Weeks 6 and 7

So Chippy has gone from size of a sweet pea to blueberry and finally to raspberry and my body is definitely letting me know that there are some serious changes afoot.  I'm running the gamut of pregnancy symptoms and while I'm so glad to be here, I could truly do without some of the more intense symptoms.  Vomiting has picked up and for a while, I spent every morning and every night with my head in the toilet.  But someone recommended I try a B6 and Unisom combo every night, and it worked like a charm.  I get a little queasy, but I manage to keep everything down.

The most prevalent symptom, by far, has been fatigue.  Without my morning latte, I am dragging.  I feel a crash every day at 10, 1, and 3 on the nose.  I even took a nap in the Walmart parking lot before I could muster the energy to go inside.  I haven't found any good solution to this, but I'm told in just a few more weeks, I'll get my energy back.  Fingers crossed.

Jason has been very attentive these last few weeks.  And I'm comforted by his casual mentions of some research he's done about one thing or another.  He oohs and awws and fusses over me when I'm not feeling well (which he did even before I was pregnant) and does everything in his power to ease even the most minute suffering.  And then there's Eunice--the pregnancy pillow I requested for my birthday this week, which leaves him approximately 12 inches of sleeping room for him in our queen sized bed. This u-shaped monstrosity is firm and comfy and wraps me up in a nest.  It's way too early to need it, but it's comfy enough to want it. 

We also announced to the world that we're having a baby last week.  I know some might think it's a little early for that announcement, but too many people knew and I'm really terrible with secrets.  Plus, how in the world are you supposed to keep something so exciting to yourself?  Especially when you're vomiting every third minute.  Or retching at the smell of someone's coffee. 


Anyway, that's all that's going on in our clan!  Still so happy, and so thankful to be here.

Love,
Ashley

Her Stats:

Weeks Pregnant:  Almost 8.

Baby size:  Raspberry.

Weeks to go: 32

Cravings:  Milk, ice cream, yogurt, cereal (with milk!), carrots and ranch, chocolate cake.

Food aversions:  Hummus, refried beans, coffee, hot dogs, broccoli cheddar soup.

Feeling:  So, so, so exhausted.  In need of a nap.

Missing most:  Energy.  Feeling awake.  Coffee mornings.

Loving most:  Eunice

Gender predictions:  Still a boy.

His Stats:

Patience level: Thin.

Cravings: Brownies.

Missing most: Bed space.

Her worst symptom:  Her anger. (pu-lease)

Feeling: Frustration.

Gender predictions: Man. Lumberjack.

Week 5

We are happy to be here at 5 weeks pregnant!  Even though this has been a disastrous week, we still remind ourselves every day, every hour, every minute how lucky we are to be here.

Even so...

Week five brought us influenza--which, in case you don't know, is a nightmare to deal with when you're pregnant.  I wish I had known that you have no immune system the second you get pregnant.  Maybe I wouldn't have passed up that Clorox wipe at the grocery store.  Whatever the case, the flu knocked me on my butt.  So much that I missed work for three days (much to the surprise of my sweet little school).  I kept my fever down with half doses of Tylenol and sheer will.  Also, with lots of sleep.  It is now Monday, and I'm finally feeling like myself again.

Week five also brought us another introduction to pregnancy.  Morning sickness.  I don't even want to talk about it.  Suffice it to say that coffee, lattes, Coke Zero, and cherry tomatoes are no longer part of my life.

Other than that, things have been running pretty smoothly around here.  We've been talking a lot about the sex of the baby--making our guesses.  Jason and I think it's a boy--as do my dad, Brandon and Katie.  Everyone else seems to think it's a girl.  The unknown keeps my money in my wallet.  Which is fortunate because baby stuff is so adorable!  For now, we're making a point to buy a pack of diapers every week to keep the chill off our bones in September.  They're not cheap, folks!


We're counting the days until our first doctor's appointment--where we get to see little chippy and hear his (her?) heartbeat.  The whole thing is quite thrilling.  We're going to have a BABY!

I only get one more of these tests before they've told me all they can.  It's still pretty darn exciting to see that word.  Pregnant.

With love,

Ashley

Her Stats:

Weeks Pregnant:  5.

Baby size:  Orange seed.

Weeks to go: 35.

Cravings:  Lemonade, lemon water, lemons, oranges, cookies n' cream ice cream.

