Reflecting on the last 7 months!

It is hard to believe sometimes that we are going to be parents after all of this time! As many of you know, it took Dan and I 6 1/2 years to finally get to where we are today and although it was hard, we know that the wait will be well worth it! We have had so much fun together and have been able to experience many things! But, we are willing to put our "easy" days behind us and start being parents! This is something we have both wanted for a long time!

Finding out we were expecting was an experience in itself. I was driving down the road one day and heard a commercial on the radio. It was asking questions like "Are you tired all of the time? Have you lost interest in what you enjoy? Are you feeling distant from people? Do you no longer like food?" Stuff like that. And then it said something to the effect of "You may be suffering from depression." and so I called Dan and told him it all makes sense and that I was going to schedule an appointment with the doctor to get it all worked out. Then I decided to do something I had done many a time before and take a pregnancy test "just in case" that day after work before I called. So, I got home with that box and Dan was home about the same time as me and no sooner had I taken the test did it show up as pregnant! I was shocked! I couldn't believe it! After so many failed tests, I just couldn't believe my eyes! I, of course, started crying and then yelling for Dan! We were just so excited!

I still made that appointment with the doctor to verify everything and had to do an ultrasound to find out about how far along we were (about 7 weeks at that point). It was so special being in that room and seeing the little "peanut" but even more special was hearing the heartbeat. I was bawling like a baby!

We decided, after so many years of trying, that waiting to tell everyone would be the best thing to do. Dan's family was actually the first to find out. Dan's parents were visiting his brother and family in Calgary for the blessing of their baby #4 - Jacob. We thought it would be best to tell them all at once. After we were finally able to get them all in the same room with the speaker phone, I told them all and there was cheering and congrats. Then Rick proceeded to tell me that I could possibly end up with an 11 lb baby, considering the family trend. No thank you! I'm not too keen on having this baby walking out of me!

We decided to make it a birthday present for my dad and so that meant everyone in Utah, and those that are on my side of the family, had to wait since it wouldn't be fair for others to know before his big surprise! He got a little photo frame for the fridge that says "I love you Grandpa!" and then it says "Picture to come sometime around March 9, 2008". Here is a little video of Dad opening his present.

It took him a little while to wrap his head around it and of course mom was so surprised! It was great finally being able to tell them after 18 weeks (almost halfway there) but it was even better that we could give them that gift! We ended up staying up late that night talking about it all! I was just so happy!

So, here we are! 7 months along and doing great! I must say that there are things that I expected and things I didn't, but all of it is totally worth it! The most fun is seeing how excited Dan is to be able to play with our little one. They already have their own little bond going on. Dan loves to poke at my belly and the baby will kick back. And I already know this baby loves his/her daddy because one night, the baby was just hanging out and then Dan walked in the door and immediately, the baby started to kick! The song "I'm so glad when Daddy comes home" came to my mind! Again...started to cry a little!

I've finally got a nice belly going on now and am getting the comment of "wow...you look really pregnant now!" a lot! And, to tell you the truth, I am OK with it! I am proud of my round little belly! But, more than anything, I just can't wait for this baby to be on the outside of me. Not because I'm tired of being pregnant, although that is somewhat true, but because I can't wait to meet him/her and to be able to just cuddle and be together!