The Beginning
I didn't officially announce that we were expecting until I was about 14 weeks along. So, I thought it would be nice to share how this journey began and share some moments from the earlier weeks.
Ben moved to Alabama in May, while I stayed behind in Texas to finish my last quarter of school. I traveled to Alabama to visit and attend his graduation from the Warrant Officer training program at the very beginning of August. Ben had a few weeks of leave, so we spent a few days together in the Fort Rucker area then began the journey back to Texas. I had to get back to school, so Ben accompanied me. We stopped in New Orleans on the way to Texas and spent the night in a chic vintage villa, then finally headed home.
During the drive we continued a conversation about having children that had been ongoing for a few months. We both thought it would be wonderful to have our first child while we were in Alabama. I would be done with school, he would be an officer, and most importantly... We would be close to family. However, I knew (and dreaded) that it would be terribly hot and humid in south Alabama in the summer months. It may seem trivial, but I wanted to avoid being as big as a house in the summertime. We talked about it and decided to try and see what happened during the two weeks we were together in August. I knew that it was unlikely to conceive after just one month of trying, but if we were successful we would have a little spring time baby. If we weren't successful we would wait and try for a fall or winter baby. This is a good time to explain that I've always had a feeling that I am very fertile...
I had actually stopped taking birth control a few months prior to all of this. Ben and I weren't together since he was already in Alabama and it seemed like a good opportunity to give my body a chance to reset to it's natural cycle. After I stopped taking the birth control, I quickly realized that I can feel myself ovulate. I knew the exact day and even which ovary was releasing an egg (they alternate). I probably sound like a cuckoo right now, but it's true. I talked to my doctor about it and she told me that a small percentage of women have this ability. She told me all about the German term "Mittelschmerz", which actually means middle pain. It feels mostly like a crampy sensation, but in a different location and at a different time than menstrual cramps. Apparently, most women who have this sensation are known to be quite fertile and are believed to adapt to motherhood very well. Fingers crossed.
Now, with that said, I shouldn't have been the least bit surprised when we successfully conceived after only one experimental month. I mean... I can't say I was completely shocked, but it was a wonder. Then again, I guess it always is. Ben had already returned back to Alabama and I had about a month left in Texas. It was a Monday (August 20th, to be exact) when I decided to take a pregnancy test. Now, now... I hadn't even missed a period yet, but I was incredibly impatient. I was hoping that the test that claimed it could detect pregnancy six days before your missed cycle really worked. It was about five days before mine was supposed to happen. It was about 11 PM and I was just about to go to bed. I had actually taken the test earlier in the day and tossed it in the trash when the results appeared to be negative. Out of curiosity I fished around and pulled it out to double check and behold! A second line (which means positive) was there. However, it was incredibly faint. I almost thought I was imagining it. So, what do I do? Take another test of course. It had the same result. A whisper of a second line. The uncertainty was killing me. How could I possible go to sleep after that? So, I grabbed my keys and off I went. WalMart.
I chose two different kinds than the first one I had tried. I rushed back home with the tests (and a very large bottle of water) hoping for a more definite answer. However, I didn't really get the certainty I was looking for until about two days later. By then the second line showed itself in a bold and boastful fashion. I guess I kind of knew on Monday, but I got my proof on Wednesday. My missed period came and gone and I went to the doctor for verification. I was busting at the seams to tell everyone, but wanted to wait. I really wanted to tell Ben and my family in person, but it was going to be another month before I had that opportunity. So, I prepared a special box to mail to Ben that held the exciting news. I managed to keep completely quiet for a whole week, but then the day that I was going to mail the box to Ben he called perturbed about our housing situation at Fort Rucker. He was disappointed because we weren't assigned to one of the larger new houses because we didn't have children. One little prompt was all I needed. "Well... I'm pregnant!" I said to the phone. I was so overcome with joy and excitement that I spoiled the box surprise altogether, but in the end it didn't matter. Ben almost didn't even catch what I said as he continued talking and then stopped suddenly and exclaimed, "Seriously?!" I think he was crying a little (Shh...) and I could feel his excitement on the other end of the phone. As if I wasn't ready enough for the end of September... The anxiousness to finish school and move to Alabama really set in.
Just a couple of weeks after he found out Ben went to Tennessee for a weekend. He put me on speakerphone as I announced the news to his immediate family. Everyone was so excited. Around the same day a box arrived at my mom and dad's (this one was actually successful) that told of the good news. Two darling mugs that read "Grandmother" and "Grandfather." So, we told our immediate family, but it was still really early. For this reason, we waited a while before making it really known.
I was really surprised by the exhaustion I felt in the very beginning. No matter how much I slept I felt like I needed more. I started having crazy dreams on a nightly basis. I had a growing appetite, however nothing seemed good. The only person I was able to tell in person was my best friend Bren. She came over to my house after a bad day at work. She was venting a little about her day, then I blurted it out. Emotions were all over the place in those few minutes. She showered me with hugs and tears. She promised to take care of me since Ben was away. Bren and her mom were the first to give me a baby gift. Right before I moved she presented it to me (cue water works).
The whole experience was a huge whirlwind of emotions. Being alone, trying to finish up school, and packing a whole house made for a physically and emotionally draining first few weeks of pregnancy. However, I wouldn't change a thing. Our tiny girl will be born in the spring time when the earth is waking back up from winter. It feels kind of meant to be. My pregnancy has been right on track with my mom's first pregnancy. My sister was born on May 1 and our due date is May 5. So it's been interesting to know that I've been experiencing the same parts of my first pregnancy as she did hers. The same goes for Ben's mother as well. Ben was born just one day before my sister on April 30. It's a special time and I can't wait to add another family member to the Taurus clan.
