Belly Pics Beginnings

We started taking the belly pictures the week after the positive test. So we thought I was 4-5 weeks but really I was 6 and 7 weeks when we took the first two.

 This is where we were thinking 4 weeks but really it was 6 weeks. Not much of a bump just left over pudge from an extended weekend of eating whatever I wanted at Ocracoke.

This was what we thought was going to be week 5 but really it was week 7. Also when we were still trying to figure out where/how to pose for these pictures. Do you wear the same outfit to see the difference better from week to week? Or just go with whatever you were in. Obviously new to this whole thing ;) 

Symptoms for this time period? Praise the Lord, not one ounce of morning sickness. The biggest difference I noticed was that my bras and bathing suit tops were no longer fitting appropriately. The other big thing is extreme fatigue. I am telling you, I have never been this tired in my entire life. There were several days I comptemplated taking a nap on my desk. I couldn't sit on the couch without passing out which is not super abnormal for me, but this is a totally different kind of tired. I guess growing a human will do that. 

Cravings? None yet. I have been able to keep up with my somewhat healthy eating habits (minus the Ocracoke splurge). If I don't eat ever few hours I get nauseous but that is not really new.

Fruit/Vegetable? At 6 weeks Baby Rice was as big as a sweet pea! At 7 weeks about the size of a blueberry.

What I miss? Wine and sushi. I haven't had the taste for coffee so that haseasy to get over. But, having a glass of wine after work is something I miss. All worth it though!

Looking forward to: not being so tired all the time and sharing it with friends. We are far from that since we are waiting to share it with more people until 12 weeks.

First OB Visit

On Friday, August 7th we went in for our first visit with the OB. This is where we would have an ultrasound, find out just how far along I was and get my estimated due date! Excited was an understatement because since the beginning we were just kind of guessing.

The appointmet was pretty routine...weight, blood pressure, pee in a cup...until we got to the room, the ultrasound machine was all set up and ready to show us our little peanut! I had butterflies and a nervous pit in my stomach.

The test was pretty uncomfortable [the term transvaginal should sum it up] but totally worth it! Even though the baby was just this itty bitty blinking bean on the monitor the emotions and love I felt for that little blip was overwhelming! The blinking part was actually the tiny heart beating, which is far too small to pick up on the doppler to hear just yet. But seeing that tiny little thing beat was unbelievable! 

We then got to find out how far along I actually was. The doctor measured the little bean, 9.4mm, which translates to 7 weeks excatly. Yep, a few weeks further than we had predicted. My due date was set for March 25, 2016! Hello, spring-march-maddness-baby!

So in love and smitten with Baby Rice already!!

Ocracoke 2015

Ocracoke weeked is undoubtedly our favorite time of the year. Is there anything that can beat being surrounded by your best friends for an extended weekend on one of the most gorgeous beaches in North Carolina? The answer is no.

This year was going to be a little different for me, being newly pregnant and all. Jared and I used the 5 hours in the car on the way there to discuss how and who all we would tell. Even though these are some of our dearest friends, it was still very early in the pregnancy and I wanted to be careful about the news getting out.

Well, sure enough within 5 minutes of being there I was offered a glass of wine. I declined saying it was a long trip. I had to pull my sweet Julia off to the side because I knew she could help me. She of course knew instantly with the wine decline as a dead giveaway. Jules was so excited and wanted all the details. She agreed to help me keep it hidden, playing off La Croix for mixd drinks.

That night a dinner, Jared, Will, Julia, Paula, Bunn, Lillie and I were the first to arrive. There was not going to be a better time to share this with all of them without others present. So I said, " guys, I am not going to be drinking this Ocracoke..."--silence--then lots of cheers and congratulations. Later we shared it with Virginia, Thomas, Hillman and Nicole. I coudn't keep it from Virginia, the baby lover, and Jared could not keep it from his bestie Hillman. It felt so good to tell them all. I know I say this all the time but we are sincerely lukcy to have such wonderful friends.

