a full tour the Sunday after Thanksgiving and I'm really excited to see it all.

The bump is getting bigger everyday (or at least it feels like it!). It feels like almost overnight I went from being able to zip and button my work pants to needing the belly band. And--after last Friday's jeans day at the office when I felt so restricted even with the belly band--I succumbed and bought some pregnancy jeans at Old Navy. It's hard to believe that I'm already 15 weeks pregnant. I still have a LONG road ahead of me, but I was just thinking the other day, by the time I see Mom and Dad for Christmas I'll be at 20 weeks and halfway there! Really exciting, can't wait to meet you Potsticker.

Thank you Old Navy

Just a quick post to say that my favorite clothing company when I was a high school kid making minimum wage has quickly become my favorite again as I see no point in spending more than I have to on maternity clothes. After my 12 week appointment and hearing the baby's heartbeat again, I finally purchased some maternity clothes (although I'm barely starting to show, so I'm in an in between phase right now and can't really wear them). One of my purchases was new black leggings as my current leggings are much too tight on the belly. And these leggings are amazing, comfortable, still tight on my legs but fit under the belly (or...will once the belly gets a little bigger), so nice. Thanks Aunt Jay for treating me! The baby thanks you to as he/she is no longer being squeezed by lycra.

Hmm....

I can't help but wonder (constantly!) who this little baby is and--of course--what this baby is going to look like. I know it's a crazy dream, but how cool would it be if the baby got my Dad and Grandpa's blue eyes, or at least my hazel eyes? I love looking at our baby pictures to try to imagine what our baby will look like.

The Secret Is Out

(Baby Dio at 8 weeks)

Andro and I are, unexpectedly but delightedly, 12 weeks pregnant! I found out at exactly 4 weeks, just before Labor Day. We were by no means trying to get pregnant, but a little birth control snafu had me thinking it might be a possibility. It was weird, I've heard of women just knowing that they're pregnant, but I had no idea that I would be one of them. I woke up on a Wednesday morning and just felt different. Pregnancy was lurking in the back of my mind, but I didn't think I really was.

I wanted to be sure, so I bought a test on my lunch break and took it at work. Sure enough, there were 2 lines. The positive line was really, really faint, but it was there. I made it home and broke into tears the minute I saw Andro, feeling totally overwhelmed, anxious, and really nervous. I took another at home test the next morning, still positive, then went to my doctor's office to take yet another test, which came back positive. By that point, I had begun to adjust to the idea that I was going to be a mom but I can say, I really didn't start to get excited until the next day, when I told my mom.

We had plans to see my parents over Labor Day, so we took the opportunity to tell them in person. And I'm so glad that we found out when we did and were able to share our news face to face. Our flight got in late on Friday night, so I held off on saying anything until the next morning. I woke up early Saturday, totally unable to sleep, and at 6am told my mom, 'I'm pregnant.' Her genuine happiness and the immediate surge of love she had for the baby really got me excited about this little person.

My family has known since 4 weeks and I can honestly say, for me, it was not hard to keep the baby a secret. Andro has been dying to tell everyone, but I really wanted to make it to 12 weeks (heaven forbid something happen) before sharing our news. But, the moment we heard the heartbeat at our 12 week appointment, this past Wednesday, I felt like I was going to burst if I didn't let everyone know.

I'm so excited to meet this baby! It's amazing how much love I have for the baby already and I know nothing about this little person yet. We still have a long road--the baby is due May 12, 2010--but I am so excited and thrilled to be going through this experience with a supportive family and friends. I feel unbelievably blessed to be carrying our first child and can't wait to meet him/her! (I want to be surprised by the baby's gender and--much to Andro's chagrin--he is also going to be surprised, I told the doctor not to tell him because I know he won't be able to keep this a secret from me...)