Ben moved to Alabama in May, while I stayed behind in Texas to finish my last quarter of school. I traveled to Alabama to visit and attend his graduation from the Warrant Officer training program at the very beginning of August. Ben had a few weeks of leave, so we spent a few days together in the Fort Rucker area then began the journey back to Texas. I had to get back to school, so Ben accompanied me. We stopped in New Orleans on the way to Texas and spent the night in a chic vintage villa, then finally headed home.
During the drive we continued a conversation about having children that had been ongoing for a few months. We both thought it would be wonderful to have our first child while we were in Alabama. I would be done with school, he would be an officer, and most importantly... We would be close to family. However, I knew (and dreaded) that it would be terribly hot and humid in south Alabama in the summer months. It may seem trivial, but I wanted to avoid being as big as a house in the summertime. We talked about it and decided to try and see what happened during the two weeks we were together in August. I knew that it was unlikely to conceive after just one month of trying, but if we were successful we would have a little spring time baby. If we weren't successful we would wait and try for a fall or winter baby. This is a good time to explain that I've always had a feeling that I am very fertile...
I had actually stopped taking birth control a few months prior to all of this. Ben and I weren't together since he was already in Alabama and it seemed like a good opportunity to give my body a chance to reset to it's natural cycle. After I stopped taking the birth control, I quickly realized that I can feel myself ovulate. I knew the exact day and even which ovary was releasing an egg (they alternate). I probably sound like a cuckoo right now, but it's true. I talked to my doctor about it and she told me that a small percentage of women have this ability. She told me all about the German term "Mittelschmerz", which actually means middle pain. It feels mostly like a crampy sensation, but in a different location and at a different time than menstrual cramps. Apparently, most women who have this sensation are known to be quite fertile and are believed to adapt to motherhood very well. Fingers crossed.
Now, with that said, I shouldn't have been the least bit surprised when we successfully conceived after only one experimental month. I mean... I can't say I was completely shocked, but it was a wonder. Then again, I guess it always is. Ben had already returned back to Alabama and I had about a month left in Texas. It was a Monday (August 20th, to be exact) when I decided to take a pregnancy test. Now, now... I hadn't even missed a period yet, but I was incredibly impatient. I was hoping that the test that claimed it could detect pregnancy six days before your missed cycle really worked. It was about five days before mine was supposed to happen. It was about 11 PM and I was just about to go to bed. I had actually taken the test earlier in the day and tossed it in the trash when the results appeared to be negative. Out of curiosity I fished around and pulled it out to double check and behold! A second line (which means positive) was there. However, it was incredibly faint. I almost thought I was imagining it. So, what do I do? Take another test of course. It had the same result. A whisper of a second line. The uncertainty was killing me. How could I possible go to sleep after that? So, I grabbed my keys and off I went. WalMart.
I chose two different kinds than the first one I had tried. I rushed back home with the tests (and a very large bottle of water) hoping for a more definite answer. However, I didn't really get the certainty I was looking for until about two days later. By then the second line showed itself in a bold and boastful fashion. I guess I kind of knew on Monday, but I got my proof on Wednesday. My missed period came and gone and I went to the doctor for verification. I was busting at the seams to tell everyone, but wanted to wait. I really wanted to tell Ben and my family in person, but it was going to be another month before I had that opportunity. So, I prepared a special box to mail to Ben that held the exciting news. I managed to keep completely quiet for a whole week, but then the day that I was going to mail the box to Ben he called perturbed about our housing situation at Fort Rucker. He was disappointed because we weren't assigned to one of the larger new houses because we didn't have children. One little prompt was all I needed. "Well... I'm pregnant!" I said to the phone. I was so overcome with joy and excitement that I spoiled the box surprise altogether, but in the end it didn't matter. Ben almost didn't even catch what I said as he continued talking and then stopped suddenly and exclaimed, "Seriously?!" I think he was crying a little (Shh...) and I could feel his excitement on the other end of the phone. As if I wasn't ready enough for the end of September... The anxiousness to finish school and move to Alabama really set in.
Just a couple of weeks after he found out Ben went to Tennessee for a weekend. He put me on speakerphone as I announced the news to his immediate family. Everyone was so excited. Around the same day a box arrived at my mom and dad's (this one was actually successful) that told of the good news. Two darling mugs that read "Grandmother" and "Grandfather." So, we told our immediate family, but it was still really early. For this reason, we waited a while before making it really known.
I was really surprised by the exhaustion I felt in the very beginning. No matter how much I slept I felt like I needed more. I started having crazy dreams on a nightly basis. I had a growing appetite, however nothing seemed good. The only person I was able to tell in person was my best friend Bren. She came over to my house after a bad day at work. She was venting a little about her day, then I blurted it out. Emotions were all over the place in those few minutes. She showered me with hugs and tears. She promised to take care of me since Ben was away. Bren and her mom were the first to give me a baby gift. Right before I moved she presented it to me (cue water works).
The whole experience was a huge whirlwind of emotions. Being alone, trying to finish up school, and packing a whole house made for a physically and emotionally draining first few weeks of pregnancy. However, I wouldn't change a thing. Our tiny girl will be born in the spring time when the earth is waking back up from winter. It feels kind of meant to be. My pregnancy has been right on track with my mom's first pregnancy. My sister was born on May 1 and our due date is May 5. So it's been interesting to know that I've been experiencing the same parts of my first pregnancy as she did hers. The same goes for Ben's mother as well. Ben was born just one day before my sister on April 30. It's a special time and I can't wait to add another family member to the Taurus clan.
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