{Nursery Pictures}

We have been busy over the holidays! It is still a work in progress, but we finally painted the furniture that we will be using (the dresser, hutch and side table). It is my mom's from when she was a little girl. All we have to do now is a floor lamp near the chair and then pictures for the wall!

{Last Day}

So tomorrow is a big day. It is my last day of work. The last day I will officially get paid. The last day I will have a specific purpose at 8:30 am every morning. I am very excited about leaving and know how lucky I am to have two months off before the baby comes, but it is very bittersweet. I realize that I get alot out of working. Even though I complain about the hours, the work, my boss, how there is just too much to do and life is way too busy...I do get so much from working. I enjoy doing a good job and working hard. I enjoying making a difference even though it doesn't feel like I do all the time. I enjoy spending time with co-workers and chatting at lunch. Some of my best relationships are with people that I work with. I know that for a few months, there will be a void without work. And of course, having one less income stresses me out, but I don't even know how to get into that. I know we will just make it work.

Now I know there are going to be some good things too! I will love slowing down for the first time in about 7 years. I am excited to have time to focus on the baby and the MANY things I need to get accomplished by March. I am happy to not be stressed out all the time due to the crazy list that always awaits me at the office. I am so excited to not have to answer to 'work' for a while. I am excited to spend some much needed quality time with Chat before there is a little one with us. I know how valuable this time will be for me and my family.

I am going to take tomorrow for what it is - an end and a beginning...and hope for the best. Wish me luck!!

{24+ Weeks}

Life seems to be floating by slowly and I so badly want it to hurry up. I thought I would be able to sit back and enjoy this pregnancy, but I find myself anxious all the time. We hit a big milestone...24 weeks. I am feeling relieved, but I guess when you struggle to get here, the fear never really goes away.

Little one is still freaking me out with his movements (or lack there of). I mean I am almost 25 weeks and some days it is still hard to determine if he is moving at all. I guess that is what happens when you are 5'11 and you have a uterus the size of a gymnasium.

I ordered my bedding. It is simple and beautiful and I can't wait for it to get here. I only have to wait 6 to 8 weeks (are you kidding me!??!).

We think we have narrowed down names to two: Luke or Tucker. Although Chat does not like Tucker since it sounds a lot like...

{23 Weeks}

{In the Spirit of Thanksgiving}

Here is something that makes me so happy and thankful...one of my pups snoozing away!

{The Name Game}

We have no idea what to name our son!!!!! Can you tell I am frustrated? Everyone says "It will just come to you"...ummm, I am not that type of girl. Where things just "come to me". If we don't think of something soon, we will be one of those couples that looks around the room at the hospital after he's born and names the baby "Graco" after its carseat.

{Half Way}

I am 20 weeks! I think I have gained about 8 pounds or so. Or maybe more by now. I am not quite sure and I kind of like not knowing. I can't fit into anything pre-maternity. I just have to say that I love that I don't have to suck in (especially after a big meal) and the bigger my tummy gets the better! I don't feel tons of movement yet (the doctor said it is because I am so tall), so every time I feel a little thump, I get so excited :) I can't believe I made it half way!

{The Verdict}

It's a BOY!!! I couldn't be more thrilled to hear this. I personally have come from a household of all girls so I can't wait to try this new boy experience. I am on cloud 9!!!

{The First Movement}

Guess what??? I think I felt the baby today!!! I was outside for work in the HOT sun (this is Houston folks, it is still 90 degrees in September) until about 2:00 pm sweating my tail off, then went to another inside event at a nearby mall after that. While there, my coworker and I went to go get something to eat since we were starving since we didn't have lunch. Well I gulped down like two glasses of coke very quickly (I know...so bad!). About 30 minutes later, I was sitting at one of the tables and BAM! I felt two distinct thumps coming from the inside on my right side! I think all that caffeine got the little one all jumpy :)

{Dear Baby}

I am 16w3d and I would love to feel you soon. Anytime you are ready to give me a little flutter or a little kick, I would gladly accept it. I would love to know that you are growing in there!

Love,
Your Mom

{16 Weeks}

I am 16 weeks! I think I have gained about 5 pounds and am now wearing maternity tops and bottoms. I don't know why elastic waist bands are not fashionable...they are awesome! Unfortunately I don't fill out the back of many of the pants due to my flat rear :) So the back waist band part is up to my bra. I am not sleeping quite as well as a few weeks ago, but not too bad. The several trips to the pottie are not helping.

But guess what??? I popped! I officially have a pregnant tummy versus just being frump girl and people are noticing! I am not feeling any movements yet. I really really want this to start happening and soon. I want to feel the little one! I heard that being tall (I am 5'11), it takes longer to feel because the baby has more room to move.

