Week 9_Baby's First Half Marathon

So tomorrow will mark the completion of our 9th week of pregnancy and the beginning of our 10th week. On Sunday, Spencer, the baby and I ran the ING Half Marathon. The doctor said that my original goal of 9min miles would need to be slowed down. I stupidly agreed to run at Spencer's pace. Spencer, who has not run a mile since January, was not about to pick up the pace just because I wanted to! We finished, but it was about was about a 2:30 run. I did have a cute shirt announcing the pregnancy though. It said, "I'm not just slow...I'm PREGNANT!" We got a ton of comments and compliments and even saw a few friends. Spencer had not told his friends yet, but we did run into Mike, who has since emailed their group of guy friends sharing the news.

On Friday night, we went out to dinner with our wonderful neighbors, Blake and Heather. Unfortunately, I wasn't feeling so well so as soon as the food was brought to the table, I had to excuse myself. For 20 minutes I explained to every woman in the restroom that I wasn't drunk, I was pregnant. I haven't thrown up that much in forever! Spencer was definitely hoping I'd still be sick on Sunday so that he wouldn't have to run. Glad he was wrong!

This week the nausea has not gone away and I'm not a lot of fun to be around. I am enjoying looking at customized crib bedding for the baby (http://www.polkatotdesigns.com/), but I will have to second mortgage the home to afford some of it. Who would've thought that the cutest baby crib set would run in the $400 range? Our King Size bedding isn't even close to that and it has a lot more material! Geez! Oh well, I still have time to convince Spencer that this is a necessity. Below are some of the ones I like. I think they look fun! If you like them, let me know; if you don't like them, don't buy them for your baby. :)

Week 8_Spencer's Turn

Ok, I know Easter is still a couple weeks away, but I am certainly hoping the Easter Bunny will bring me my very own ultrasound machine!!! Those things are amazing! Within seconds of it being turned on and warmed up the nurse was giving us an open house tour of our baby's current bachelor (or bachelorette) pad. Not much in the way of furniture, but the mortgage is paid which is a big plus in today's real estate market. Seriously, I do admit to tearing up a little bit upon seeing the pulsing sound wave that the nurse indicated was our baby's heartbeat (although at 171 beats per minute I think the kid needs a stress ball in there). Now you can see why I need my own ultrasound machine. I could peek in on the kid anytime I wanted just to see how things are coming together. I think they only run about $3 million so if everyone of our friends and family contributes $10,000 each....

Week 8

Welcome to Week 8. Actually, we've finished 8 weeks so I guess we are in our 9th week. But this has been such an exciting week so far! On Tuesday, we went to the OBGYN and yes, Spencer came too. We had our first ultrasound and saw the baby and the very strong heartbeat! It was such a great moment to share with Spencer and I think it made this whole situation very REAL to both of us. The doctor said I looked perfect inside (which doesn't help the fact that I feel like a look like a huge blob on the outside) and the baby is very healthy and growing at the right pace. November 3rd was confirmed as our due date, but we were warned that we could be a week late since it's our first pregnancy. The doctor approved me to run in the ING Half Marathon this Sunday, but said that I have to slow my pace. She also asked that Spencer run with me and make sure that I can complete a full sentence at all times. Spencer is just hoping that after 13.1 miles he can still complete a full sentence! On a bad note though, the doctor said I could NOT run in the July 4th Peachtree Road Race nor could I run in the October Half Marathon. Boo! But I've been exercising still about 4 or 5 days a week, I just can't run as fast or as long.

Also this week, we gave our parents permission to tell their friends. Apparently, my mom believes she is friends with all of Beaufort because that is who she told- EVERYONE! Just 3 hours after I gave my mom permission to tell I text messaged some of my Beaufort friends and they already knew! I'm assuming there will be a full size add in the Beaufort Gazette sometime this week....maybe the cover of the Sunday edition. Oh well, I'm proud she kept the secret for the last 3 weeks (or at least she says she did).

On Tuesday night we went to Tyrone, Ga to celebrate Spencer's father's birthday! We gave him the ultrasound pictures and he slipped them into the pile of birthday cards and passed them around the table. From the end of the table I heard "Are you pregnant??" I really think Kay and Jerrel had a good time finally able to talk to their friends about it. The birthday party was fun and it was good to see our family and friends.

And so now, after letting our parents talk about it and after hearing the heartbeat, I think Spencer and I can finally believe this is really happening. Hooray for being pregnant!

Week 6_Spencer's Turn

Ok, so I know you all enjoy Teresa's posts, but what you are all saying to yourselves is "We want to hear from Spencer!" The letters and emails so far received requesting me to post have been overwhelming. Unfortunately, there isn't much for me to report. I haven't gained any weight or experienced mood swings, but I guess I am not supposed to. I did have some nausea the other day but I think that was from too much beer, not sympathy pregnancy symptoms. Sure, I am very excited about being a father, but it still seems so far away and the changes obviously aren't as real to me as they are Teresa. I guess I am going to need something more tangible, like an ultrasound picture or an expanding belly on Teresa for it to really hit me.

