Growing a Person

I love the phrase "growing a person," coined by my sister-in-law, Amy.
It's so literal.

Saying "I'm pregnant" brings up a lot of negative connotations and it still makes me feel like I'm in high school and my mom is going to kick me out of the house when she finds out.

Saying "I'm expecting" is too vague and makes it seem like nothing is currently happening... when in reality... a lot is happening in there. More than I can even wrap my mind around at times. (Cue hormonal crying...)
And then there's the old phrase which my Mom whipped out the other day, "I'm in a family way." Did people actually used to say that?

Finding out I'm having a baby was one of the most insanely indescribable moments in my life. I could not comprehend what was happening or how I felt about it.

I wasn't overjoyed, but I wasn't mad or sad either... and then I started laughing. It was the oddest mix of emotions. I mean, we weren't that shocked. We clearly know how babies are made. But I was still in disbelief for a long time.
Mainly because I didn't feel any terrible symptoms that most pregnant women tell horror stories about. I just felt slightly...  different.

If I hadn't seen those 2 pink lines on 5 (yes, 5) pregnancy tests, I probably would have just thought I wasn't eating right or coming down with a cold.

After letting it all sink in, we both feel extremely blessed and delighted at this new life we've created. Life is precious, and we're doing all we can to protect it & give it the best environment possible (hence the move into a house).

The best part was not telling people... and I am usually the worst secret-keeper.

My husband and I had this awesome, mind-blowing secret that we would whisper about when we were together. We'd be out at the bar and I'd covertly order just a cranberry juice and everyone else thought I was getting wasted on cranberry juice & vodkas all night. We'd just give each other this "look" and then carry on keeping our secret and acting like everything was normal.

I've gotta admit, lying to people was pretty fun!

Now our secret is out, which is also pretty exciting and a bit of a relief.

We're ready to be bombarded with questions & advice for the next 6 months.

(However, if you have any terrible birth stories up your sleeve, I'd honestly rather not hear about them.  Obviously things can go wrong, but I don't want the thought of them to weigh me down for the next 2 trimesters. Thank you kindly!)


[What our little one is up to right now]



Here are a few tid bits about our human being in-utero
and his/her anxious parents:

- I'm currently 13 weeks pregnant & our date date is November 7th, 2011.

- We're seeing a certified nurse midwife for prenatal care and planning on delivering at the Bryn Mawr Birth Center with the assistance of certified nurse midwives and no pain meds available. (Am I insane? Maybe. Don't bother trying to change my mind, it's already made up. I think.)

- I've had a range of mild pregnancy symptoms during the first 3 months, but nothing to complain about. I consider myself very lucky.

- According to the Chinese Birth Chart, we're having a boy (it's pretty accurate, but not 100%). A boy would be awesome, but so would a girl!

- We'll have a 10-year-old by the time we're 37 (and probably a sibling or 2!)

- Fact: you can get pregnant the first try (or even if you're not trying).
- We're not getting a minivan... ever. (Honda Pilot, holla!)

- I've been running & refereeing lacrosse for the past 3 years and plan on doing so through the summer. Got the official OK on that from our midwife and exercising makes me feel AMAZING.

- Aside from my husband, Jackie Giordano & Devon Wisneski were the first to know. P.S. It's your turn, ladies ;-)

- This will be the first grandchild for Tim's parents and lucky number 7 for mine.

- Only Tim and I can tell that I'm showing. It's the first time I've ever had a gut. I have to unbutton my pants when I sit down. It's weird.
- We'll only be getting 1 ultrasound at 20 weeks and yes, we're finding out the gender, if possible.

- We have a few names in mind, gotta keep something a secret though!

I could go on & on... but that is the essential information you're probably wondering about. And maybe you don't care... that's fine. I really didn't care about pregnancy & babies until my nieces started being born. I still look at children I don't know with a disgusted look on my face, but that doesn't worry me. I'm ready for my clothes, furniture, sleep habits & social life to be completely wrecked by my sweet little babe.

Brrrrrring it, motherhood!