Unexpected Side Effect (Blessings #25)

I have recently experienced an unusual, for me, side effect of pregnancy. The desire to NOT shop or spend money. At first, it was just because I didn't feel like shopping - too tired, nauseous, all those teeny baby clothes and the overwhelming desire to touch every one and knowing that our baby will not ever want for clothes because of two wonderful Grandmas (I know my Mom and Mother-in-law cannot resist buying wee clothes for the baby - and I fully support that - their job is to spoil the little jellybean). Now, it is the whole not wanting to spend money thing. The seed planted at the Women's Retreat I went to where I thought seriously about needs vs. wants. Now, I am being super frugal (for me). I bought a book called Baby Bargains that rates various baby items and tells you which is the best value (it is a great book - although I don't agree with everything it says about what you need and don't need). I have been researching and pricing things to find the best deals.

I think Chip is pleasantly surprised at this. I have been cooking more, spending less and generally not buying a lot of unnecessary items. Craigslist has become my friend for researching future baby items that we would like, but are better bought not new. I have some awesome friends who have gifted me with hand-me-downs. I have Judy - who gets an amazing discount at JCP so we will be able to get the baby furniture at a great price! (I found a sleigh-style crib, 3 drawer dresser that we will use as a changing table and dresser, conversion rails and 5 drawer dresser for less than $750 - seriously - awesome deal!)

I didn't expect this side effect. Case in point - JCP had a sale this weekend and we had a gift card from Judy - we bought two throw pillows. That is it. I also had a coupon for a free sample of mascara from Sephora in JCP and I only got the sample! Granted, I did want a body pillow to sleep with at night to help me be more comfortable and some black out shades for our bedroom because it is ten degrees hotter than our downstairs (dang west sun) - I need to get them online or ask Judy to order them for me. She is awesome like that! (and I know she reads this blog - I would write that even if she didn't read this)

So - this side effect. I hope it sticks. I think it will help me be a better wife and mother. Although I have to admit that this side effect has no effect on my love of cards and stationary. I can justify that though - my goal this year is to be more considerate, send more just because mail and I need to write thank yous. I am not sure if this will have any effect on when we have a baby - I think I may have a hard time resisting buying precious baby things. Then again - I am thinking I won't need to buy a thing (besides the basics) because of the aforementioned Grandmas and some awesome friends and their hand-me-downs.

Blessings

1. The shopping side effect
2. Zantac (great for heartburn and doctor approved during pregnancy)
3. Saltine crackers
4. Dum dum lollipops
5. My sweet husband

Nine Weeks (Blessings #24)

Today I am nine weeks. I am officially in my third month of pregnancy and am carrying around a grape-sized miracle. Today is also Chip's 31st birthday - Happy Birthday Honey! It's so crazy to think that, this time next year, we will have a five month old rascal on our hands. Crazy cool!

So far, being pregnant has been great! I definitely cannot wear my pants anymore. I am embracing the maternity pants and all things with stretch waistbands. Good thing I love skirts and dresses! I have been having some typical first trimester symptoms: morning sickness, nausea, heartburn and indigestion, fatigue, etc. I do cry at the silliest stuff too - commercials, anything involving a baby or children or animals. Ahh - hormones! I am enjoying being pregnant - the end result is 100% worth it.

My first PA OB appointment is next week (Thursday). YEA! It feels even more real now. I have also been slowly researching baby room stuff. Not ordering or anything - just researching for the best values for our precious one...

:::

I promised to write about the appointment where we first heard the heartbeat. It was magical! We were able to make the appointment for the day before we left for our family trip to Alaska. My Mom, Chip and I went in the room while my Dad stayed in the waiting room. The doctor was awesome! He talked about his cruise to Alaska and joked around with us. Then he said, "Do you see it?" I didn't know what it was and I didn't see it. Chip immediately did. He showed me the teeny light flickering on the screen. The doctor confirmed that we had one pregnancy and it was healthy. Dr. Doody thought this was better since it is healthier for the Mom and baby. I thought I would be sad, but I wasn't - I just felt a sense of joy. Utter and complete joy.

