Our Unforgettable Journey to Parenthood: A First Trimester Reflection

Thank you all for the incredible outpouring of love and support following our exciting pregnancy announcement! Shawn and I are truly overwhelmed by your kindness. It brings us so much joy to finally share this wonderful news, especially knowing our baby is healthy and thriving. Surrounded by such amazing people, this little one is already so cherished and deeply loved.

For the past three months, it has felt a little like holding a wonderful secret, so now we’re thrilled to share every detail of our journey with you!

A Long-Awaited Chapter: Planning for Our Baby

Like many significant milestones in my life, this baby was meticulously planned. In fact, it was a plan that spanned over two years. Shawn and I tied the knot in September 2012, and we were eager to fully embrace our newlywed life. We initially thought two years would be an ideal period before starting to try for a family. However, with the launch of our videography business in late 2013, we made the strategic decision to navigate one full wedding season in 2014 first.

Our goal was to welcome our baby during the wedding off-season, ideally in January, February, or March. This timing would allow me ample time away from the demands of filming before needing to be on my feet for an entire day at a wedding. It felt like the perfect window – post-holidays and before the busy wedding schedule resumed in June. Consequently, we decided to begin trying in April 2015, anticipating it might take a few months. This timing proved to be even more serendipitous as Shawn secured a new job at the end of March, providing us with exceptional health coverage for our growing family. Everything aligned perfectly.

Before we started trying, two of my closest friends had already embarked on their own fertility journeys, both experiencing months of trying before conceiving. They advised me to be prepared for it not happening immediately, urging me to relax and avoid stress. Their words were well-intended, but as fate would have it, our experience took a remarkably different turn.

The Unexpected Blessing: A Positive Pregnancy Test

To our complete surprise, we conceived on the very first try. I understand and deeply appreciate how incredibly fortunate we are to say this. Even from that single month of trying, I cannot begin to imagine the emotional toll and disappointment of trying to get pregnant month after month without a positive result. My heart goes out to all who face such challenges.

Early Whispers of Life: First Symptoms

About a week after we began trying, I started noticing subtle changes. I felt occasional cramping and an unusual wave of tiredness and laziness. I wondered if these were genuine early pregnancy symptoms, or if my mind was simply playing tricks on me, interpreting every sensation as a sign. I repeatedly asked my mom if she recalled similar symptoms during her first pregnancy, but after 29 years, her memory was a little fuzzy. Despite her uncertainty, both she and my sister had a strong feeling that I was pregnant.

The Moment of Truth: Taking the Test

I decided to take a pregnancy test four days before my missed period. It was a Sunday, ensuring both Shawn and I would be off work. The entire weekend leading up to it was filled with an almost unbearable anticipation. That Saturday, we attended a baby shower for one of my closest friends, who was six months along. While there, another dear friend also shared her exciting news – she was nine weeks pregnant! My girlfriends knew we were trying, and I confided in them that I planned to take a test the following day. Their news and company provided a welcome distraction.

The night before, sleep was elusive. My mind buzzed with excitement, eagerly awaiting morning to arrive and take the test.

My eyes sprang open at 5:30 AM. It felt exactly like Christmas morning when you’re a child, bursting with pure excitement. I gently woke Shawn, whispering, “It’s morning!” I encouraged him to get dressed and brush his teeth, knowing it would help shake off any grogginess. I wanted him fully awake and present for this momentous occasion. But he was just as excited as I was and quickly awoke.

I took the test, then cautiously placed it face down on the living room table. Then we sat on the couch, enduring the agonizing three-minute wait to check the results. We were a whirlwind of nerves and excitement. I can barely recall what we talked about during those precious minutes. Could I really be pregnant?

I wanted Shawn to be the one to read the results and tell me. I felt that if it was negative, it would be easier to hear from him, and if it was positive, hearing it from him would make the moment a million times more special.

He picked up the test, stared at it intently, then immediately flipped it over, realizing it was upside down. I reminded him he was looking for two lines – two lines meant pregnant.

He gasped, looked up at me with wide eyes, and exclaimed, “You are! You’re pregnant!”

Tears immediately streamed down my face. I had to see the test for myself. He was right – two very strong pink lines. We embraced, we kissed, and we cried tears of overwhelming joy. I repeatedly whispered, “I can’t believe it! I just can’t believe it! I’m so happy!”

