We’re Having a Baby!

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My hubby and I are going to have a baby! I am 14 weeks pregnant, headed into my second trimester, and due April 1st. We are a mixture of excited, anxious, and impatient and can’t wait to find out what we’re having. After six years of marriage, we thought it might be time to grow our little family, and despite being all shades of nervous before getting pregnant (and okay, the first week we found out too), my nervousness has turned into excitement and love and pride.

I’m reminded of a time a couple years ago when my sister-in-law asked me and my husband to sing as she walked down the aisle. I have often sung in front of large groups, but a bride’s memorable walk seemed quite intimidating. My husband, who will tell you doesn’t sing, has a beautiful voice, but this was his first duet in front of a large crowd. He is usually able to hide behind the piano, but this time was different.

Before the ceremony started, my hubby and I gave each other a hug and held each others hand so tight as we faced the large crowd and sang “Just You and I” as his beautiful sister walked to meet her new groom.

Not to get all Heather Armstrong on you, but I can’t help but feel the same emotions now. Change in life is always equally terrifying and exciting. My husband and I couldn’t be happier with the news, and just like that day, we are holding each others hand so tight as we move forward together to an entirely new life.

Here is what I know:

  1. When we decided to get pregnant, I thought lightening should strike. Surely fireworks or something should go off, this is a big deal! Instead, we just went to the grocery store.
  2. I have endometriosis, and didn’t know if I would be able to have kids. We are pleasantly surprised.
  3. Those pregnancy test with two blue lines blow. Get the one that says the words “Pregnant” and “Not Pregnant”. {It’ll save you from having to take three tests in one day}.
  4. I have watched women around me become obsessed with getting pregnant. I didn’t want to be that girl. So, I forgot about it. So much so, that one morning I shot awake and thought, “OH!”, and that was the day we found out we were pregnant.
  5. The previous advice threw my husband off a bit. He thought I had become disinterested and then was doubly-shocked when I told him the news. We watched Entourage after I told him.
  6. The pregnancy “glow” is not metaphoric. It’s impossible to keep clear skin in your first trimester, and I’m hoping the second goes better.
  7. Seabands. They worked!
  8. I have a new relationship with food. I used to try to wait until 2 o’clock to eat lunch, so that I could eat a later dinner. Now, when my tummy rumbles, you better get out of the way. I. Need. Food.
  9. And I don’t need just any food. I need lunch meat folded on a cracker with sharp cheddar cheese and grapes on the side. Or enchilada soup, extra tomatoes and tortilla strips on top. Or a pulled-pork sandwhich {I’ve never had one before}.
  10. Hot dogs are out. I can’t do it.
  11. After going your whole life trying not to gain weight, you are told you’ll be gaining a pound a week. Yes, I cried a little bit. Who knows what gargantuan shape my body will take? My once hourglass-figure is shifting a little more cinderblock-like.
  12. My bra size is nearing double-letters. This happened immediately after we found out we were pregnant.
  13. When we went to my 8 week ultrasound, and I grimaced as the nurse told me I had gained 5 pounds, my husband said “Well, what did you expect?”… husbands, don’t do that.
  14. During the ultrasound, when our baby got poked, it moved. I was so PROUD. My baby will probably be in honor classes and graduate early because it can move when it gets poked.
  15. I think the highly functioning bladder is a training exercise. I wake up to use the restroom at 12, 3, and 6am every night. I think this could be foreshadowing of what my night times are going to be like for a while. I also can’t go to the mall without using the restroom twice. This probably accounts for the impromptu bottle feeding and diaper changing that happens at the most inopportune moments.
  16. As the youngest of seven, I never had to take care of anybody else. But with 14 nieces and nephews on my side, and 10 on my husbands, I think we’re pretty prepared. Remind me that I said that.