Oh, one more thing...Every woman shops at Target for maternity wear. Just be careful or you will end up in the same outfit as your fellow pregnant co-worker. People will take pictures. Yes, this happened to me :)

{15 Weeks}

We are back from a long weekend in Chicago. The doctor's appointment on Thursday before we left went wonderfully! Baby is doing great. We got the preliminary assessment that the baby is a boy! Unfortunately, they said it was very iffy though. The baby was doing a hand stand with its cord in between its legs. So what we thought could be the baby's 'goods' could have just been cord. But we find out on October 5th!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

{14 Weeks}

I am 14 weeks! I am wearing maternity pants, but no tops. However I need to be wearing the tops since none of mine fit me, but I just feel that is too early. I look silly in them! So I wear the same 5 tops that do fit me over and over again. I had to announce a disclaimer that my wardrobe stinks due to the pregnancy at my last staff meeting at work.

For the first time in my life, I actually go to bed without any trouble and get almost 8 hours every night. It is miraculous! I am craving Taco Bell all the time. I love it and I could eat it every day if I let myself. It is 10:00 am right now and I could totally go for a mexican pizza...

We still don't know what we are having, but I am thinking boy and Chat is thinking girl. My next OB appointment next Thursday! Once we hear that beautiful heartbeat once again, I am going to start on the nursery and registering. So fun!

{13 Weeks}

I just had to take a minute and recognize that I am 13 weeks today. The email I got telling me of the fun developments happening down their called it the size of a medium size shrimp. Ha ha! It makes me laugh because I am almost 5'11 and Chat is 6'4. I keep thinking this will be the only time this kiddo will be called a shrimp!

{11 Weeks}

I am still pregnant measuring at 11 weeks exactly on Friday! We got to see our little one moving and the little heart beat pumping away. Once we got the good news, we jetted off to the bay to celebrate with my family all weekend.

Tomorrow is a big day...I am telling my boss that I am pregnant!

{Waiting is the Pits}

The waiting is almost over! This time tomorrow I will be getting ready to drive to my doctor's appointment and finally know where we are at. Phew...Chat and I (and rest of the family) are so ready for this day to be here. I am hopeful that I will see that beautiful heartbeat and we can finally really start to celebrate and plan!

With that said, I had a very bad night last night. I ate horribly yesterday...I mean bad. It makes me nauseous even thinking about it. I started out at Luby's for lunch and got every carb imaginable (their mac & cheese is heaven). Then I had to go to a work event last night and was feeling shaky before I got there, so I stopped off a McDonalds and got a small fry (who am I?). Then I went to the event and snacked on some appetizers there. Then I went to dinner afterwards with a few co-workers and ate mashed potatoes and chips and queso. Can you believe that?? Nothing good for me at all and all very heavy items. I woke up at 1:30 am and felt like my stomach was going to be the death of me. I would run to the bathroom and dry heave and then slowly get back in bed until I had to do it again. I laid there miserable for about 2 hours. I finally felt back asleep...thank goodness.

I am feeling better this morning although I was gagging on my way to work. I got some funny looks at the cars around me :) So...I am going to eat small meals today that are nutricious and nothing heavy. I am hoping to eat some fruit and maybe a small sandwich for lunch and thats it!!!!

{Coma}

On Tuesday when I got home from work, I went into what I like to call a coma-like state for about 4 hours. I have been tired since I got pregnant, but something hit me Tuesday and things have changed dramatically. I am so tired, I don't even want to walk to the bathroom or get up to get a drink. I get winded walking from my car in the parking garage to my office door. I get tired just riding in the car. Chat loves that one :)

Wednesday was much of the same. So I took a sick day on Thursday and stayed in bed till almost noon. I was not sleeping that whole time, just laying there, unable to lift my head. It was wonderful. I wish I could stay in bed these next few weeks...

{The Pooch}

The pooch...its here. I wish I could blame it on the baby, but I am thinking since I am just shy of 9 weeks and showing is not really an option yet, I think it is probably the 2 bagels I ate this morning, then the hamburger and fries I ate for lunch and the handfuls of starbursts I just ate as a snack. Oh yeah, and probably not working out for the past 6 weeks isn't helping either. Ughh! I am having trouble keeping my pants buttoned!

{The Hangover}

The last few days have been...exciting! We have finally told our families the news and shocked the heck out of everyone! I told my dad on his 60th birthday with a grandpa mug. It was so fun to see the look on his face as he opened it (and my mom's!). They didn't even get what we were telling them at first. I have also told a few friends as well and everyone's response has been unbelievable...so supportive, so happy.

I will be 9 weeks this Thursday (yeah!). My doctor said this was a very important milestone. The risk of miscarriage goes down to less than 4% after this time. As far as symptoms, I am still real tired and my stomach is still weird. More or less, I feel like I have a hangover all the time.

{Today}

Today I saw the most beautiful thing...our baby's heartbeat!! I am officially pregnant and measuring between 7w5d and 7w6d. They gave me March 5th as my tentative due date. I finally feel at peace :)

{Answering Machine}

Before I left for work this morning, I noticed that our home answering machine was blinking. We never use our home phone and rarely get a call let alone a message. As I was getting all my things together to leave, I pushed play. It was my doctor's office reminding me of my appointment TOMORROW at 9:00 am for my ultrasound!!! A smile came across my face and I just stood still. It's here. Finally. Until tomorrow...

