(Kind of) Wordless Wednesday

I took a picture of myself today, because I do want to start documenting the pregnancy. And because, I couldn't quite believe it myself. 


Here is Baby at 6.5 weeks. 

Was anyone else showing like this at 6.5 weeks? Cause I for sure did not expect to be. The two thoughts going through my head are "OMG Twins?" and "Maybe I'm much farther along than I expected." 


Any advice? I'm finishing up my insurance paperwork this week, and hopefully can get into the doctor for my ultrasound and such in a few weeks. I know, I know. I won't be able to really  know anything until then. But still, fun speculating, right? 

Baby: 7 Weeks

I am currently in my 7th week of pregnancy. This is mind-boggling and amazing to me. My--our--baby has a heartbeat already! And is forming baby teeth. And limbs that will soon have fingers and toes. 


This baby that is growing inside of me. 


It's a completely strange and wonderous feeling. I keep putting my hand on my stomach, as if I could feel he/she already. I can't, not really. And yet, I can. I feel different. More than just the whole morning sickness/bloating/dizziness. I can't quite put my finger on it. I want to say something like I'm part of something bigger than myself, which I suppose is true. 


I think it's more just a constant sense of wonderment. Life is different for me. In less than 9 months, I will have a beautiful baby boy or girl in my arms. This person that is entrusted to me but is still entirely their own person. That we will help shape and grow and develop but in the end, will be themselves, no matter what. I cannot wait to encourage that. 


I didn't realize how much love you can have for someone that's barely in existence. I think of this baby and my heart overflows already. I've started talking to him/her. Baby will recognize our voices from the womb. Can you believe that? Soon I'll start singing to him/her. (I need a better nickname for Baby). 


This is a strange, amazing, glorious new adventure. I cannot wait to see more of it. Even if I do feel huge already, my clothes are still fitting (thank god I own mostly leggings, skirts, and dresses!), and I have a crazy desire for bananas. Yes, bananas. And mexican food. No, I don't understand it. 


Just some of my thoughts at the moment. I am now about to fall asleep at the keyboard, so I will head to bed. Expect many more posts about the baby, though. After all, that's where my mind will be for the next several months. 


P.s., our vacation was lovely! Lots of good food, rest, relaxation, and just overall hanging out. It wasn't as exciting as last year's, but we think that that is because we had done it before. It wasn't new and we are ok with that. It was a much more relaxed not needing to do everything kind of vacation. We needed it. 


Classes have also started. They are going beautifully and I'm loving each and every one of them! 

Baby

So, as many have guessed, Hubby and I are expecting a new addition to our family in about 9 months! The estimated due date is April 21st, 2012. 


I got my blood-work done on Tuesday, got the results yesterday. Apparently I am very pregnant. I guess 371hcg is high but in normal range? Some friends have already started teasing about twins. So I guess we will see! Either way, we are having a baby! I am very very excited. We both are. 


With both of us getting raises and paying off debts, we decided that now was a great time to start our family! I went off birth control in July, and suddenly, here we are! Neither of us expected it to happen so quickly. I was sorta hoping, but I figured it would take a few months for my body to regulate back to being off birth control. Apparently not! 


We are both super super excited. And we were so happy we were able to find out while we were back in VA visiting family. We were able to tell them in person, instead of having to do a phone-call! We then spent the evening calling other family on speakerphone. Needless to say, everyone is super excited! 


It's very strange to think that in 9 months, I will be holding our baby. I still can't get over that I have a baby growing inside of me right now. Our very own baby.  Wow. It feels real and yet doesn't, quite. 


I'm sure the more time goes along, the more real everything will become. But for now, I'm going to bask in the joy and awe that there's a baby, growing. Inside of me! 




And also go eat lots of sour cream, tomatoes, and honey mustard. Cause apparently, that's what I want now. 


P.s. Also, CRUISE IS THIS WEEKEND! 

Announcement

Birthday Thoughts

Today is my birthday. I am 24 years old. Oddly enough, unlike other birthdays, this one does feel different. Mostly because I feel like I've gone from my early 20s to embarking on my mid-20s. Strange. Especially when I look back at what's happened in the last four-five years in my life. 