Spreading the Joy: Sharing Our News

By this time, it was almost 6 AM. The sun was beginning to rise, and our entire world had irrevocably changed. Filled with adrenaline, we weren’t sure what to do with ourselves. I asked Shawn if he wanted to go for a walk in the hills. He readily agreed, so we quickly slipped on our shoes and headed out the door. We enjoyed a long, leisurely walk, talking non-stop. I still couldn’t fathom how quickly we had conceived. Through tears of happiness, I told Shawn, “It’s because the baby was so excited to meet us. It’s been waiting to join our family!”

The Family Announcement

After our walk, I absolutely couldn’t wait another minute to tell my parents, sister, and her husband. It was perhaps 7 AM. I started calling my sister repeatedly, but there was no answer. So, I then persistently called her husband, Ken, who also didn’t answer. Finally, they called me back. I excitedly asked if they wanted to go out for breakfast. Nicole agreed, mentioning they had stayed at my parents’ house, so we should meet them there. Perfect! We immediately headed over, pregnancy test in hand, eager to share our wonderful news. Everyone was gathered in the kitchen when we arrived. I walked in, unable to contain my excitement any longer. “Shawn and I have some really good news! We’re having a baby!”

The room erupted in screams, hugs, and happy tears. It was the most incredible reaction imaginable, a moment I will never forget. We all then went to breakfast together, where they playfully teased me, insisting I needed to finish my entire plate because I was now “eating for two.”

Shawn and I headed home, already quite exhausted from our emotionally charged morning, and it was only 10 AM! All I wanted was to relax on the couch and watch TV together. But first, I had to share the news with my four closest girlfriends. I sent them a picture of the five of us that we had taken at the baby shower the day before, with the caption: “Was so great seeing all of you yesterday! I love this picture we took! Especially since there are 8 people in it…”

They were all ecstatic and equally disbelieving! It’s been incredibly fun and helpful to have one girlfriend five months ahead of me and another just five weeks ahead. Their experiences have been a lifesaver, allowing me to check in, ensure everything I’m experiencing is normal, and know what to expect.

Navigating the First Trimester: Worries and Wonders

Almost immediately after sharing our good news with my girlfriends, a new wave of emotion swept over me: small worries that something might happen to the baby. I am inherently not a worrier; I actively refuse to dwell on negative thoughts because I dislike that feeling. My usual disposition is to assume everything will be just fine. So, it genuinely caught me off guard to feel both utterly ecstatic and deeply terrified at the same time. All I truly wanted was a healthy baby. My mother never experienced a miscarriage, nor have any of my close friends, but I believe from reading countless blogs, I had come across too many stories of lost pregnancies. I made a conscious effort to maintain a positive attitude and push those thoughts away, but they lingered persistently in the back of my mind.

Shawn, ever the supportive partner, continually reassured me that everything would be fine. He lovingly suggested that this newfound worry simply demonstrated I was going to be a wonderful mother, as the health of our baby was indeed a valid concern. (Isn’t he truly the best?) This slight undercurrent of fear made it remarkably easy to keep our pregnancy news hush-hush, and we mutually decided not to share it with anyone else until after the crucial 12-week mark.

I eagerly counted down the days until we hit the 12-week milestone, which fell on June 24th, just one day before Shawn’s birthday. Each week, I’d tell myself: “Just 8 more weeks. Just 7 more weeks. Just 6 more weeks. Just 5 more weeks.” With every passing week, my anxieties gradually lessened.

Milestones and Reassurance: Our Ultrasounds

At our 9-week appointment, we had our first incredible glimpse of the baby. It was an amazing experience! I was so relieved and happy to see a healthy, strong little heartbeat. The baby was even moving around and waving its tiny arms! My doctor reassured us that after seeing a healthy heartbeat, the chance of miscarriage drops to less than 1%. Finally, I felt a profound sense of relief and could truly relax!

However, the very next day, I read a heartbreaking post about a woman whose baby tragically lost its heartbeat between weeks 9 and 11. My newfound calm was immediately shaken. So, I couldn’t *fully* relax until our 13-week appointment, where we would have another ultrasound to confirm the baby’s heartbeat and receive an assessment for any potential health risks.

Last Wednesday, we attended our 13-week appointment, and the wonderful news is that our baby is healthy and strong! There was no risk for Down syndrome, and the baby was even measuring a full week larger than expected for a 13-week pregnancy. This delightful surprise shifted my due date from January 6th to December 29th, essentially moving me forward a whole week in my pregnancy! Shawn and I were overjoyed to confirm a healthy baby and celebrated with a special pizza date afterward. It was extra special because I was finally able to eat and truly enjoy the pizza, a significant improvement from previous weeks.