{Countdown to Wednesday}

My home computer crashed, so I have not had internet at home all weekend. It has been driving me crazy! So here are my updates:

1. Ultrasound is this Wednesday!!!!! I am so excited! I can't believe the 3 weeks of waiting are almost over. But I will be very honest...fear has come over me. But I am trying to remain hopefull that we will have a heartbeat and that I will have wonderful news to share :)

2. My symptoms (or lack there of) are freaking me out. I think I am overanalyzing everything. I have been having some waves of funkiness in the tummy - no 'sickness' truly, but definitely not normal, but could all be made up in my mind. I feel that I can't eat too much of one thing or I get kinda queasy. So that is odd and not sure if that is a symptom. I am pretty emotional, but tend to be even with out extra hormones pumping through my body, so who knows if that is a symptom. I tend to cry at most commercials no matter :) Then there is the exhaustion....see #3.

3. Sleep. Something is up with my sleeping. I am exhausted during the day and can barely keep my eyes open. I try to push through the day without a nap so I can sleep at night. Then I get to the night and can't sleep. So I wake up exhausted and the cycle starts over again.

4. So if we do hear a heartbeat, I was going to tell my family on Wednesday night. Change of plans. It turns out my dad has a work dinner that night and won't be home until after 10 pm. But my family had planned to do dinner all together on Thursday night for his 60th birthday. So I thought I could give the news as a birthday present!

{A Wonderful Weekend}

I am so happy for my sister who is today a married woman! She was absolutely stunning and the day was incredible. Isn't she just beautiful?

{6 Weeks}

I think I hit 6 weeks today. I am hoping by now our little one has a beating heart and is quickly growing. It is so hard to wait two more weeks to find out, but I am trying to be confident that we will get there. My symptoms are still around, so I just pray that they continue so that I have some reassurance. I feel so lucky to have made it this far and I just hope our little one wants to stick around.

In other news Courtney is getting married this weekend! The craziness is beginning tonight. We start with a last family dinner with just the family (no husbands or soon-to-be husbands allowed!) to eat a old-time favorite meal...mush! Then we have the rehearsal dinner tomorrow, wedding on Saturday and brunch on Sunday. I am just hoping my gigantic chest (thanks pregnancy!) will fit into my bridesmaid dress that I got before I was pregnant. It is still so strange to say that...pregnant :)

{Just 2 More Weeks}

Only 2 more weeks left until my first OB appointment and ultrasound!!! I am still going to see if I can get in sometime next week, but at least 1 week has already passed. I am so anxious! I need time to fly by :)

Symptom check: I woke up this morning about ready to toss my cookies. I didn't, but it seems that morning sickness is very close. One more symptom!!

{Symptoms & An Upcoming Wedding}

Here I am 5 weeks and 3 days pregnant. I am still scared out of my mind, but trying to be optomistic. Chat thinks I am crazy...analyzing every little feeling that I could attribute to pregnancy. So anyway, here are my current symptoms:

Sore, swollen chest
Cramping
Tiredness
Hot flashes

Let me touch on the hot flashes for a moment. I have no idea if this is a symptom of pregnancy. But all I can say is that I am hot. Today my body is radiating this heat. I feel like I am going through menapouse! It is crazy. I was sitting in an ice cream shop today fanning myself. Who does that?!

Okay, so this week and upcoming weekend are going to be hectic. My sister Courtney is getting married (woo-hoo!) this Saturday and the craziness begins! I am looking forward to it, but nervous how to keep our little secret with all the drinking that will be around me that I will not be partaking in. Once the wedding festivities are over and the honeymooners are back, I can tell my family what is going on. Chat and I decided to keep this to ourselves until the weekend is over so all the focus can be on the bride...my beautiful sister. But I have to say...it is a bit hard to keep this to myself!

{5 Weeks}

I think I am 5 weeks today. I don't have any guarantee until my ultrasound, but that is what I calculate knowing the past month. I am so excited to get one step closer to being out of the danger zone. Each day is an accomplishment in itself. I pray every day. I have never prayed this hard or this much.

At breakfast, Chat and I were talking about the pregnancy. We are very cautious to talk about it too much or to start planning...we don't want to jinx it. But he did say something that melted my heart. He turns to me and said, "I think it is a girl" with a huge smile on his face.

{3 Weeks}

I have my first OB appointment scheduled on July 22nd to get the first ultrasound. That is the earliest opening they have! So I have to wait 3 weeks to see our little one and to get confirmation that there is a heartbeat. I will be just shy of 8 weeks by then...

{It's Official...I'm Pregnant}

Wednesday, Beta #1 - 50

Friday, Beta #2 - 146

Monday, Beta #3 - 497

So I guess this means that I'm pregnant!!!! I can't believe this.

{More Tests}

So here has what has been happening in my world. I went to the doctor on Friday before heading out of town for work. I gave my blood, but they said they wouldn't get the results until Monday, so I have been waiting. I have taken two more pregnancy tests with this result. This actually might be happening!

{Test}

So, it is 4:45 am (since our a/c was making crazy noises and Chat went to go bang on it outside) and I just took a pregnancy test and for the first time EVER, I got this....Oh Happy Day!