It's strange to think of who I was even just a year ago, let alone three or four. I feel like I have more willingly and easily come into myself, figured out who I am and what I want from life. I feel...settled. And not in a bad way. Just, no more turmoil. I know who I am. 


I....accepted. That's probably the word. I have accepted and embraced who I am. That really happened this past year. It took a lot of growing and internal conflict, along with a lot of really good soul-searching and seeking. But I finally am happy with myself. Well, happy's not the right term. It's too shallow. Mmm...I feel at peace with who I am. That's a better term. Relaxed, peaceful, and happy. 


Not to say I won't continue to grow. I will. I will always be growing and learning more about myself. But for now, I feel very settled into who I am. And, after the years of turmoil, struggle, and stress, it feels really good. 


This past year has not been anything spectacular (in terms of things that happened). Things progressed as they always do. Life was life. And it feels like yesterday I was celebrating last year's birthday. 


This year, though. This year is going to be interesting. Big changes coming up. New adventures on the horizon. 


I am honestly excited to see what this year is going to hold. And how many adventures will happen. Who knows where I'll be this time next year? (Oh goodness, let's just stick with this year for now). 


In 9 days, Hubby and I will be leaving for a glorious 9 days of vacation. 


In 2 days, we will be leaving to see Hubby's brother's play in VA (Thanks Mom and Dad!). 


All in all, the next week will fly by, and then we will be on vacation. What a great way to start a new year! (Erm, in my life, not the New Year).  


There are things today that I am very grateful for and also things I miss. 


Yellow cake with chocolate frosting. 
That one cake stand. 
So many candles you set off the fire alarm.
Presents. 
Mum's hugs. 
Brother and sisters. 
Friends I haven't seen for a while, whether because of time or distance.
Good friends. 
My job.
My husband. 


All in all, I am a very blessed and loved woman. And I am very thankful for the last 24 years, and I cannot wait to see what the next 24 have in store. Many more adventures, I would imagine. 

Impatient

6 days until my birthday, 12 days until classes start, 16 days until our cruise. 


I hope time flies. 

Crazy busy weekend!

So this weekend was intense. Well, not too intense. More like, we spent most of it cleaning and reorganizing and rearranging furniture. Because, a roommate moved in! Hubby and I spent most of Saturday evening (if I'm totally honest) cleaning and going through boxes in the garage , the furniture in there, and getting it all straightened out so we could fit another car in the garage. I am happy to say we did it, and our garage is spotless! We also cleaned out hte spare bedroom, moved a bookshelf inot the living room (which added more space for books. Whee!), and moved Hubby's desk out of our room into the garage and my desk into our bedroom. We also moved our chest of drawers into the closets, and suddenly, our room looks huge! We have so much floorspace and everything is so much more organized now. It's amazing. And Alice (our cat) seems to like it too. She keeps lounging about in all different spots. And the sunlight is all over our room now, too. Which is probably what she likes.


We worked from 6pm to 2:30am on Saturday getting everything done. Why so late, you might ask. Well mostly because it had by then cooled off enough in the garage and the house that we weren't going to be dying from the heat trying to move and lift and shift all the things we needed to. And then went to Denny's to celebrate!


Yesterday, we went down to Laguna to spend some time with Aunt Kammie! We went to Johnny Rocket's for dinner, saw Cowboys & Aliens (really fun movie!), and then she let me borrow 2 cute vintage dresses for Formal Night on our Cruise. She also gave me this adorable Alice in Wonderland alarm clock! I forgot to take a picture of it cause I wanted to show it off, so I'll have to do that later tonight.  


All in all, a really good weekend! 


It should be interesting having a roommate. We'll all have to get used to living with each other, but I'm not worried about it. And the extra cash plus both of us having raises means we are in a pretty good spot right now. We're able to start paying off debt we've been wanting to for a while and free up even more cash.  


This summer has been an amazing one, when it comes to good things happening. God has really blessed us. Here is hoping good news keeps on coming! 


Oh and classes start in two weeks, which I got all of the ones I needed! w00t! 


Birthday Countdown: 9 Days.
Cruise Countdown: 20 Days.


Sooo excited!