May I have your attention please...

I was going to wait until my appointment on Friday to say something...but, well, I just can't.

Mathias and I are expecting Baby Hickman early February!!

At the time of our official Facebook announcement, I had only told family and a few close friends. Mathias on the other hand, would tell strangers at the Farmers Market if he saw them with a sling or a stroller he liked! It was pretty adorable, I'll have to admit. But now the cat's outta the bag and I'm officially out of the First Trimester woods.

So the burning question has been...

How do you feel? I honestly have never felt more exhausted. It's tough work growing a fetus! I already wake up before 4am for work everyday so all of the warnings to "Enjoy your sleep now before the baby comes" falls on dead ears. My already daily naps after work have just been extended from 30 minutes to 3 hours. Woah!

Other than extreme exhaustion, I have felt pretty good! I had a few days of all-day nausea, but no morning sickness exactly. And I never did throw up. Yey!

Baby's size? Baby is the size of a peach!

Maternity clothes? Not yet. I have only gained about 2lb so far and most of my clothes still fit the same. I have added a rubberband to one pair of work pants though! I did try on my first pair of maternity pants though..and I have to say, they were so unflattering and terrible. Terribly comfy! And I can't fit into a few of my bras or bikini tops anymore. VERY exciting hehe

Food cravings? I haven't had any strange cravings so much as food aversions. I used to love chicken salad each week at work. Now, I'm totally turned off by the idea. I was also eating alot of yogurt while trying to conceive and in those first 8 weeks. But now, it just sounds unappetizing. Most of all? I really miss sushi. Like REALLY miss sushi. I knew I would be deprived of my favorite food during pregnancy, so I really took advantage and ate so much in the months we were trying. Which, Mathias warned I probably shouldn't be doing anyways, but it was clearly fine!

Moment of the week: A coworker let me borrow her fetal heartbeat doppler. Y'all...the best sound in the world has been hearing our baby's heartbeat! Baby H is a swimmer and will allow us a few seconds of listening time before saying, "Alright that's enough, you've heard it, I'm still alive. Gotta go! I've got things to do!" Never sits still for long. Sounds like daddy and me!

We waited until our 7 week appointment to announce to our parents. I was such a nervous wreck reading too many stories of miscarriage in the first 8 weeks, or getting to the doctor and not seeing a heartbeat. I just wanted the reassurance from my doctor (and tangible evidence of the ultrasound picture) before we told our parents. This is not my parents' first grandchild, but it is Mathias's. They are so excited! Mathias's mom is convinced it's a girl because she had 3 boys and never got to spoil any baby girls...she's hoping this is her chance! Father's day had just passed before our appointment so I made up some excuse about forgetting dad's Father's Day card at my house and that I'd bring it to him later in the week. I made a copy of the US photo and stuck it in a card that read "Papa" and let the card speak for itself. Cue the waterworks. Mom and dad are thrilled!

Mathias has been rubbing this amazing body butter we picked up at the market on my tummy each night. It smells so good and will hopefully keep any future stretch marks at bay. Honestly though if it doesn't work, I'll just consider them my badge of honor. It's been such a great experience waking up each Sunday with him and reading "What's baby doing this week?" From building organs, having an audible heartbeat, to growing a nose and...FINGERNAILS?! I couldn't imagine enjoying this miracle of life with anyone else. He's going to be such a great dad.