Feeling:  Sleepy.  Nauseous. 

Missing most:  Energy.  Feeling awake.

Loving most:  Extra hugs from the husband.

Gender predictions:  Boy.

His Stats:

Patience level: Low-Moderate.

Cravings: Hot dogs.

Missing most: Christmas break.

Her worst symptom: Overly affectionate. (rude!)

Feeling: Hungry and contemplative.

Gender predictions: Man.  Bearded.

Chippy

Well!  We're pregnant!  It has been such a long journey and I feel like I've been waiting for this moment my whole life.  It is such a relief to be here.  Maybe another time, I'll tell you about all of our fertility woes, but for now, suffice it to say that it has been a long time coming and the past few days have been the happiest of my life.

I saw the first hint of a line the morning of New Year's Eve.  I waited and waited to test again that evening, and there it was.  A very faint line--but a line!  We were pregnant!  I took two more tests and then burst into tears.

I wish I could say that I told Jason in some very romantic way.  Like Becky told Uncle Jesse--with baby corn, baby back ribs, and baby shrimp.  Lori Loughlin has it together a bit better than I do.  Jason was on the phone with his best friend, Brian, when I burst into the room and mouthed, "We're pregnant!"  Jason all but hung up on Brian and demanded to see the line.  And then we hugged, and sobbed (well, me anyway), and hugged, freaked out, and hugged some more.  We're going to be parents!  And based on my calculations, in September.   A Virgo!  Just what we wanted (shout out to Jay and Emma)!

Jason called Brian back, and that's how Brian became the first to know.  After a three minute acknowledgement of this great news, their conversation steered back to ninjas, or video games, or The Professor, or whatever those two nerds talk about.  When you've been friends for almost 30 years, maybe there's some kind twin-type telepathy.  I don't know.  Men are weird creatures.

We had one day to ponder the news before I headed back to work, and we spent it pouring over What to Expect When You're Expecting.  We learned that our baby is the size of a poppy seed and looks like a little tadpole and that Jason can expect me to start vomiting profusely in the next few weeks.  "I'm okay with getting you ice cream, and rubbing your feet--but can you just tell me when you're going to start being irrational?  I can't handle that and I kind of need to know."  According to the book, it can start next week and last through the pregnancy.  Strap on your boots, cupcake.  It's going to be a long ride.

We went on a walk through the forest behind our house and contemplated aloud how our lives will be so different.  It's been just us for the last four and a half years.  Just the two of us cuddling on the couch, going on dates, buying groceries, going on vacation.  In nine months, it's going to be so different.  We're never going to have this time again.  I've wished for a baby for years, and now here I am cherishing the alone time I have with my husband and clinging on to every tender moment in this little home we've created.  I know there will be so many joys and new tender moments with Chip, but one day, I'll miss this.

Later at the grocery store, Jason spotted a pack of diapers.  "88 diapers for $16.99.  That's a great deal!  Why do people complain about the cost of diapers?  That should last us a month, right?"  I got a good laugh at that.  His jaw dropped to his chest when I told him that would last us 8-9 days.  Maybe.

So next we decided we would wait until we were 8 weeks to tell anyone else.  That lasted three days.  My parents came to visit and I had the genius idea to tell them I wanted to take their picture, and instead made a video of their reactions.

We desperately wished we could tell Jason’s parents in person, but they’re on the other side of the continent so it was a phone call. 

And then we told our siblings.

As this is the first grandchild on both sides, reactions were exactly as you’d expect: happiness, elation, shock, concern, but mostly excitement. 

After such a big day of secret revealing, we are exhausted.  We can’t wait to meet our little Chippy and are thrilled to have everyone in the know.

We hope this blog will help bridge the distance between Georgia, Florida, and California.  We’ll update you with all the big news as we get it.   Jason has promised to write in a few updates, too.

With love,

Ashley

 

Her Stats:

Weeks Pregnant:  4.

Baby size:  Poppy seed.

Weeks to go: 36.

Cravings:  Ice cream, lemon water, and blackberries.

Feeling:  Sleepy all the time.  But still rational!

Missing most:  Lots of coffee.

Gender predictions:  Boy.

His Stats:

Patience level: Moderate.

Cravings: Peace.

Missing most: Peace.

Her worst symptom: None yet.

Feeling: Tired but contemplative.

Gender predictions: Boy.