Another bump shot :)

Here I am at 27 weeks, 4 days! I love my little man so much already!!!

Belly shot!

Here is me at 24 weeks, 6 days :)

Making Progress!

I am happy to say that I am feeling good today! I have pretty much been fighting nausea for the past 2 weeks, and it has not been fun. I am so grateful when I think of what the outcome will be, but as Brian was holding back my hair the other day as I unvoluntary gave up my dinner, I let him know that this may be his only child. :) Of course, my decision is a little different today, but only because I am feeling better! I pray that I will continue to feel better so that I can enjoy every second left of my pregnancy.

We go to the dr. on Wednesday and will get to see our little baby for the first time! This is going to be such an emotional moment, and I am tearing up just thinking about it. I can't wait to see the miracle God has blessed us with! I pray that all is healthy and normal, and I ask that you all also pray for us and our baby.

Brian and I also made an important decision last night. At our first appointment, the dr. let us know that there are tests done to detect genetic diseases, and they are now optional. She said, "some people choose not to do the test, because it won't change their decision about the baby either way." Well, of course this automatically made me get defensive and decide that there was nothing that would make me change my mind about having my baby so no, I did not want the tests either. She told me that she wanted to give us until the next visit to decide and bring the paperwork back signed or unsigned. So I told Brian after we left and he immediately thought it was a good idea, that way we could be prepared if something was wrong. I didn't want to hear it. I didn't want to know if anything was wrong and that was my decision. He asked if we could just pray about it and talk later. So I agreed.

Well, last night, I told him that we would soon have to make our decision. He asked if I had swayed my decision at all and I said not a bit. Well, he then began to express his concern about if something was wrong and the baby may need immediate attention early in the pregnancy, or even right after birth. What if something was wrong and we could help it early on, but didn't because we chose not to find out? This and the fact that he was so sincere about his point, made my heart melt (in a good way). Needless to say, after talking a bit more about it, we decided that we would go through with the tests, just to be cautious. No, nothing will change our decision about welcoming our baby boy or girl in March, but at least we will be able to take precautionaries if needed.

So that's that! I can't wait to update after our Wednesday appointment! :) Thank you in advance for your prayers...

And so it begins!

You would think I would have learned by now. You know how you have those things you brag about that have not happened to you and then all of a sudden you find it happening?? Let me give you an example. About a year ago, I was bragging to myself (yes, I talk to myself as I am driving to work. Not audibly, but in my head, nonetheless :) ) about never being pulled over by a cop before in all my 5 years of driving. Of course, that very afternoon, my foot was a bit heavy on the pedal and all of a sudden I saw those red and blue lights from none other than a state trooper. ::GASP!:: Everyone knows the reputation state troopers have; you are not getting off the hook. Well, God had favor on me and that nice man told me to "get on home and don't you speed now." Bless you, sir.

So the past few days I have been bragging about how I have not been a bit sick in my pregnancy, although everything I read says I should have started a week ago with the nausea. So yesterday I woke up and brushed my teeth as I do every morning. Oh but when I got to the tongue brushing, it was all downhill from there. I do not usually have a bad gag reflex when brushing my teeth but this time, I could barely finish brushing! Ever since then, the nausea has been on and off. I am thankful, because I know it is a good sign! And it will all be worth it in the end. But right now, saltines and sprite are my best friend :)

Seriously?!

Let's go back to Wednesday for a second...I woke up and still had no signs of my monthly friend coming. I was 6 days late, but still in denial and expected it to come at any time. My original plan was to take a test on Friday morning, but I was getting restless and anxious! So I decided to go buy the tests on my lunch break Wednesday, and would wait until Thursday morning to take one. Well, about 2:30 on Wednesday, I couldn't take it anymore. I went into the bathroom at work, stick in my purse, and did my thang! I placed it on the counter and just began to pray. I just asked God for peace in the event that it was negative, and that I just truly wanted His will and not mine. I waited for what felt like 30 minutes, then decided to slowly glance at the result window of my pregnancy test. To my complete and total shock, one word was on the screen: PREGNANT!!! I think it even had the exclamation marks on it :) I just covered my face, sat on the bathroom floor, and cried happy tears of joy to God for this miracle. I always wondered what my reaction would be when I finally saw that word. Words cannot describe what I felt, and am still feeling. It feels like I am pretending. I think it will all be more real on Monday, at my first doctor's appointment. I just want to hear them say, "You really are pregnant!!!" I thank God every few minutes for this beautiful, sweet, precious miracle that He has blessed Brian and I with.

Wednesday evening we made our rounds to share our good news with family and friends. I must say, we have a GREAT support team and this baby will be loved to the max!

So far, the only signs I am experiencing is frequent bathroom trips and FOOD!!! I have found in the last week or so that it seems like an hour after I eat a full meal, I feel like I haven't eaten in DAYS! That was kind of a small sign to me, but of course I let it slide. Right now, my baby is only about 1 mm big, the size of an orange seed!!! I downloaded an app on my iPhone from the What to Expect books. It provides you with weekly updates and this is what it said for Week 5 (which is about how far I think I am)..."Your baby's heart is made up of 2 tiny channels called heart tubes--and they're already hard at work, beating to their own drummer. When those tubes fuse together, your baby will have a fully functioning heart (though it almost certainly already has its grip on yours)." I definitely started crying as I read that! And yes, our baby already has a grip on both of our hearts and we cannot wait to experience God's blessing and miracle of parenthood...