The rest of the weekend was spent silently celebrating our news, playing with Lillie Blue and Tripp, and soaking up the sun with a group of amazing friends.

Next time we make the trek we will have a little beach babe of our own in tow. I can't wait! Until next year Ocracoke. 

On the way home from Ocracoke we took the LONG way. Meaning, we went 4 hours out of the way, because I was bound and determined to share this news with my mom in person. Thankfully, Jared puts up with my requests. I did have a trip to PTs to bargain with. We told a little lie to my mom, said we had gotten on the wrong ferry and figured we would stop by Wilmington to see her. Before getting to her house we stopped and bought a tiny Wrightsville Beach onsie to give to her to share the news. It was such a special moment to have with my mom. Of course Jared got the whole thing on video for me which I will cherish forever! 

Finding Out You're Pregnant

I honestly don't even know where to begin this post. Sharing something like this can easily lead to TMI.

Jared and I had talked about starting a family for what seemed like forever. It was always a topic of conversation and some arguements. I mean, is there ever a good time to plan for your entire lives to change? After months of discussion, we decided to just stop worrying and stop "trying to not get pregnant." Meaning there would be no ovulation or cycle tracking and all that. We wanted this to be pressure and stress free (ha!) process. We read some statistics and pretty much everywhere said most couples conceive within six months. Thus, we decided on June as our month to stop preventing pregnancy. 

The morning of July 21 (the day before we leave for our annual Ocracoke trip) something told me, "you should take a test this morning," just to be sure before the trip. So, at 6 am I went to the bathroom before getting ready for work. I had it set in my mind that it was NOT going to be positive. There was just no way because I had taken one a week earlier which was negative. I put the test aside and waited the 2-3 minutes before checking the results. Well hot dog, I'll be damned! Sure enough, there was a dark-blue-clear-as-day-big-fat positive sign in the window! I sat there hand to mouth in pure shock for a solid 5 minutes. First thought was, this is not at all what I had planned! Second thought, how am I going to tell Jared? Third, good bye beloved champagane. 

You see, I had planned to surprise Jared with the news that we were having a baby in the most epic way. I had actually thought this through before we even talked about trying for a baby. It involved a lot of prep. Time I thought I had since we did not think we were going to get pregnant so fast. This plan will remain secret. However, I did get to surprise him that night after a work dinner. Yes, I had to go through an entire work day and a work birthday dinner with this huge secret. I was dying to tell Jared. 

After dinner I rushed home to set up. I packaged up all four positive tests in a ziploc bag, an NC State newborn onsie (purchased on my lunch break that day), and a new freaker koozie to throw him off. I positioned my phone on our entertainment center to capture the whole thing on video! I will cherish that moment forever. There is nothing sweeter than telling the man you love, your husband, that he is going to be a father. I got to see all the emotions firsthand and it was beautiful. He has requested that I not share the video on social media. But here is a snip from the video of it hitting him.

I am so thankful for this wonderfully amazing and supportive man of mine! He is going to be the best baby daddy!

Yes, it took me four tests to somewhat convince myself that I was truly pregnant. I intended on getting even more proof, I needed to get an appointment with my OBGYN. They were able to squeeze me in for blood work and meeting with the prenatal nurse the morning we left for Ocracoke. And yep, their urine test (which I am sure is the same as the Daollar Store) verified that this is indeed really happening. Blood work showed that hcg levels were only 230. Even though they told us this was not an accurate way to date conception we did our research and figured I couldn't be more than 2-3 weeks along. 

Married Weekends

People always said your social life would completely change after you get married. They said your priorities will change because there are two people, two schedules and two groups of friends to consider now. Translation, you will stop going out and partying on the weekends as much because you'd rather be an old married couple. This is totally true but, I think people should change this warning to: your social life will completely change when you become a homeowner. 

Seriously, we bought our house at the end of August and it is all I think and talk about. Our weekends are consumed with home projects, trips to the home improvement stores, pinning about home updates and projects, cleaning the house and conversations about the house. We don't like to stay out late partying on Fridays and Saturdays because we would rather not be hungover so we can be productive the next day (though, maybe that's a little bit of adulthood coming out). Clothes shopping has fallen to the wayside because I'd rather spend that money on end tables. We are obsessed and we love it.

