Inspired by my wonderful sister-in-law and my husband’s desire that I embrace technology (he lovingly calls me the technology scrooge), I’ve taken to the world of blogging. The topic: only the coolest thing that has ever happened to us — our baby! While we anxiously await the arrival of our little genetic combo, I’m documenting the journey. I’m hoping archiving this pregnancy will do myriad things. 1. Remind me of the good and the bad (all of which I know I will look back on fondly) 2. Keep all my favorite people up to date on Tiny’s latest and greatest and 3. Maybe even serve as a quick reference for the NEXT one. Yes, mom. I said next. Someday. So, welcome to our digital jaunt through my gestational journey…and yes, I will be keeping a hard copy as all good teachers do. It’s in my blood…and that blood is in our baby!
So, let’s start from the beginning, shall we? No one needs all the details about the very beginning, but I would like to take this opportunity to put in a little plug for our friend NFP. Those of you who are unfamiliar, NFP stands for Natural Family Planning. Mike and I decided to use this method in our marriage, and we love it! It works wonderfully, and we have a little life to prove it. If you want any more information about it, here is the link: AOD NFP Online.
Moving forward a few chromosomes, Mike and I found out we were pregnant on my parents’ anniversary (November 14). They celebrated the big 2-9 this year, and we thought it would be a great gift for them. When we woke up that morning, Mike was pestering me to take a test, and I was less than convinced that I could possibly be pregnant. Part of me thinks that women tend to think they will never become pregnant because that is one of our biggest fears (many of us at least). Men, on the other hand, always think that a girl is pregnant. Mike says it’s because women always fear the worst and so do men. Nice. He is truly excited, trust me. He just can’t pass on a good joke! Anyhow, after taking the test, I went to the kitchen to make pancakes and didn’t even wait to see the results. Afterward, I went to look and found myself scrambling through the directions saying, “What does positive mean?!?!” Mike woke up, and trying to get his eyes into focus, realized what was going on. All we could do was hug and repeat, “We’re going to have a baby!” It was the best surprise we’ve ever received.
The next thing we did was call Mike’s sister, Liz. We had to tell someone right away, and we knew Liz was the right person to call. She shared in our joy so much that we kept her on the phone for almost two hours total that morning asking questions and getting advice. Thanks, Aunt Liz! (Liz also reminded us that her and Will would be an aunt and uncle for the first time. How cool is that?)
Later that day, Mike had band practice where he was able to tell his friends. He walked in and said, “Hey guys, guess what.” His friend Zac replied, “You’re having a baby.” He was shocked to find out that his wise remark was, in fact, true!
The most fun came later that day when we were able to tell the grandparents. Mike’s mom knew the minute we said we had news. She had that expectant grandmother look in her eyes that I was very glad we did not have to disappoint! Afterward, we gathered the clan (we are a clan now with three!) and headed over to Grandpa and Mima’s house. As I stated before, they were celebrating their anniversary, and we were taking them to church and dinner. Before dinner, we gave them their card which said “Love Mike, Jenna and Tiny p.s. you can tell anyone you want!” My mother, the woman who has a magnet on her fridge reading “Honey, I die a little every day I don’t have a grandchild,” wept and, I think, was trying to squeeze the baby out of me that very moment. My wonderful father on the other hand, could not figure out why he was allowed to tell anyone he wanted that we were taking him to dinner that night. He soon caught on, and hugs went around.
My mom then reminded us of a dream she had just two weeks prior to that day. She had the most vivid dream that I had called her and said, “Mom, we’re having a baby. It’s a boy, and he will be born on July 26th.” Oddly enough, we are due July 23rd. I am now convinced we are having a boy. Mike is hoping for a girl because “they are cuddlier.” How cute!
Since that night, it has been a whirlwind of shouting out the good news to all. While many people think it strange that we began telling people right away, I am reminded again of my sister-in-law’s words of wisdom. She has always said that a that life is a life right now. It is meant to be celebrated and called by name as soon as possible. After all, that’s what God does for us, does He not? So, stemming from this, Mike and I do plan to find out the gender around March and you will all promptly know the name.
Our first doctor’s appointment was December 3rd. This was not a moment too soon as I started to feel the toll of pregnancy that Monday. In all honesty, I can’t think of anything funnier than an English teacher abandoning her classroom mid-lecture to puke in the bathroom. Somehow they never figured it out…I don’t know what that says about my teaching. Anyway, the nurse ran through all of the vitamins and dos and don’ts (with special emphasis on avoiding downhill skiing; I was almost laughed out of the office for asking about that one). This appointment only lasted 20 minutes, so Mike stayed at work and Mima came. She just ate that up!
That Sunday night, I mentioned to Mike that I was feeling a weird pain on my left side. We decided to wait it out and see what came of it. Monday morning when I woke up for work, the pain had not subsided. I decided to call the doctor and ask what to do just to make sure; they had me in that afternoon to check things out. Mike and I were terrified, but hashed it out with JC. To our sheer bliss, instead of finding out that something was wrong with the baby, we received an ultrasound (I wasn’t supposed to get one until March) and were able to see and hear this:
Have you ever heard anything cooler? This sound is even cooler than the song my husband is wailing away on with his drum kit right now! Really though, it’s cool being married to a rock star <3
So, for now I will leave you with a few more images of our Tiny. Updates will be coming as they come. Like I said before, I am no techno-guru, but I will do my best to keep track of it all! Much love to all of you, and thank you for your support and prayers. Next post? Cravings and Santa Clause! Stay tuned.
I’m only 7 weeks 2 days in this picture, but I’m measuring 8 weeks! I think I’m a Desser!
I’m upside down in these pictures! Silly, just like my daddy!
Oh, final random thought/question: I had a dream last night that a friend was having a baby. Turns out she actually did last night — a baby girl! Congrats Tiffany and Derek! Do you get some kind of super preggy-sense when you are pregnant?
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