So by this point- the news is public. There is a little Fergie on the way- to make his or her grand entrance on or around May 5, 2012.
It is becoming a little less shocking to see those words. As my stomach has recently grown into what several people have {not so sensitively} referred to as a "pooch", I have begun realizing that this is really real!
Around the 25th of August, I began to have some suspicions. I waited until the morning of Saturday the 27th, after Dillon had left the house to take his ordination exams in Ft. Worth, to head to Walmart and pick up the ever famous pregnancy test- along with a pink bow and a blue bow and 2 pacifiers in case my feelings proved true {I had an idea forming in my head at this point}. I took the test as soon as I got home, and almost immediately saw my confirmation in the form of a + sign.
I sprang into action. I had always envisioned doing something special to announce a baby on the way - I think this stems from the Full House episode where Aunt Becky makes a baby-themed dinner (baby corn, baby back ribs, etc) to tell Uncle Jessie she is pregnant. Anyhow- I had a little bit of time to put something together.
Dillon got home around lunchtime. As he walked in the door, I clicked 'play' on I-tunes and 'With Arms Wide Open' filled the house. Polly and Penny greeted him proudly- in their pink and blue bows and pacifiers! I was watching all this unfold from behind the couch- I am not quite sure why I was hiding looking back now that was a little strange. Dillon pretty much knew right away what it all meant and couldn't stop smiling. Anyhow- it was a really fun moment- cheesy yes, with Creed playing in the background, but obviously a day we will never forget!
So at that point I was only 4 weeks and 1 day! We actually had to wait 4 more weeks before we saw our physician. During those 4 weeks we told only a very few close friends. We talked and prayed for the child and the days seemed to drag by as we waited for the 8 week appointment. I was busy with cheer-leading, got rear-ended one day on the way to work, and had lots of fatigue but otherwise had no nausea or vomiting praise the Lord!
Finally September 23rd rolled around. Dillon picked me up early from work and we drove nervously downtown. We waited an hour before getting called back. At this point all I wanted was to see the little baby on the screen because honestly it is hard to believe you have a little human growing inside you - that is until you actually see it.
So right away our doctor got the equipment ready and all of a sudden the screen was filled with a little "blob" and in the center of it was a bright pulsing flicker- I knew right away it was the heart and it was amazing! I think that is the moment that I got really excited about everything.
Then came the hard part of deciding when/how to tell our family and friends. We knew we wanted to tell our families in person so that meant we had to wait until week 10. I told my sister on Skype at week 9 and that was fun- because she was completely surprised. All of her friends in the Middle East finally think we are normal since the first thing they do when they get married is start having kids haha. We had Dillon's dad over for dinner and Dillon started off by saying "I hope you will be around in May with everything going on, you know with my graduation, maybe a new job, the baby coming..." His mouth popped open and he gave us big hugs before quickly calling Brenda to share the news. Justin and Tasha were thrilled as they have been ready for their kids to have some cousins! We told my parents the next weekend by giving them a blue frame that says "A Miracle Waiting To Be Seen" with the sono pic. My mom didn't have her glasses on so she didn't get it at first but my dad did and they were both really surprised and started telling strangers at dinner the exciting news. We saw more family the next day in Lubbock and told Mollie and my grandparents.
Since then- time has been flying. I still haven't had any nausea. My appetite waned for a bit between weeks 6-12 but its back and food has never tasted better! My desire to cook however is rapidly diminishing- I still only cook about twice a week. Many evenings I get home and all I want to do is plop down on the couch until bedtime, and often I am able to convince Dillon to rub my back =).
Above all - this has been a fun journey. I lie awake at night thinking of names, and dreaming of how life is about to change. I pray for the child, knowing the blessing that it truly is. I am thankful for family that I know will help us raise it and while I have many fears about my body changing, and my inadequacies, I still feel ready and joyful to begin this next stage of life with Dillon!
Here is my 14 week picture in which the pooch is clearly present:
