We got to see our little peanut!!!

I am exploding with excitement right now. This really hits home and really makes this thing reality!  I had my frist appointment with my midwife, Lori Kellogg of Borgess, this morning...and she's amazingly cool.  Her down to earth and hip personality really takes the pressure off of me.  I've heard great things about her reputation too, so I'm happy she's our assigned Midwife. 

Our baby is active, and healthy, and really little!  We saw our baby's heart beat, clear as day!  First a doppler was used to detect the heart beat, and it couldn't be found. I was a little bummed but wasn't concerned, as it is still pretty early and my uterus is still low. After my pelvic exam, which resulted in estimating that I am about 8 weeks along by the size of my uterus, Lori asked me to get dressed and that we'd go try something else to see the baby's heart beat.  She took me into an exam room with an ultrasound machine. I immediately became excited - I wasn't sure if I'd be getting an ultrasound or not during this visit - but was certainly hoping for one.  Our little peanut is just having a good old time swimming in my uterus. We were able to take a picture of the ultrasound home with us...but the picture doesn't do the expreience justice.  The picture is pretty fuzzy and baby looks like a blob right now, but thats one cute little blob in my oponion!  Lori mentioned that the picture will be a little clearer during our dating ultrasound scheduled March 26.

Will had a smile from ear to ear...and was pretty speachless.  We both really enjoyed today's experience. There is really nothing that compares to this feeling. In the exam room I had a nervous laughter and had to hold my breath at times so I could stay still for the ultrasound. Will and I drove seperate to the appointment because I had blood work and an x-ray (for numbness in my arms/hands) done prior to the appointment, but  when we left and during my drive toward Gull Road, I had some time to collect my thoughts and a tear popped into my eye. AHHHHH. This smile is glued to my face for good!

I got a text from Will an hour or so after the appointment with the picture and "baby??" ...         

<----This is a man's interpretation!









I had dinner with some friends tonight and had to tell my little white lie. The best part about tonight is that Emily announced that she is pregnant! She is about one month ahead of me! I wanted so bad to share my news, but did a good job holding back :). It will be fun when we can be pregnant together and talk about it together!!

It's going to be a challenge keeping this a secret for another 4 weeks. I hoping the time will fly and not creep by.

WEEK 8: Baby goes to Traverse City!

I have to admit I've been telling a white lie.  Will and I have visited with a couple of friends this week, and will be getting together with some friends next week, too.  Often drinks will be shared during these visits, especially during dinner. I've been telling my friends that I gave up drinking for lent.  It really works in my favor right now. I was pretty surprised that I was able to keep it in when I've been challenged with the question: "Are you pregnant?" from my best friend Tiffany. It's ok...she'll forgive me for telling a white lie. All of my friends will really.  I'm only trying to stretch the time right now so I can 1. announce the pregnancy with fun and 2. make sure our parents know first (as they deservingly should be the first to know).  

We spent the weekend in the Traverse City area this past weekend - it was a great get away. We attended a "Strong Bonds" event at the Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, MI. The event was free through the Army and focused on your relationship with your spouse. We walked away with some bonding time, with a lot of information, and three books! An Army Chaplin taught the course. We explored the city a bit, saw a movie, and had dinner with some friends who recently moved to the area. We really enjoyed ourselves, but really missed our furry friends!

Ironically enough my sister texted me this week with a strange question: "If you were pregnant, would you tell me first before you shared it with facebook?"  It really caught me off guard...Turns out she was just thinking about becoming an aunt...which is so cool, but just so ironic (since I'm pregnant and keeping it a secret!)  She told me she'd move out here and go to WMU so she could be closer to her nephew or niece.  We'll see if that happens...good intentions, but a lot of factors go into that!  My mom too has been looking at houses out here, just not sure if she'll be able to get the family out here by October 2013.  I'd love to use her help for a babysitter...and I know she'd love it. 

I told my supervisor that I was pregnant last week. I really needed to, I'm going to be coming in to work late for doctor appointments and he'd eventually catch on. He's happy for us and respects that I'm waiting to tell others until I'm a little further along.  My first doctor appointment at Borgess Women's Health (where I'll be delivering) was last week Wednesday. It was my intake appointment, Will was able to make it with me too!  It was pretty exciting being our first appointment and all, but it really was just answering questions about our family history and about our lifestyles. The appointment was long...it took us an hour and a half to get through.  I'm excited for our second appointment on Tuesday , this time we get to meet the midwife we are assigned to.  Will and I decided to go with a midwife because it's important to us to build trust and a relationship with someone who will be delivering our baby.  Borgess offers what is called the "Centering Program" and it will be taught by our midwife.  Its a group of pregnant women that learn about their pregnancy from their assigned midwife.  They bring in guest speakers, give you a tour of labor and delivery, and they educate you about what to expect during your pregnancy and labor. I felt that this program was necessary for us especially during our first pregnancy. And, we'll get to meet other couples in the area who are as far along as we are, and get to share our experiences. This program starts in April for us, we meet 1 time per month until the end and then it's more frequent.