More than anything right now what I am feeling is pride. I am not so much proud that we are having a child, I knew we could do that. I am proud of how well Teresa is handling this. In just a few short weeks her life has been turned upside down. She has gone from "normal" one day to not being able to get out of bed the next. She handles each round of nausea with a smile and is still able to ask me how my day was (ok, if she is awake when I get home). How she does it, I don't know, I would already have put myself on 100% bed rest for the duration of the pregnancy. She really is amazing!!! But I guess I already knew that.....

Week 6_Part 2

Today is Sunday and Spencer and I officially joined Peachtree Presbyterian Church! Well, Spencer, me, and the baby I guess joined. We will be presented to the church next Sunday, but today we met with the Session and did paperwork. This was something that was very important to us as both Spencer and I both grew up in a church and feel that it can offer so much to our children. Plus, PPC has a cub scout group and Spencer is dying to sign up as a Den Leader as soon as the kid pops out! (I have no idea what he'll do if it's a girl!)

This weekend was another weekend of sleep. I managed to stay awake long enough to go celebrate Melissa's birthday in Sharpsburg and to meet Suzannah for coffee (not really, just juice) at Starbuck's on Saturday. It was so good to see Suz and I can't wait for her to move back to Atlanta!

As far as the nauseous feeling I've had for almost a full week, I have found a solution! I laughed at myself for even buying these, but they really work- Sea Bands! They look like sweatbands with a marble attached, but they apply pressure to a certain point on my wrists and the nauseous feeling is gone in 5 minutes! I feel silly promoting this, but anything is better than feeling sick for 24 hours straight!

At this point, we are almost through our 7th week of pregnancy (Week 6, since we've completed 6 weeks). We have one more week til we hear the heartbeat! Hooray! Now if only I can stay awake long enough to get through another week of work...

P.S. If I am ever president, all women will get 1 extra week of PAID vacation while pregnant and then get PAID maternity leave. Men have it so easy.

Week 6...

Ugh...I am beginning to think that I am the first woman ever to be pregnant. If any other woman in the world had ever experienced the nausea, fatigue, and overall awfulness that I feel now, I'm sure that someone would have told me. But no, I was not warned of this total body pukey feeling I have had for the last 3 days. In fact, I'm currently considering the positives of having an only child. My 15 minute ride to work is totally consumed by trying to stay in the far right hand lane in order to pull over if I need to. I almost missed my exit this morning because I was focusing on finding convenient spots to pull over. UGH!

On a better note, I officially told my dinner club that Spencer and I are expecting a baby. I made it all the way through dessert before Cristina said, "Hey Teresa, any baby news?" I tried to not answer, but eventually just shouted, "We're pregnant!" My friends were incredibly supportive and listened to my body ache complaints. They all gave me hugs and really made me feel like this child would have 5 additional aunts! I also had to call Suzannah who couldn't make dinner club.

Last night I went to bed at 7pm and woke up this morning a bit after 6am. The first thing my boss, Jeff, said to me this morning was "You look tired. Are you okay?" I almost laughed because I'd slept so much! Oddly enough though, I was still sooo tired. I wanted a nap so badly even after 11 hours of sleep. So, at lunch, instead of working out, I took a nap on our company's couch. The HR woman looked in on me, but I just told her I'd had a late night. Oh if she only knew how EARLY my night had actually been. I swear, this baby likes to sleep and eat bad foods. I craved a Chickfila biscuit this morning and I usually don't even eat these when they're given away! But it did the trick. Nausea was gone...for almost an hour. At least I've heard that this terrible feeling goes away at 12 weeks. It's just going to be a looong 5 1/2 weeks to go!

Oh, and I love my sweet husband. He went out and got dinner for me tonight while I dozed on the couch (yes, it was only 6pm.). Hooray for being in our 7th week (but technically Week 6 because we've finished 6 weeks)!

Coming Soon...Baby Shell

Today we are trying to set up our Baby Blog. We've officially told our families and are trying hard to wait 3 more weeks before we tell everyone! On Friday we went to South Carolina and gave my mom a gift. It was the book "Just Grandma and Me" that my grandmother used to read to me when I was little. My mom opened it and said "You're Pregnant?!" Then she tackled me, pregnant and all, to the couch. We called my dad who was as excited as my dad can be and he is already planning to fix his tractor so he can teach our baby to drive stickshift. We called my sister, Catherine, who said congratulations, but really wanted advice on what to wear on her date that night. Spencer and I overnighted my Mammaw the same book and she received it on Saturday morning. (Sidenote: To send a $3 book overnight via FedEx to be delivered on a Saturday is $42!) She called us immediately crying and giving us her congratulations. Now Aunts, Uncles, and cousins know too.

We drove from South Carolina down to Sharpsburg on Saturday night. Spencer's mom, dad, and sister, Melissa were all waiting at the house for us to eat dinner. Spencer gave his mom a wrapped present- the book Danny and the Dinosaur that she read to him when he was little. She opened it and tears started welling up in her eyes. Spencer asked if she'd mind reading it to her grandchild in November. Spencer's family is very excited too and we had a great visit going over baby names and already planning fall birthday parties!!