It's Official...

WE'RE PREGNANT!

We are so excited to finally announce that we will have a new addition to the family come May 6, 2011. We are 8 1/2 weeks pregnant and had our first ultrasound on Monday, September 27. It was so exciting to see our little peanut on the screen! The doctor gave us two pictures to take home and we have scanned one in to share. We tried a new OB/GYN practice and they were so nice and helpful. The doctor said everything was good and the baby seemed healthy and she could see a heartbeat. The appointment went very well except for mommy-to-be almost passing out after getting her blood drawn. Nothing new though...happens every time. Nothing a few animal crackers and apple juice couldn't fix. :)

We called our parents after the appointment to let them know they could start sharing the news with their friends and extended family members. It was so hard to keep the news to ourselves for several weeks, but in a way it was nice to have time for the news to sink in and for Ben and I to have a little secret to ourselves.

We have decided to create this blog to share our journey with family and friends. Since not all of our family members live locally, this will be a great way to keep those interested up to date on the progress and development of Baby Collins and of course to see those growing baby bump pictures!

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my Mother's womb."
Psalm 139:13

8 weeks

~Our baby is now the size of a kidney bean~

Symptoms so far: Nausea, fatigue, cramping, and hungry every few hours. I have started to carry around snacks in my handbag for when hunger pains occur and I am about to have a snack attack. Really can't complain because so far it's been pretty good.
My mom bought me a Boppy body pillow and that thing is amazing! It is perfect for sleeping at night and I can imagine it will make sleeping easier and much more comfortable when my belly starts to grow.
I am so excited to experience this journey and will endure anything that comes with it. I know that I will soon be holding my little baby in my arms and nothing else will seem to matter. I thank God for choosing me to be this little babies mommy and feel so blessed to have a wonderful husband to experience the gift of parenthood!

"A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world." John 16:21

7 Weeks

Our baby is now the size of a blueberry & has grown so much in the past few weeks!

4.5 weeks

(above) I took another test a few days later

Not much of a belly yet

Pictures of the Mommy-to-be at 4.5 weeks pregnant, right after I found out we were expecting. According to the Baby Center, our baby is the size of a poppy seed.

Woohoo...Test results!!!

These pictures were taken the night that I found I was pregnant. It was Saturday, August 28th and Ben was out that evening at the Nationals game. I was feeling too good that day after our leisurely bike ride to the park. My stomach was hurting a little bit and I was more tired than usual. I went grocery shopping that night while Ben was gone and decided to get a pregnancy test. I bought the digital one because I felt that would be more accurate. The first thing I did once I got home was take the test. I took the test, stepped out of the room to put on a sweatshirt, and looked down to find that I was...

I waited a few seconds to make sure that a 'not' wouldn't flash before it...but it never did! I was so shocked and very excited!!! First I screamed and then I cried! It was very emotional for me because we had been trying and I really was hoping I would be pregnant. I decided to take another test just to be sure, so I ran out to Rite Aid and got another one! This one was digital as well, but said Yes or No. This result said...

So after taking a few pregnant tests, it was confirmed that I was in fact pregnant! I waited up that night until after 11:30 pm when Ben got home from the game. I told him after I heard all about his night and I think he knew something was up. It was hard for me to contain my excitement and smiles. I told him by telling him we needed to get the nursery ready for the Spring! He was thrilled when I told him and I showed him pictures of the test to prove it!