week 7

Best Moment: 2.6.12 doctor appointment. It almost didn’t happen and I would have been devastated! My doctor called in sick, but thankfully, another female doctor in the office was able to squeeze me in. She officially confirmed that I am in fact, with child and most likely 7-8 weeks along! 7-8 weeks took me by complete surprise as Evan and I thought maybe 4 weeks. “Oh no!” she said. "It registered almost immediately" (with their test) indicating a high level of pregnancy hormones. Dr. Brown said “little Junior is due around September 24^th.” Those words…little junior, for one reason or another, made it feel a bit more real. The only thing that would have made it better was if Evan was there. Evan and I have been fumbling through to the “totally and utterly shocked” phase, and this was a little kick we needed.  I have an ultrasound scheduled for Friday 2.10 (and imagine that will quickly surpass this as my best moment) where we’ll get a better idea of timing. Regardless, it's looking like a September baby…

Symptoms: COMPLETE exhaustion. I’ve always erred on the side of "sleepy" throughout my entire life, and thought I knew what it meant to be tired. Was I ever wrong! The past week or so I’ve been shuffling through life. Eyes half open, literally doing what I can to make it through the work day and whatever other commitments I have, just so I can curl up and fall into a deep slumber once I’m home. It seemed to have happened out of the blue and is the main reason I felt compelled to take a test in the first place- well that and the teenage boy breakout my body has been losing a battle to. In addition to the exhaustion has been a low hum of nausea. All day, everyday there is a static reminder of the little babe developing inside me. I've been lucky enough not to vomit, but some days it's truly a miracle I don't. 

Cravings/Aversions: I’m not going to count my potato skins craving, because in all honesty, I’ve craved those ever since that fateful day my mom and I ordered up a plate at Red Robin, circa 1990. No real cravings, but I’ve noticed a growing affinity for OJ. Aversions, I’ve got plenty! Granted, I’m not fully aware of my aversions until say, someone casually mentions ribs (gag) or chicken tacos (ick). Or I catch a scent floating through the air. Even if I don’t know what to attribute the particular smell to, I know I don’t want anything to do with it. I’m finding saltines and any other bland carb to be a new bff of mine, along with sparkling water, ginger ale and of course, OJ.

What I Miss: Being honest with my friends and family! I hate the little white lies I keep find myself telling. "As a personal challenge, I'm taking a month off from drinking" or "My period is horrible, I can't go.." etc.etc. Counting down the days until this Sunday when we’ve agreed to let the Steppan clan behind the curtain. Then a few short days later, we’ll tell Pete and Deb in Winthrop, in person. Everyone else will learn after these first 12 weeks. There’s so much I want to talk to EVERYONE about and so many questions to ask my mama friends, that I simply cannot wait.

What I Can't Wait For: 2.10 ultrasound. Although we won’t hear the heartbeat, and to be perfectly honest, I'm not sure what we'll actually see, but regardless, I know it's going to be one of many milestones to come.

Milestones: Friday’s ultrasound, of course