We're PREGNANT!

If you are following me on Instagram, then you already know our exciting news: we are having a baby! I am currently 17 weeks pregnant with our first child. We are absolutely overjoyed and praise the Lord for this glorious gift.

Now that I'm in my second trimester, I'm starting to feel much better and ready to share the little details of my pregnancy thus far.

Weeks 3-5

On August 12, I took four pregnancy tests (how could you take just one?) and found out I was pregnant. I had suspected that I may be pregnant the week before when I randomly (at least, it seemed random) came down with flu-like symptoms for 24 hours. I remember feeling incredibly nauseous, my breasts were hurting and I had a lot of pain in my lower back. I ran a low-grade fever one night, but felt almost back to normal the very next day. I thought it was weird, but shrugged it off and decided it must have just been a 24 hour bug. I still can't say with absolutely certainty that it was pregnancy related, but I believe it was!

That weekend, I started spotting and again, just assumed it was my period coming on. I usually have light spotting before I get my period so nothing seemed out of the ordinary. However, my expected period date came and went with no period and no more spotting.

At 5 days past my missed period, I saw those two little lines on a pregnancy test. I was watching as the second line appeared almost instantly and there was no question that it was a positive result. Yet, I still took 3 more tests. 😉

I told my husband as soon as he got home from work and we celebrated that night with one of my favorite foods, PIZZA.

We told all our friends and family within the next 2-3 weeks and it was such a joyous time.

Weeks 6-13

As soon as week 6 hit, all those infamous pregnancy symptoms hit too. Morning sickness, extreme fatigue and absolutely zero energy. If I wasn't at work, I was on the couch.

I craved carbs, carbs and more carbs (still do). I've had quite a few everything bagels with cream cheese and CFA chicken biscuits. I also had to eat every 2-3 hours or else I'd get sick. In fact, most of the times that I vomited can be blamed on my forgetfulness to eat a snack. Oops!

I got to see our baby for the first time at 10 weeks and it was such a surreal moment. I've seen many ultrasound photos from friends and family, but nothing compares to seeing your own baby on that screen.

These past few months have caused me to remember my reliance upon the Lord. Before I got pregnant, I didn't know how overwhelming it would be to carry a child and realize how utterly incapable you are of keeping them safe. Of course I do what I can to make wise decisions for myself and for my child, but ultimately this is God's child. He is the one keeping and sustaining this little life, not me. I've had many moments of doubt, fear and worry that I must confess to God daily. But praise the Lord for His grace unto me! He remains faithful even when we falter.

I've clung to Psalm 139 during this season,

1 O Lord, you have searched me and known me! 2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. 3 You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. 4 Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. 5 You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.

7 Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! 9 If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 10 even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” 12 even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.

13 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you.

19 Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God! O men of blood, depart from me! 20 They speak against you with malicious intent; your enemies take your name in vain. 21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you? 22 I hate them with complete hatred; I count them my enemies.

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

I thank the Lord that I am now feeling so much better! I've gained a lot of my energy back and I'm so grateful for that.

In just a couple of weeks we will be finding out the gender of the baby and I can hardly wait! It's hard to believe that we're almost halfway there. Those days in the 1st trimester were long but the months have flown by: this must be preparing me for motherhood. It all goes by in a blink and I don't want to miss any of it.