I've been feeling good...no "morning sickness," the nurse at my intake appointment said that I just might be one of the "lucky ones!"  I do feel queezy when I don't keep my tummy full...so the key to feeling good for me is eating. I've been eating a lot...6 times a day because I am hungry, and out of fear that I'll spew if I don't. I've been pretty conscious (lots of veggies and fruits) about what I'm eating, and have also become a little more relaxed about it too. At first I was eating strictly and stressing about eating certain things because they are linked to "cause a miscarriage" - truth is, eating things in moderation is the key.  There are certain foods that are advised against obviously (anything raw) and to choose to eat cooked/warmed anything over something cold to eliminate any bacteria.  I will enjoy chocolate because I learned that chocolate has such a small percentage of caffeine in it isn't an issue.  I will drink decaf teas and coffee occasionally...but not more than 2 cups per day - again, nothing that will flood my body with toxins and drown my baby with them.  Plus, I'm drinking enough water a day to fill my bath tub with (it seems that way anyway).  I've learned that I CAN eat fish...just not certain types and just not raw. Phew..I actually was getting a little tired of pasta, chicken, and red meat for a second.  And, lots of dietary fiber... apparently this prenatal vitamin causes constipation :'/  I'm not showing yet, but do have a bloated tummy look which makes me feel "fat." Sooner or later I'll pop and actually look like I'm pregnant and feel like I'm pregnant. I'm pretty excited to experience all of these changes, and pretty nervous too!

I learned about more apps for my iPhone!  What to Expect When Your Expecting has it's own app and website, Parenting has an app and there are other apps too that I have on my phone. They are similar, but each offers something different.  The Bump and some random Pregnancy app (that's only free until you reach the 2nd trimester) I'm learning as much as I can about the baby's development and what I should and shouldn't do at this point in my pregnancy. 

Happy Valentines Day!

I am one lucky girl to be suprised by a heart shaped orchid arrangement and a sweet card from my valentine!

And, to have a heart shaped calzone filled with chicken, broccoli, mushrooms, and feta cheese made for me for dinner. Oh, and not to forget the cupcakes for dessert filled with raspberry and chocolate.  I truly am lucky to have a creative, thoughtful, and loving husband.  Mmmmmmmm!

Photo by Jacee Beck Photography: www.jaceebeckphotography.com

Here's what I came up with for Will: It's a picture taken during our first dance at our wedding October 13, 2012 with the lyrics of the song "Far Away" by Nikelback written into it. I put it on a 16x20 poster and framed it. 

 

 
Last but not least, I recieved a package in the mail from my best friend Tiffany who lives in South Boston, MA. What a special suprise!  And, I get to see her next week, she's coming home for a week. She's been home more in the last year then ever and I'm feeling so spoiled to get to see her so often lately.

MUAH!

WEEK 7

Happy Fat Tuesday!


I had no idea it was fat tuesday today, but completely enjoyed an apple cinnamon paczki in the morning at work. Then, my wonderful husband stopped by after lunch with a box of 4 raspberry paczki to say "Did you know it was Fat Tuesday?!" with a huge smile on his face. I had to enjoy half of that one too!  So, I definatley had a "fat" tuesday. 

Baby goes to OHIO

Will bought us tickets to see Rascal Flatts in OHIO for part of my Christmas present!  We drove down Saturday morning and got into town just before dinner. We had dinner at a fancy restaurant, that we clearly wern't dressed for (we were dressed for a country concert), but when we noticed that the Harley Davidson convention was also dining in we felt a little better. I enjoyed a couple Materni-Tinis, basically pineapple, orange, and a bit of cranberry juice with an orange garnish in a martini glass. It was yummy and fancier than a glass of water.  Not to mention that they were $6.50 a glass. Are you SERIOUS!?  The food was awesome. I basically drooled over Will and his buddy eat the cappicola appetizer.  I thought it tasted like prosciutto...finally I asked Will for just a taste - YUCK! My taste buds did not like that one!  Then, I felt better not missing out on anything yummy (in my oponion anyway).  What a great concert!  The Band Perry opened for Rascal Flatts. It was a little weird being at  concert in Ohio... We were expecting it to be over the top because part of the band was born in Ohio, but I guess our expectations were just a little too high.  It was great but not grand.  I thought it was neat that the band asked for song requests.  They played a lot of their older songs, which are what we all knew better anyway. Rascal Flatts sang a song by Journey, and a couple of other songs that aren't theirs.  I liked how they played "Lean On Me" - it's a special song, my mom wrote that in my baby book. 