This weekend was no different. It was the prefect mix of old married couple and homeowners. 

First, on Friday night we went to a uber romantic dinner at one of our favorite spots near our house, Sawmill Taproom. It's really just a sports bar, but they have Hell Yes Ma'am on draft year round, so always a winner. They do have spectacular burgers and sweet potato tots as well. To be honest though, we mainly go for the beer. 

yep, we sat fireside at Sawmill. telling you, uber classy.

Second, we are trying to decide on an all over paint color for the living rooms, hallways, and kitchen. I painted the kitchen and dining room about two weeks after we moved in and made a clutch decision on the colors. BIG MISTAKE. I love the dining room color but loathe the kitchen color. I wanted a light grey and it looks lavender in our kitchen. Yes, I got the samples and tested them on the walls and even questioned it before I chose. That will not happen again. We currently have five different color samples on the walls literally all over our house (15 places to be exact). I am going to get this right this time. I digress, so we spent a bit of time picking a favorite. We both have the same favorite but want to give it just a little more time before running out and purchasing five gallons. 

swatches.all.over.the.house.

Third, we are working on updating the downstairs guest bedroom. I have so many big ideas for this room and can't wait to see them come to life (hopefully). We are in a bit of a time crunch on this room though because my older brother just got a new job in Raleigh and will be staying with us part of the week so he won't be commuting from Wilmington everyday. I really want most of it finished before he starts staying here next week. Yeah...we will see how that pans out. 

current state of our downstairs guest bedroom. disaster. 

Fourth, Jared spent a lot of money time working on his bike Saturday. I love that he has found this as a little hobby of his. He is just too adorable working out in the garage with the bike all in pieces trying to make it just right. He officially got it working so now we can start riding all the fabulous greenways and trails we have around our house. 

Fifth, we went to see a six o'clock movie on  Saturday night. I know, so wild of us. We saw American Sniper. It was truly AMAZING. Bradley Cooper deserves all kinds of awards for that performance.

Sixth, ended our Saturday evening with Friends in bed. We have all the DVDs but having all the episodes and seasons on Netflix makes it so much easier. So, we decided to watch it from the beginning, again.

Toss in a run, lunch with mom and her boyfriend, a trip to the grocery store, me working urgent care Sunday and Jared cleaning the house Sunday (yes he does that and I absolutely love it!) and you have our weekend wrapped in a bow.

I'm sorry, but does it get much better? I love the time we get to spend just the two of us having quality time and making the house we bought into our home. I also throughly enjoy every single minute of being the old lame married couple sometimes. Though, won't lie, I love a good night out dancing and gossiping with my girlfriends.  

Side note: I am running again, YAY! 

My sister in law got me a fitbit for Christmas and I am fully addicted to tracking my sleep and obsessed with getting 10,000 steps per day. 

Jared's 29th Birthday Bash!

We celebrated Jared's last birthday of his twenties [pour one out for all the homies] last weekend and it was a very Jared party. 

His actual birthday was on January 7th, a Wednesday, so we couldn't really do anything to crazy. All he requested for the day was homemade chili as his meal and to relax after dinner for the night. He really is such a simple and easy to please guy. I love it! 

chili for the birthday boy. his mom's recipe, of course! 

 We topped off the night with the best dessert around, cupcakes and cheap champagne. I'm telling y'all, easy to please. 

Gigi's triple chocolate chip and banana pudding for the win.  

The real celebration came the Saturday after Jared's actual birthday. I asked Jared a few weeks prior to what he wanted to do for it and he responded with, "no bar and in bed at a reasonable hour" (or something similar to that, so practical, that man). He was dead set on the no bar thing, so we decided to have people over to our house during the day and early evening for burgers, games, football, and beer (of course). I truly think we stuffed the majority of Jared's favorite things in one day! Only missed smokin' a pig and the beach. 