Then Dr. Doody turned on the volume. A quiet woosh-woosh sound filled the room. I looked at Chip and immediately started crying. It was our baby's heartbeat - a strong 115 bpm! A perfect and beautiful sound - music to my ears. Calm filled me - God has so had this under control and planned this very moment for us. Dr. Doody told us that the heartbeat would go up to the 149-160+ range by the next appointment. Dr. Doody then, just for fun, showed us the baby in 3D. It was the most precious little blob I have ever seen. Our little jellybean.

To be able to hear the heartbeat, with my husband, was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It is impossible to describe how amazing it was and still is. It was a moment that I will never forget. I am so thankful to God for this miracle He has bestowed on us. He is amazing and our baby will be perfect thanks to Him.

:::

Blessings

1. God's faithfulness
2. Amazing friends
3. Chip's birthday
4. Being married to someone who will be such an incredible Daddy
5. Everything... even heartburn

8 Weeks Down, 32 To Go (Blessings #23)

I know I have a lot to write about in regards to the cruise and stuff. I wanted to give a quick baby update.

We had a 6 week appointment that was magical a couple of weeks ago, but I need time to write that one down, since Chip was there and that was when we heard the heartbeat for the first time.

I went to the Texas doctor yesterday for my 8 week appointment. The heartbeat was awesome at 167 bpm (beats per minute), the baby measured 8w1d in size (definitely a Frohling - I was only 7w6d at the appointment) and the doctor did a 3D of the baby! WOW! The baby has elbows and knees and joints. It is the most perfect baby I have ever seen. Dr. Doody told me everything looked great and to keep doing what I'm doing. YEA! Our little jellybean is already an overachiever and impressing doctors. :)

I go back to Texas for my last appointment with Dr. Doody on June 19th. I made an appointment today with a regular OB, whom I have heard great things about, for June 4th at 7:30 a.m. (so early but worth it). I am excited - that means I have an appointment at 10 weeks and at 12 weeks. This first trimester is going by so fast!

So - given the heartbeat - what do you think? Boy or girl?

Blessings

1. One perfect baby
2. Perfect heartbeat
3. Seabands
4. Sprite & crackers
5. A loving husband

We Made It and It's Begun (Blessings #22)

We made it! I will be six weeks tomorrow!! I've never made it this far and it's my own personal goal that when we passed the 5 and a half week mark that everything would be okay. God has given me extreme peace and comfort. It's a great feeling to truly enjoy being pregnant!

So this morning I woke up, brushed my teeth and proceeded to huddle over the toilet dry heaving. UGH! I went back to bed and begged my tummy to settle. It didn't, so I had some ginger ale and peanut butter crackers. Much better! I'm thankful for this symptom, even if it is not the most fun symptom - it gives me conformation that everything is going as it should. Plus, huge sympathy factor. hehe My big boss was sweet and got a Coke for me out of his vehicle when I was feeling queasy again this afternoon. Very nice!

Blessings

1. Morning sickness
2. Peanut butter
3. Ginger ale
4. Sweet coworkers
5. God's faithfulness

Babies Babies Everywhere (Blessings #21)

It seems like so many of my friends are pregnant right now. This is very exciting to know I will have munchkins at the same time as some of our friends. However, it does make my heart ache for some of my other friends who are where we were - on the roller coaster of wanting to be pregnant and not being pregnant... It breaks my heart for them. I have faith that they will get pregnant and God will answer their prayers as He answered ours.

Congratulations to our friends B&I who are expecting, as well as L&M and E&C. I am using initials because I don't want to be the one who spreads the news... I am so happy for all of them!

This weekend we went to Chuck E. Cheese with a friend and his daughter & daughter's mommy, went house hunting (found a couple of possibilities), enjoyed junk food (my tummy does not appreciate it), had lunch with a friend and enjoyed a quiet weekend of lots of time with just us. I needed that! We bought a carpet cleaner and Chip cleaned the carpets. The smell was getting to me and wow - the carpets are so clean now! The stuff that got sucked out of the carpet -EWWW!!!! Thank you, Chip, for doing that!

Other than that - we are just doing laundry so we can pack for our cruise. I am super excited for our appointment on Friday - just a few more days!! YEA! It will be nice to relax and do nothing (wait - I have been doing that anyway...)

Blessings

1. So many friends and so many precious babies
2. Gorgeous weekend weather
3. Clean carpets
4. Sweet husband
5. Lunch with Lindsay