An “Almost” Mom on Mother’s Day

How did you find out you were pregnant? When is the baby due? Was your pregnancy a surprise? 

The pregnancy was definitely a surprise!  A good surprise, but indeed a surprise!

My husband and I had planned to start trying in the late summer.  Before then I had a “Baby Bucket List” of things I wanted to do – last hooray in Vegas, trip to Hawaii.  We booked our trip to Hawaii and the next more a thought hit me – what if I was pregnant already!  Hawaii – cocktails on the beach, scuba diving, cocktails by the pool – and pregnancy wasn’t what I had in mind!

After dropping off my husband at the airport, I stopped at our local pharmacy to buy a test – just to be sure!   I went home, took the test and sure enough – no cocktails for me in Hawaii!  I was in shock!  Happy, but shocked!  Remember, I said we were planning to try in late summer, not late winter!

We are happily due the day AFTER Thanksgiving – November 23.

How did you tell your husband?

Since he wasn’t home that week and I’m awful at keeping a secret, I let him know over the phone.  He’s an engineer (so that means he’s very techy)…so of course, I texted him a picture of the test and asked “Do you see two lines?   I do!”

I was still in shock and he was thrilled – ready to jump online to start ordering all of the “equipment” we’ll need for baby!

Have you experienced any nausea thus far in your pregnancy? Any symptoms?  How about any food cravings?

 I’ve just entered my second trimester – and haven’t had any obvious food cravings yet.  Some avoidance – the thought of chicken (grilled, baked, in soup, on a sandwich) makes me queasy.  I have found I enjoy whip cream – I don’t remember ever being a big whip cream lover – always ordered by Starbucks without whip – but now, I’m all about whip cream!  I’ve found it is a perfect pairing with frozen blueberries! YUM!

Other symptoms – it’s been easy I guess.  I get nauseous between meals, but after I get something in my belly, I feel much better.  I’ve been tired – I think that’s the biggest thing.  Before I got pregnant I would go to bed and read for about a half hour.  Now, as I lay in bed, I get through half a page and pass out.

What are you doing to prepare for the baby’s arrival? Are you going to find out if it is a girl or a boy?

Our “preparation” so far has been minimal.  I’m trying to eat well – fruits, milk, vegetables.  I went cold turkey on giving up caffine!  That was AWFUL!  The worst I’ve felt in the pregnancy so far was the first week I found out – as that same day I cut out coffed – and I was a COFFEE DRINKER in all caps!  And wine – no more wine with dinner.  We live in the bay area of California – close to Napa and the central coast – so our access to wine tasting was something we enjoyed…a lot.  I tried the non-alcoholic wines…yuck.  I’d rather drink grape juice.

Absolutely we are going to find out if it is a girl or a boy!  I don’t understand how others can “prepare” if they don’t know what they are having!  I get that it’s the biggest surprise of your life…but at the ultrasound when you find out, aren’t you still surprised?

What do you look forward the most? 

Hmm – I guess you could mean that in a few ways.  What do I look forward to as a mom or in the pregnancy?  Since I’m still in a bit of shock (I’m not showing, so it’s hard to remember I’m pregnant sometimes), I’d say I’m most looking forward to feeling my baby kick.  I’m totally into the science fiction part of a person growing inside of me.  It’s crazy and amazing.  I look forward to that first kick the most.

What has been your biggest challenge thus far in your pregnancy?

My biggest challenge – keeping it a secret at work!  Some have their suspicions, but only by boss and one other colleague know that I am pregnant.  I think I’ll let the “kitten” out of the bag soon.  Although it has been a challenge to keep it to myself (as I love to share gossip), it’s also nice to have it as my personal secret.  It’s something very special that only I and a few special people know about.

Do you think your husband is going to get you a Mother’s Day present this year?

Oh yes!! I think this year it won’t be a real present for me though.  He’s been itching to buy for the baby – so I’m sure he’ll get me something that we’ll use for the baby.  In fact, for Mother’s Day, we’ve sent his mom a collapsible crib type of thing and a baby blanket that says “Grandma loves me”.  His parents live a few hours away, so we thought they’d need some “equipment” there too!

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