Yes, it's TRUE!

We are having a baby! 

As I sit here one day shy of 14 weeks pregnant, I am still in a state of disbelief.  Ethan is 12 years old and will be a month shy of 13 when this little Pip {nickname given by Aunt Kamrin from day 1 for "Pea in a Pod"} is born.  I have not been shy about vocalizing my desire to give Ethan a sibling, but I had doubt that it would ever happen as the years kept passing by.  So, when we finally decided that now was the time I, for some reason, was reserved with positive thinking.  I kept thinking I would have a hard time getting pregnant or that we would miscarry and not be able to carry to term.  So many "Nagness" moments that I even care to admit.  The moment came when I had the "maybe I am!" thought.  Ethan was the first person to know anything.  We were sitting in the living room and I said, "I think Mommy is going to have a baby.  What do you think of that?"  Ethan immediately blew me a kiss and signed "I love you."  My boy certainly knows how to melt his Momma's heart!  

I went to Walgreen's later that day to buy a test.  For pure savings, I bought the 3-pack.  Later that night, I took Test #1 and it immediately turned positive.  Oh my gosh, I started shaking and crying!  For real?  Is this really happening?  Ethan's pregnancy test was so faint, but not this one!  Pip is making their presence known from the beginning!  Test #2 taken the next morning:  Positive.  Holy crap.  Test #3 taken the following morning:  Positive line turned pink before the pee even made it over to the control line!  Pip had some strong hCG!!!  :)

Now, after wanting and waiting to have another baby for so long you'd think that I would've wanted to shout it from the rooftops that we are expecting, but I didn't.  I think it was mostly fear that kept it in.  I told family and some close friends, but that was all.  We asked those that knew to keep it a secret as we just weren't ready to let it out yet.  I thought after our 8 week appointment I would be ready, but I wasn't and neither was Scott, so we waited some more (much to the disappointment of certain family members who wanted to tell EVERYONE!).

I decided that after my 12 week appointment, I would be ready.  I wanted a good profile pic of Pip to announce the pregnancy, but Pip was not very cooperative.  Pip is not a fan of the paparazzi!  Pip kept moving away from how we wanted the picture taken, so while I have a profile pic, it's a tad fuzzy.  

I had signed up to be a pregnancy model for the ultrasound program at the local hospital.  I would get a free hour long ultrasound.  I decided to wait to announce because I still wanted the perfect profile pic of Pip!  Alas, Pip is a Lord of the Dance Irish dancer who also likes acrobatics and still did not give me that picture I was hoping for!  In fact, a few of the pictures remind of of when Snoopy is dancing, lol!  

I do believe that Pip will give us a run for our money.  This pregnancy, so far, has been so different from Ethan's.  But, I am taking it all in since this will, most likely, be my last pregnancy.  Here is our FB cover photo announcement.  The profile pic is the fuzzy one from 12weeks.  It may be hard to read, but Ethan's shirt says "It's Mr. BIG Brother to you."  

Oy, this is longer than I expected it would be!  haha

DEETS + Q & A

8 week u/s {08/26/13}:  Heart rate beautiful at 167bpm, measured right on schedule

12 week u/s {09/23/13}:  Heart rate beautiful at 157bpm, measured 13w1d.  Nuchal translucency scan showed measurement of 1.3mm (perfection).  Bloodwork came back as normal, as well.

13w5d u/s {10/02/13}:  We weren't given a heart rate, measured 14w2d.

When are you due?  April 4, 2014

Are you and Scott excited?   Of course!  Even though it hasn't completely sunk in yet!

Is Ethan excited?  Tough to tell, but every time I ask him if he's going to be a good big brother or if he loves the baby, he signs "Yes!" with a smile, so I take that as a good thing.  :)

Do you think Ethan will be jealous?  Absolutely in the beginning!  He was jealous of Loren {DP} when I watched her, but he was very gentle with her and would randomly kiss her without being prompted, so I have some great expectations of how good of a big brother Ethan will be!  

Will you be tested to see if the baby has Down syndrome?  I am still pondering the Harmony test, but nothing this far leads us to believe the baby has Down syndrome.  Possible?  Of course.  Likely?  Not at all.

Will you have an amnio?  No.  Nothing invasive.

Will you find out the sex of the baby?  We actually found out yesterday, but are holding off on saying anything yet.  I'm not sure how long it will last since it is really hard to not slip up!  I may have to triple proofread this post just to make sure!  ;)

Do you have names picked out?  Um, I have names that I *LOVE*, but Scott is not sold yet.  No, I'm not saying what they are.

Will you have a doula?  Of course!  My partner in doula crime and one of my nearest and dearest friends, Katie, will be my doula.  :)

How are you feeling?  I've put it as I feel exhausted with a side of sick.  I'm not sure I have ever felt so lazy or wanted to sleep as much as I have with this pregnancy!  I also was not sick with Ethan, so that was a change.  And, just when I think I am getting some energy back or that I won't be sick anymore, Pip reminds me who's in charge!  Pip's an opinionated one, for sure!  :)

So, there you have it!  New adventures on the horizon and we can't wait!  Thank you to everyone for the sweet congratulations and kind words!  We love you all!  xoxo