Austin, the man who brings his own giant mug to a party.

love these ladies and love that they came to celebrate my guy. not loving my five-head an chunky sweater arm though. 

can't celebrate this amazing man enough. lucky to have spent the past seven birthdays with him. 

ah yes, our downstairs living room was turned into a college frat room in a matter of minutes. Complete with live guitar playing, songs about sorority girls, and beer pong. I think our hand-me-down futon brought the spirit. 

Jared's birthday would not be complete without video games. where they all got their butts kicked by a girl! 

Happy 29th Birth Year to my fabulous husband! I can't wait to see what this year will bring for him! Also, can't wait to get plans going for his big 3-0 next year! If his 29th is any indication, it will be one hell of a rager. Just kidding, I am in charge of the next birthday, sorry in advanced Jared.

Playing Catch Up.

So...I lied. I was gone again for a couple months. Oops. 

But, new year, new start? 

My timehop app informed that two years ago I started this little blog which is so crazy. I am determined to stick with it. 

One big life change since last time, I had my last day at the Moses Cone ED the day before Thanksgiving.  A bitter sweet moment for me. I am so thankful to no longer be commuting nearly 1.5 hours to work and to be working normal hours. However, I miss the people I worked with so very much and I have to admit, I miss the crazy patients and stories! But, I also know I needed the change. I was losing sight of why I became a nurse in the first place. I was becoming one of those stereotypical ER nurses and I didn't like it. Elizabeth of course surprised me (even after I asked her repeatedly not to) with a going away pizza party, which also included popcorn and cucumbers (my favorite meals in nursing school) and a gigantic poster/card signed by most of co-workers. I am so surprised I didn't completely break down in tears leaving. 

In catching up, we missed the holiday posts. They were pretty similar to last year. 

Thanksgiving

We hosted again this year at our house in Raleigh. James, Matthew and my mom came from Wilmington and Jakie, Jared's cousin, came from Maryland. It was fun and stressful having it at our house again and I love the tradition we are creating. I look forward to many more Thanksgivings where people come to us for a change :) 

Jared and Jakie got handy and fixed up the kegerator we were given! oh yes, beer on tap in our garage.

Christmas

We did our usual quick trip to Texas. We flew out at 5am Sunday before Christmas and were back 10am in Wilmington Christmas morning to be with my mom and brother. The trip to Texas is never long enough, but we certainly pack in as much as we can while we are there. We spent more time with the cousins this year. We got to see Jared's best friends since middle school! I swear when those guys get together is it like not a day has passed. We also caught up with Gwyn and Neil who moved to Houston a couple months ago. It was a whirlwind as usual but I wouldn't change it for anything. 

seriously, the prairie is so gorgeous! 

I am so lucky to have a sister in law and best friend in one :) 

Then is was off to Wilmington, starting with our before the butt crack of dawn flight to make it home in time for breakfast casserole. So worth it! 

Can I throw in here that in the mix of traveling I got a text from Virginia around 8 am (in the Charlotte airport) declaring that Thomas had FINALLY proposed at 6 am Christmas morning. Totally made our traveling home that much better! 

self timer on the iPhone is so genius. 

mom made legit fondue for Christmas dinner! 

celebrating VA and Thomas engagement & an NC State bowl game win at Banks! 

I love getting to celebrate with both sides of our families for Christmas. It really is such a special time. I just can't imagine what we are going to do when we have little ones of our own. I was having anxiety watching all the parents in the airport with their rugrats during such a hectic time. I don't know if I will ever be poised enough to handle that. 

Speaking of babies, BIG NEWS, our friends, Bunn and Paula, had their precious baby girl on January 9th! She really is royalty, she shares the same birthday at the Kate Middleton. She is so beautiful already and I am thrilled I will get to watch her grow. I am also excited to see our first close friends become parents. 

I am still in shock that we are now in this phase of our lives. It seems like yesterday we were playing beer pong in a someones college apartment. Now we are engaged, married and some are having babies (while some just have baby fever). It is pure craziness I tell you, but I love every minute of it