WEEK 6

Today I had my first facial during this pregnancy. I go to a lady, Brenda Bultema (www.brendabultema.com), who services her clients out of her adorable little home with a purplish pink exterior. The main floor is her office area and her living space is upstairs. She is super cool and it's clear that she loves her job. She told me a funny story about something that happend to her today and we both laughed together untill we cried, it was great to laugh so hard.  I also use Brenda's products (face wash, scrub, cream, sunscreen). I normally get the BPO formula, but recently read that acne medication should be avoided during your pregnancy.  Brenda suggested her tea tree formula. It's all natural. We will see how it works, it smells intersting!  My skin is actually the clearest it had been in a while..Brenda mentioned sometimes that happens during pregnancy. I know some who have struggled with acne when pregnant. It's crazy how everyone's experience is just their own and all different.

I met with the trainer at the Sherman Lake YMCA on Monday, she set up a "pregnancy workout plan" for me.  Although the work out would be benificial to anyone getting back into shape, it just is "safe" for me to do.  I started that today, it mainly focuses on large muscle groups. I'm not used to lifting or anything, my typical workout normally includes a run. Tiffany (my best friend who lives in Boston) would be proud! She's a health teacher and a great athlete. My goal is to get to the gym 3 times per week to do this plan which does not include any running- that is additional.

I'm still not showing, and have felt absolutely amazing so far! Thank God that I haven't had any morning sickness, but I tip toe around that because I read morning sickness happens anywhere from week 6 to week 10.  I've read that morning sickness is because of a lot of factors and there is no real "reason" for morning sickness.  I don't think I'll get it <crossing my fingers>.

Boy or Girl?

 

Let the debate begin!   

Well, the Chinese calendar from www.thebump.com predicts that this baby is a GIRL.  It's predicted by the month you concieve and mommy's age.  Nothing from daddy in this prediction is factored in.  I'm hopeful, but not completely convinced by this prediction.  It's been fun exploring baby girl names.  I have a list of 15 girl names that I like for first name and middle name - but there a just a couple that I'm stuck on right now.  I wonder how Will will react to my taste in girl names!?  We'll battle that journey when the baby's sex is revealed!  It's a given what our first baby boy's name will be: William Henry Burns VI (the sixth). Yes, I'll probally want to know the sex of the baby when that time comes.  And, no I don't think we will keep it a secret. Not for our first, anyway. 

Will's sisters, both Tesia and Mollie, have always said I'm going to have the girls in the family.  I know for a fact that Will would be geeked to have a son.  The other day he asked me "How early can you ask your kids to start carrying in wood to the house?"  As much as I love spending time outdoors with him, reality is he's out in the garage and in the woods by himself more often than I am out there with him.  You know he'd love some company, not saying that a girl couldn't fufill that role.  Anyway, Will has been pretty unbiased on the sex, he just says that he wants the baby to be healthy.

Chinese calendar from www.babyzone.com predicts that this baby is a BOY. It was predicted by the mother's birthdate and the month the baby was concieved, matchin the lunar age with the lunar month the baby was concieved.

 

 

 

Tutu Run

What a fun run! 2.2 miles at 2pm on 2/2 wearing a Tutu! I made a last min decision to run this today so I wasn't prepared with a tutu. It was a sloppy run due to the sloshy snow on the paved trail and it was pretty chilly but it was a blast!  The run was hosted by Girls on the Run (GOTR) of Greater Kalamazoo.  I've coached GOTR a couple of times in the past and I am returning this year!  I'm very excited.  The season begins in March. I'm also  looking forward to running many other organized running events throughout this pregnancy, given that my body allows it!

WEEK 4 (I think)..or is it 5?

 

It was suggested that I take a picture of my belly each week to document the progress, begining with week 4.  So, I did.  I really don't know how far along I am, this is a guesstimate until I have a dating ultrasound somewhere around 8-10 weeks.

 

Right now, you can't tell I'm pregnant...BUT I AM!

My next picture (when I'm showing at least a little) may not be until month 3