I'M PREGNANT!!

Whew. The cat's out of the bag. That feels nice.

Big news. I'm pregnant. I wasn't supposed to tell (well that's what people tell me), but then I looked at Will today and said "why are we waiting to tell people again?" -- It's our FIRST (well second really....read on)baby and we are so excited. Too excited to keep it in. Plus, we've had a plethora of people down here asking us if we have any kids and we just want to burst. So, here I am spillin the beans. Oh Laura of little patience.

Here's the details if you want em.
I am still in disbelief. I keep telling Will that I don't think I really am. Ha.

So, last Wednesday I took a home test... to my surprise it was positive. What a weird feeling. Totally didn't expect it. Of course, being the woman I am, I just had to take another one the next morning to make sure. Yep... positive. You guessed it. At this point I was really starting to freak out. Well, first of all I decided to take a test in the first place because I was experiencing some weird symptoms that I had never had before. Ex... chest hurting, feeling nauseous, extremely tired, etc. So, perfect timing right? Right in time for moving. Not cool. So, Thursday I make one last appointment with my doctor (she probably thought I was stalking her because I just saw her a few days before). I tell her I need a blood test done and she got right on that. Friday, we leave to move. I try not to think about it too much because I don't want to get my hopes up.*
*(most people don't know this but I actually had an early miscarriage in January...so I was kinda feeling down)
SO... not even 2 hours into the trip, I get THE call. The first thing my doctor says is, "I have some good news for you" and I responded with "no way!" -- I was in shock. She said that I am definitely pregnant and to see a doctor as soon as possible in Baton Rouge to get my levels checked.
I got right on that. I have an appointment this Tuesday, the 6th, to have my first prenatal appointment (sounds so weird to say that).
SO... since then (it's been about a week now since I found out) I have just been experiencing more and more symptoms as the days go on. Will prays over me every day... for protection, for health, and for no bad prego symptoms! I've felt good for the most part, except I am finding that I can't even fit in my pants. Not because of the poppy seed sized baby, but because I am so dang BLOATED. Oh my gosh, I feel like a balloon. I literally have to put a hair band around my button on my pants just to fit in them. Oh, and on top of that, I look like I'm literally 10 pounds heavier in the stomach area. Lovely. This is another reason why I wanted to tell people. People would have been like, "wow, Laura is really letting go of herself and letting Louisiana food have a home".....
Anywho... so, I STILL can't believe it. I honestly can't. I told Will that I probably won't believe it until my doctor tells me on Tuesday (although I said that last time with the blood test). I think it's normal to worry, right?

What's cool is that God gave me a verse randomly to keep my eyes on this week. Psalm 139. I picked up my Bible the other day and felt the Lord telling me to turn there. All it talks about is how awesome God is and how He knits us together in our mother's womb. How cool. He even writes down what He ordains for our life before we were even made. God is encouraging me that HE gave me this baby... and HE will take care of it. HE will protect it. HE will provide for it. That's not my responsibility right now. God is doing it. It's such a humbling feeling... I'm completely out of control and I love it. God is so good.

Not to mention I had several doctors telling me that I would have a hard time getting pregnant. LIES!! Basically I got my thyroid in order, and got pregnant 2 months in a row. Plus, I honestly believe that God has been showing me what to do and what to eat during that process. I gave up so many things that now I realize were probably because He was preparing me for pregnancy. It was also a time of trust and faith. It's hard for a girl to hear that kind of stuff from people. But, I refused to believe it! God is the opener and closer of my womb. Even though the first baby is now with Jesus, I am thankful that God still gave me that child. Now He gave me another and, once again, He's faithful to provide. He will continue to do so in this pregnancy. I'm preachin to myself!!

So, we couldn't be more thrilled. We have always wanted to be parents. We are those kind of people who always dream of that day. We both knew that it would be our ultimate calling in life... to raise a family. It truly is a blessing. God trusts us with one of His children... that we will bring it up in the way it should go. We are so incredibly in awe of how God has chosen us to bring up this child to know Him... not just KNOW Him but LOVE Him and have a close RELATIONSHIP with Him.

Anyway, that's how I feel.

I will find out my due date next week at the appointment. As for now, I am guessing I am about 5 weeks or so. Not far, but definitely still a baby :) And it still deserves to be celebrated. My doctor told me last week that I would be around 2 weeks since fertilization, which would mean 4 weeks total... and now 5 this week.

So, if you're as interested as I am in knowing how big the baby is... here's the facts.

Apparently, he/she is the size of an appleseed. How cute!!

Apparently babies grow fast. So, we will see about that.

Anyway, please be praying for us and this baby. For the baby's health, for my health, that nothing would get in the way. Just be in prayer with us that this child will be healthy all the way through. Just keeping Psalm 139 on the brain :)

God's got a pretty funny sense of humor though, now doesn't he? Giving us the news that we are going to have a baby on the DAY that we move to our new life. Crazyness, I tell ya. I will keep you updated on all the little details. All of them.

And here's a pic of that big bloated belly I was telling you about. No, it's not the baby, it just looks like I ate way too many cheeseburgers. Since we had to document the first week I found out, here it is. I feel ridiculous posing with the focal point being my stomach, but oh well. It comes along with the territory. Plus, what are my mom and mother and law supposed to do several hours away from me?? :)