We’re having a baby!

Just a few days before I took a pregnancy test I really struggled to get going one morning. If I was a coffee drinker surely it would have been a double shot kind of morning. Instead I made myself a hot chocolate on almond milk (super delicious), followed by a cup of tea and then dragged myself over to Bathurst to get some chores done. Of course I got distracted in Target and spent considerable time wandering the baby section wishing I was pregnant and missing my baby. Hilarious in retrospect given that there was already a tiny human growing inside me.

Then we spent the weekend at the coast. I convinced Alex that we NEEDED to stop at two of our favourite places for the burgers that I’d been craving, yet another baby clue but I really wasn’t tuned in. I spent most of the week leading up to our trip daydreaming about the burgers. They did not disappoint!

Friday night we ducked into His Boy Elroy in Wollongong for a cheese burger, chips and ginger beer – it was heavenly. We tried making our own version of this burger a few weeks earlier, not bad but I think we really need to bake our own rolls to achieve a pleasing result. (We tried again a few weeks later and totally nailed it – recipe coming soon!)

Saturday lunch was the Millenium burger from Pilgrim’s in Milton. I’ve never had a tastier veggie burger. Every time we go to Pilgrims, which really isn’t very often, I order this. I’ve swayed from this before but I promise this really is the best thing on their menu.

Burger craving satisfied we headed further down the coast and tested out camping in the car and had what would be our last wine and cheese picnic. We do love wine and cheese nights so these are very missed right now.

Sunday was my brother’s wedding. It was a lovely intimate afternoon and they were blessed with a beautiful sunny day. We snuck a swim in in the morning (the weather was pretty crappy until Sunday) and it was bliss. Oh how I miss the seaside! We really need another beach trip before it cools down.

At the wedding I spent the first 15 minutes or so trying not to bawl my eyes out. Thinking back I was really emotional in the week or so leading up to the test. I think we were over tired from the weekend so we were a bit shitty with each other and I thought about leaving the test until I got back from Canberra at the end of the week when we would be happy again. But I’d been trying to track my cycle and Tuesday seemed like a good day to check for a baby. Tuesday morning came and I just needed to know. I was in a better mood after a good sleep so I did the test and couldn’t believe it when those two pink lines appeared. I’d had a few negative tests before so I was bracing myself for the disappointment. Instead I ran into our bedroom, woke Alex, told him the news and we squealed in excitement, disbelief and exclaims of ‘oh my goodness!’ as the news sunk in. I’ve honestly never been happier. I sit with a smile on my face these days that I just can’t wipe off. Of course there’s still disbelief and uncertainty as to when baby is due. I think I was just over 4 weeks when we found out, but I have a very long irregular cycle thanks to PCOS so I could be up to 9 weeks along.

We made celebratory waffles and Alex went off to work. Not knowing what to do, I picked out a doctor at random and ended up seeing him that day. I went off to have a blood test to confirm the pregnancy and was given a referral for an ultrasound in 3 weeks time. The longest 3 weeks ever! We decided to not tell our families until after the ultrasound and it was so so hard to keep the news to ourselves. I did text two of my girlfriends because we’ve been chatting all things baby for years.

For a few days my interest in food wavered, which was strange for me, but that soon passed and now, never in my life, have I been so hungry. So while any nausea is yet to make a significant appearance I’m eating all of the salads and vegetables as from what I’ve heard and read these are the foods pregnant ladies often struggle with. I’ve been making extra effort to get my calcium, fruit and including lots of folate and iron rich foods. I’ve been iron deficient a few times in the past so am being extra aware of my need for additional iron during pregnancy. Most days I have two breakfasts and several snacks throughout the day as well as lunch and dinner. Sometimes I wake for midnight toast. Lots of healthy nutrient rich foods, the whole eating for two is really a myth but one also needs to satisfy their appetite. And I’m continuing to run. I talked it through with my doctor and he thinks it’s fine to continue. I just need to make sure I keep well hydrated, don’t get too hot and not to over do it. That last one is the one I need to remember, I’m superbly stubborn and need to remind myself that this is not the time to be building up distance.

That first weekend after we found out about baby I got worked up about our living arrangements and was determined to sort them out. We’ve been talking about getting a dog for SO long now and our plan was to get our pup once we get back from America. I really want to continue with that plan so that puppy is somewhat settled and trained before baby comes. I don’t think I could handle a new puppy and a newborn and renovations and I can just see us putting off the dog for a while if we don’t do it now. But our landlord said no to dog, so we looked at all the houses around, blocks of land, house plans, loans, mortage repayments, lots of hypothetical financial situations and it did my head in. We ended up buying a house that Monday!!!!! We are so excited! It’s right where we want to live but oh man do we have some major renovating to do! (the house is a whole post in itself, in fact many posts – stay tuned)

This growing a tiny human is tiring business. Most afternoons I get jaw-droppingly tired. It hasn’t helped that I’ve had trouble sleeping. I just can’t stop thinking… there’s baby, Alex’s PhD, a dog, our trip to America, the new house, renovations and my new practice. I’m getting better at clearing my mind before bed now and this is helping the sleep situation.

I’ve been trying to remain a little cautious. There’s a family history of miscarriage and knowing that it was likely very early I tried not to get to carried away but really how can you not. We’re having a baby! We’ve wanted this baby for a long time and now, 2 weeks later, I’m already so so in love. Mumma needed more socks so of course after a trip to Target I have socks and baby has it’s first things. We hung the onesie up on the wall and get giddy with happiness every time we see it!