Beginning of Week 19

Week 19 has begun!

The baby bump has definitely made itself very obvious...now I'm just waiting to feel movement! More than likely, I already have, but I just don't recognize it as being our little one moving around inside. Hopefully soon, though, I'll be able to discern those flutters and kicks!

My latest shock about pregnancy is that people have NO issue making comments about a pregnant woman's size or reaching out and touching her belly. These wouldn't be acceptable any other time, but apparently pregnancy makes the "personal space bubble" disappear, and people don't even ask before reaching out and rubbing the belly like it is going to bring good luck! I also have had people comment that "as big as you are, you must be carrying twins or a very big boy." Excuse me? I'm not all that big...but my petite frame apparently makes me look exceptionally large at the moment...to some people. But really, who says that to someone??

Two weeks left of my last Masters class, then I just have the final exam that covers the entire program. I'm so ready for grad school to be done! I also am in the final stretch of Squadron Officer School, and after I take that final test, SOS will be taken care of as well - all before Baby B makes his/her grand appearance!

The next doctor's appointment is 22 March, and the big ultrasound where we will hopefully find out Baby B's gender is 9 April. We're so excited!

Already at 4.5 months...I feel like this pregnancy is going to be over with before I know it - and I want to be able to take time to savor the miracle of what is happening!

Finally...an update...and we're going to have a baby!

I haven't updated this blog since May, which is really a bad thing...but there is a lot to catch up on!

2009 ended up being a banner year in a lot of ways. Among many things, I completed my first half-marathon and marathon in September, and Nathan and I found out Christmas Eve that we are pregnant!!!

The pregnancy came as a shock at first. We'd been trying for a long time to conceive, but the fact that we only see each other on the weekends, due to work issues, made things difficult. Then I got tagged for a deployment. As soon as I was notified about the deployment, I went home and took a pregnancy test, but it was negative. I didn't know it then, but I was already pregnant...just not far enough along to register on a home pregnancy test.

Nathan and I were at Christmas Eve Mass, and I cried through the entire thing, but I could not explain for the life of me why I was crying! Nathan looked at me and said, "Honey, Hark the Herald Angels Sing is not supposed to make you cry. I think you're pregnant." My response was that I couldn't be pregnant - I was deploying! (Like that is some kind of fertility shield...hahaha.) On the way home, he pulled into CVS and picked up a pregnancy test. We got home and I rolled my eyes as I agreed to take the test, convinced that Nate was crazy and I was just emotional. Well..."emotional" isn't quite how I would put my response to seeing two lines on both of the tests! I went into full-blown hysterics.

Despite the fact that we'd wanted a baby for a very long time, I had geared myself up to deploy, and all I could think was "everyone is going to be so mad at me!". I didn't want to be one of those women who everyone thinks got pregnant to get out of a deployment. But my chain of command knew that Nathan and I had been trying to get pregnant for awhile, and everyone was very, very supportive (and continue to be).

Thankfully, I have not had to deal with morning sickness. There is a constant sense of low-grade nausea, but nothing like what many of my friends have experienced. The toughest thing is actually the insomnia. I've never had a difficult time sleeping, until now. Some say this will get better, others just say it is practice for things to come!

All in all, I have no complaints. Every "trial" that comes with pregnancy is a reminder of the life that God is knitting together within my womb, and it makes the tough parts easier to bear. It is a special blessing as well to know that Libby is pregnant at the same time - only four days apart with our due dates! Only God could plan that one out!

There will be many more updates soon...and if anyone has advice, bring it! :)