The Reality of Morning Sickness

Which brings me to the often-discussed topic of morning sickness. I definitely experienced it, but it was vastly different from my preconceived notions. Based on movies, it often appears as if you’re going about your day normally, then suddenly and dramatically, you experience an episode of sickness. And the name itself implies it’s confined to the morning. For me, however, it wasn’t like that at all. It was more of an all-day queasy sensation, not the intense sickness of a hangover, but rather a persistent feeling akin to motion sickness.

My morning sickness didn’t kick in until about week 7. So, for an entire month after we discovered I was pregnant, I felt fantastic! My primary symptoms were extreme tiredness (oh, so very, very tired) and incredibly sore breasts. I could eat and cook everything without issue. Then, it gradually began. Initially, I developed a strong aversion to certain foods, especially meat. The mere smell of meat would make me nauseous, let alone the thought of eating it. Soon, a general nausea set in, followed by throwing up after breakfast and lunch. Weeks 7-9 were particularly challenging, then it eased slightly but remained pretty bad from weeks 9-12.

Thankfully, I’m quite efficient at throwing up, so I didn’t find it completely horrendous. Before pregnancy, if I ever felt unwell, I would preemptively induce vomiting to get it over with immediately. Unlike Shawn, who might complain about feeling sick for three hours before finally throwing up, I prefer to get it done quickly. This habit proved incredibly useful during morning sickness. I’d feel queasy, calmly head to the bathroom, and be done with it. I was still able to go to work (where I’d try to be as quiet as possible in the single office bathroom) and film weddings (though I did throw up at every single one during the first trimester). The silver lining was that after vomiting, I would generally feel fine and could resume my day.

Beyond the nausea, I was also profoundly tired and incredibly lazy. For an entire month, cooking dinner became a rare occurrence, which meant Shawn often relied on takeout or grilled meals for himself. Similarly, cleaning and laundry took a backseat. I would come home, collapse on the couch, eat simple foods like toast, cereal, or fruit, and be in bed by 7:30 PM.

Shawn: My Rock and My Greatest Support

I must take a moment to express how absolutely amazing Shawn has been throughout this entire experience. While I was feeling unwell, he took on virtually all household responsibilities: all the cleaning, all the laundry, cooking for himself, all the gardening, and caring for our chickens. He handled everything, and he never once complained. He was constantly checking on me, calling me multiple times throughout the day just to see how I was feeling and to let me know he was thinking of me. When I arrived home, his first question was always, “Can I get you anything?” – truly the best question a husband can ask. If he noticed my water glass was nearly empty, he would immediately get up and refill it. He consistently tells me how beautiful I look, making me feel incredibly pretty, even though I know for a fact I’ve definitely looked better.

At weddings, he was especially concerned for my well-being, often urging me to take a break, sit down, drink water, and eat a granola bar. Usually, when I come home, he greets me with “Hi baby!”, pronouncing it with two distinct syllables: “bay-BEEEE.” But now, his greeting has evolved to “Hi baby! Hi momma!” followed by a kiss for me and a tender kiss for my belly. I could cry just thinking about how wonderful he is. I have no doubt he will be the most incredible dad and an exceptional co-parent to our little one. I truly feel like I won the lottery when he asked me to be his girlfriend at just 16 years old.

Looking Ahead: Feeling Like Myself Again

So now, here we are! I am 15 weeks pregnant, and I’m finally starting to feel like my old self again. I can eat anything I want, my energy levels have returned, and we can finally openly share our exciting news with everyone. There’s even the tiniest little bump making its appearance. Shawn and I are simply overflowing with happiness. This truly is such a fun and exciting chapter in our lives.

What other questions might you have? Oh, yes, of course, we will be finding out the baby’s gender! We both lean towards thinking it’s a boy, but then sometimes I ponder if it might be a girl. I keep going back and forth, but I’m actively trying not to form too strong a picture of either gender, patiently waiting until we officially find out. Our gender reveal will happen at our 20-week appointment during the second week of August. I briefly considered waiting until the baby’s birth to discover the gender, but there’s no way we could possibly wait that long! Even now, I’m not sure how we’re going to endure another five weeks of anticipation.

No, we don’t have a name yet. We have compiled a lengthy list of possible names, but we’ve decided to wait until we meet our baby before making that final, special choice.

Well, this reflection has turned into quite a comprehensive account of our early pregnancy journey! I’ll be sharing smaller updates and check-ins during my regular Five Things for Fridays posts, and will likely provide more substantial updates at the end of the second and third trimesters.

Be sure to check back on Saturday, as I’ll be sharing a dedicated post detailing my essential first-trimester must-haves.

Thank you once again for sharing in our joy, dear friends! Sending big hugs to all of you!