Breaking the News

We found out we were pregnant about a week before we went home for Christmas. I wish I had a really cute story for how I told Mitchell but I don't. I had taken the test about 30 minutes before he got home from work just in case it was negative, I didn't want him to get all hyped up. When he got home we FaceTimed with his parents because it was his dad's birthday. Once we hung up, I said, "sooo I have something to show you" and pulled out my phone with a picture of the positive test. We just kinda looked at each other and laughed. I mean, what do you say? It's finally real. The real deal. :)

We decided we would tell our families while we were home, even though it was early, so that we could tell them in person. I had an idea (not Pinterest inspired) to buy newborn onesies and paint "Baby Martin August 2013" on it, wrap it as a gift and let them open in on Christmas morning. Mitchell wanted to tell his family by buying a Baby frame and inserting a sign for the picture that said, "Insert first photo with Grandma here" and wrap it as a Christmas gift for his mother to open. Alright, we're set.

I went home two days before Mitchell and the first night at home my mom offered me a glass of wine, which I refused nonchalantly, claiming I was dehydrated from flying. She immediately asked if I was pregnant. Cue the lie, "No, I'm not pregnant!". Oops! So I knew there was no way I was going to be able to play it off until Christmas morning. The night that Mitchell flew into Houston I gave my dad an early Christmas gift at the dinner table. He opened it and stared blank faced at the onesie while it sunk in, haha. And then there was much cheering, laughing and hugging. The news slowly spread through the family as my immediate family is huge and not everyone could be there that night.

Excited grandparents to be! Has it sunk in yet?

Auntie Liddy - she was the first to find out

We drove into Longview, where Mitchell's parents live on Christmas Eve. On Christmas morning we all gathered 'round the tree to open gifts. I pretended to be taking pics of everyone opening gifts so that I could get some candid shots of Betsy opening her frame. Classic! There was cheering, laughing and hugging then as well.

Are you serious? face

Yay! A baby!

Katy and Greg realizing what we're telling them!

Greg got to open a onesie too

Excited grandparents-to-be

Telling everyone else was a slow process. Most people didn't know until we went to the doctor for the first time at 8 weeks and got to see our little teddy graham/gummy bear and hear that all looked well. Mitchell was really good at calling people but since I was in the throes of nausea by then, most people got emails or texts. (embarrassed face)

Once the second trimester began, I was finally feeling better and was ready to go FBO (Facebook official).

I can't adequately express how much everyone's excitement and encouragement means to us. It makes it more real and it calms those little fears that creep up. When people who have kids are really excited for you, it reassures that having kids is a good thing. Thank you everyone for your love and support! It means the world.

On being pregnant

Photo creds: Ashlyn Seifert

Today marks the beginning of the second trimester and it is so warmly welcomed! 14 weeks! Hurray!

Everybody's body is different and you don't know how you're going to handle the first trimester. Some are lucky and have no morning sickness (which really lasts all day) and some have it so bad they're hospitalized because they can't keep anything down. I wasn't anywhere close to being hospitalized but I was pretty sick for about 6 weeks, which is a long freakin' time. I was a couch potato. Literally. I laid on the couch and ate carbs because they were the only thing that consistently went down easily. I was stuck between a rock and a hard place because laying on the couch all day isn't fun but when I would go out and try to do something I was miserable and wanted to be back on the couch. Sighhhh, that's why I'm so excited to be feeling better and like a normal human being! But those of you ladies who want to have kids at some point, don't be discouraged. You never know how you're body is going to handle it! Plus I hear it's worth it in the end. ;)

So here are the answers to the common questions I get...
NO, it was not a surprise. Awkward question to be asked anyway. I wholeheartedly believe God gives people a baby when God wants you to have a baby, whether that's a month after being ready, or one year, or four years. We are so not in control.
YES, we are going to find out the sex of the baby. That will happen at the beginning of April because our doctor doesn't do it until 20 weeks and I'm okay with waiting until then. It's like a halfway through reward.
YES, we are staying in California. Remember, this isn't a permanent move and we would love to be back in Texas eventually but only once we feel like our time here is done.
NO, we don't have a name yet but I'm pretty sure that once we do, it'll be a secret between the two of us until she/he arrives.

Mitchell and I are so excited about this new phase of life we are about to begin. We have cherished the time we've had together just the two of us and are making the most of Sunday afternoon naps, sleeping in, only taking care of two adults, no diapers and sleeping through the night. :) I thank God that I have a loving spouse to go through this with who has already selflessly served our family.

Coming soon: a blog about breaking the news to our family!

Northeast mini-vacay?

Last weekend we took a little unexpected semi-vacation to the east coast. Mitchell had a work conference in Baltimore on Monday and Tuesday of this week so we decided to make a trip out of it. We left on Friday and flew to Philadelphia to spend a day with his sister. Sunday we took a Greyhound bus and Amtrak down to Washington D.C. to see all the important stuff there in one day. Then back to Baltimore for his conference. Wowza!

I have learned that I do NOT enjoy flying for over two hours at a time. I am one of those people who can not sit or lay in the same position for very long so being confined to a tiny plane seat for long periods of time is torturous. 

When we got to Philly it was COLD. Like a high of 30 cold. And it froze the night before so we were slipping and sliding as we tried to walk around on the sidewalks. Nevertheless, we had a lot of fun hanging out with Katy and her roommates. Shame on me for not getting any pictures. Shame. on me.

Mitchell and I both had our first experience riding a Greyhound bus for the two hours between Philly and Baltimore (to drop off our luggage). I have to say, it wasn't a bad experience. It was quiet, clean and we had a good driver. 

We took the Amtrak down to D.C. which was Mitchell's first train ride. I REALLY think Texas needs to build a train that runs from Dallas/Fort Worth down to Houston, over to Austin and then down to San Antonio. How neat would that be?

Train ride

The pictures will tell the story of our time in D.C. better than my words...

This picture is what happens when you ask a young person to take a photo for you... lots of ground, crooked and chop off the top of the dome. Awesome.

So I found someone with a DSLR with some photo sense to take another one.

Stopping off at the Smithsonian's Air & Space Museum for my inquisitive husband to gawk at all the airplanes and space mobiles. Btw, ALL the Smithsonian museums are FREE!

Forrest!! Jenny?? JENNY!

The reflecting pond with the Lincoln Memorial in the background.

Making wishes and throwing some pennies into the reflecting pond. The Washington Monument is just to the left in this picture.

Lincoln Memorial, he's hiding in there.

He is legit. What a cool guy.

Anybody home? We're so close yet so far away from The White House.

A cop escorted motorcade. It didn't look like anyone fancy so Mitchell thinks they just do random motorcades in the city to keep people on their toes and used to it. 

So after walking who knows how many miles we took the train back to Baltimore and settled in to our hotel. Ahhhh....

On Monday Mitchell went to his conference and I had the entire day to keep myself entertained so I went over to the National Aquarium. When I walked up there were PUBLIC school buses parked outside with kids on a field trip. I know our Cy-Fairians may not be familiar with this but it's when the school district takes you outside of the classroom to learn in a different environment. Seriously, it makes me sad that my school district can't afford them anymore but I was glad to see some places still can. 

There's just something not normal and creepy about horseshoe crabs. If I ever stepped on one of those on the beach, I would probably never get back in.

Ever seen a saw shark before?

If I could be any animal...

 On Tuesday Mitchell got out of his conference at noon and we were really close to Camden Yards, where the Orioles play so we had to walk over and take some pics.

And then we were whisked off to the airport via a $42 cab ride (yikes!) and began our 6.5 hours of plane ride back to Sacramento! Yay!