OK, today's the halfway point! I've had lots of friends asking for belly pics and ultrasound pics. One of the things I learned during my journey with infertility is that those kinds of pictures can be somewhat painful for those not experience it who desperately want it. So, I always vowed that if/when we got pregnant, I wouldn't post those types of pictures on Facebook. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely shared in the joy with our pregnant friends, but sometimes, if it was on one of those 15% days (see yesterday's post), belly pics and ultrasounds only poured salt into the wounds of my heart. However, this blog is a little less public than Facebook...I'll put a link to it on Facebook, so friends that want to see the pics, can jump over here to see them, but for those that don't want to see it, they don't have to. Anyway...here's the pictorial journal of the past 20 weeks.
April 20, 2011 - The test heard around the world! Yes, this the actual test I took in the doctor's office. I took a picture of it near immediately...and yes, admittedly I still have this test...not sure I'll ever be able to get rid of it. Proof of miracles! After the doctor had pretty much told me that pregnancy was possible, but probably only through invasive measures such as IVF (which, Matt and I were opposed to for our own reasons...no judgement whatsoever for those friends that use that option...I'll write about it another time), this was proof of a miracle!
How to tell the dad? This was the Wednesday before Easter, I somewhat wanted to wait until Easter Sunday to tell him, but who am I kidding? I couldn't keep it from him. When he came home from work I told him the Easter Bunny came early (much to his shagrin that I even mentioned "Easter Bunny"). I made a basket that had eggs and a chick (see, I am a bird that can lay an egg - previous post for the context of that comment), the test from the doctors office and a digital one that said PREGNANT, as well as some baby stuff laying around the house for when friends with babies come over. It took him a minute or two to process. The overall reaction was, "Holy Crap! It worked! Congratulations." I kinda laugh a the congratulations because he's as much to be congratulated, right?!?
The week after we found out, I had to go to Washington, DC for a conference. My Mom and Dad were planning on visiting me while I was there, so I figured, even though it was a bit early to get our hopes up, I would tell them the news. How to tell them? This I had planned out for a LONG time. The mug you see is one that I gave my Dutch grandparents when I was little - translated it says "I love Grandma." When they passed away, the mugs were given back to me. I always planned on using that to tell my parents when they were going to become Oma and Opa. So I dug up these gems, wrapped them up, and casually told my parents this was their early anniversary gift. They were PUZZLED when I gave it to them. They thought it meant that adoption stuff (always has and always will be our plan) had gone through much sooner than expected. I had to explain that I was pregnant, very early, but pregnant. What a joyous moment! By the way, when Matt picked me up from the airport, he explained that he couldn't hold it in anymore, and we were going to tell his family the next day...originally we thought to wait until Mother's day (the following week), but he couldn't contain it anymore. Sadly, I have no pictures of that day, but another awesome moment. It was the same weekend that Sarah graduated, and I felt bad sharing our big news on her big day, but I'm pretty sure she didn't mind! Matt announced it by saying "Well, I hate to take away from Sarah's excitement, but we have some news to share." Once everyone was done with their bites of food, he told them that we're pregnant! Let's just say there was some screaming and tears involved :-)
May 7th (5 weeks and 7 days old) - first picture of the "three of us" at a good friend's wedding...same friend as mentioned in yesterday's post where God got the last laugh about asking for prayer! Some knew our secret in this picture, but not many. Of course, the friend (and his new bride) did though :-)
7 Weeks
Official start of the belly archives
Pretty sure this is just belly and not baby...
8 Weeks
Right before the belly started making its appearance.
Sorry about the camera strap in the pic, I didn't realize it was there until I uploaded it weeks later...
10 Weeks
The belly "popped" somewhere in week 9.
This was the first day I wore my first pair of maternity pants.
Funny story, they're hand-me-downs. I looked at the style and size and laughed out loud thinking "there's no way I can wear size 10 "skinny jeans," but apparently though my belly's growing, the rest of me has been loosing weight (thank you WeightWatchers - see two posts ago). Writing this at week 20, they're almost too big for me...but the belly fits nicely in the "sleeve."
11 Weeks
That is a baby bump! More evidence of the miracle growing in me!
12 Weeks
Father's Day!
Major "Hubby Points" today. Matt and I were on our way back from a wedding gig he had in Gainesville. The plan was to stop somewhere for lunch, and he suggested Arby's. I kinda balked at first - I wanted somewhere nice since it was Father's Day. BUT then he said, well, let's go to THE Arby's...yes, the ONE where we had the first "time to have a baby" conversation two years ago! How appropriate - on his first Father's day we had lunch where it all started!
That picture is not flattering at all, but when you're standing on the side of the road, lifting up your shirt in front of an Arby's sign just seems weird, so you take what you can get with your camera phone.
Maybe more telling that day was my Facebook post
13 Weeks
Officially in the second trimester!
This week also marks my dad's 70th birthday - which is exactly 6 months before Baby is due!
And, as if the Father's day Facebook post wasn't enough, I went "FBO" on Dad's birthday...
14 Weeks
Some goofy around while sightseeing in Wilmington
...and my most favorite picture of me and my parents!
Three Generations of Sidlers!
Week 15
And the Belly Grows!
First time wearing an all maternity outfit...maternity shirt & pants...
Yes the actual outfit covered everything!
Week 16
Every once in a while I have to dress up and look professional. Mom and Dad bought me this outfit when I was in Delaware to wear at SSSR. I stayed with Mimi & Oom Piet the night before the conference. Professional and maternal but not obvious!
Week 17
In throws of finishing my prospectus, I'm tired but joyful! And the Baby still grows!
Week 18
Dressed up because I had to video record intervention to train our new interventionists in Panama City
Week 19
Tired as can be, but must still document the belly! This is the last week of writing my prospectus! Rebel joined in the picture too! She's now allowed free roam of the house all day! So proud of her!
Week 20
I tried to wear one of my old summer dresses that used to be "forgiving" of the gut...now I'd rather show off the bump, so I gave my best go at using a scarf to "accessorize" (Lord, I'm sounding way too girly...this has got to stop!). And for a more authentic belly pic, I changed...Apparently I had a thing for lime green today! Oh, and it seems as the B-to-B ratio has finally switched for me...
think about it (channel the mind of Matt), you'll get it
Well, that's all for now folks! Today I'm 20 weeks...so this is the most current you're gonna get! Maybe from now I'll be better at keeping up! Next blog will be the ultrasound pictures...so you can see it's not just a belly that's growing, but a Billy!
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She now has a lovely baby boy, AJ, and I'm thinking she was somewhere around six months when we took this picture. Me, I was 20 lbs more than I am now at 20 weeks pregnant! Yikes!
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Congrats! I know that God has many blessings in store for you guys.
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