5 weeks

I don't plan on posting a picture EVERY week, but I thought I'd post one today because I can't get over how much my body has already changed.  Everything I've read says there is no way you can be showing at 5 weeks -- any growth is due solely to bloating.  Well, that's a LOT of bloating!  My jeans are buttoning but they aren't comfortable.  I unbotton them when I sit down...

My weight has never fluctuated.  I've worn the same size jeans for the past 14 yrs -- never once gone a size up or down.  I've never experienced any sort of "bloating" like this.    

My diet hasn't changed.  I've always been a healthy eater and I've always eaten a lot.  Maybe I'm having twins??  My father is a twin...  (silent scream!)

Okay. I'll calm down now

VERY positive result :)

With motherhood comes....

Worrying!  So, I just went out and bought yet ANOTHER pregnancy test!  (actually I bought 2 more)  Now that we have finally conceived, I am consumed by the fear that I'll miscarry.  After 12 months of trying and 11 months of disappointment, I want nothing more than this pregnancy to result in a healthy baby.  Matt doesn't want to tell anyone that we're pregnant because of the 20% risk of miscarriage.  I'm taking my prenatal vitamins and eating all of the right foods and staying away from the wrong things, but the risk still remains.  No use in worrying about what you can't control, right?  I'm doing my best to give it up to God!  I still am going to test again.  And, again.  :)  Whatever puts our minds at ease.  A $4 test is well worth the peace of mind.

We did it!!!

After 12 months of trying and trying and trying, I am overjoyed to tell you that God has blessed us!!  We weren't sure it was ever going to happen.  2011 has been a stressful year for us -- with selling a business and taking over another business, 4 homeowner's claims including house floods and burglary, flaky tenants in rental properties...  The stress couldn't be good for conception, but we continued to try month after month.

When you're trying to get pregnant and are having difficulty, it seems like everyone around you is getting pregnant.  Our cousins both conceived this year as well as my receptionist.  I tried to be happy for them, but inside I just wanted it for myself.

We looked into adoption and weighed the pros and cons.  Adoption was an option, but we so badly wanted a baby with our own gene makeup.  After countless ovulation kits and pregnancy tests, our dreams became reality.  On December 8, 2011 my at home pregnancy test was a very faint positive.  I tested again on the next day, and again...a very faint positive.  Good enough for me!  We're pregnant and and we couldn't be more excited!!

At four weeks pregnant: