The First Heartbeat (11 weeks)

Last Monday, we saw Holly, our Midwife, to try to find the bean's heartbeat. There wasn't one yet.

We went on to have a fantastic Thanksgiving dinner at Marilyn and George's house, during which we spilled the news and I slept and ate for four days straight, feeling the growth happening by the minute. Having the ligaments in my abdomen pulling and stretching with every movement is very uncomfortable but comforting in the same light to know that everything is progressing normally.

We made another appointment for the following Monday evening (last night) to try again. It didn't take long at all to find it this time. I squealed and laughed and cried as soon as I heard it, it was so distinct I didn't need her to tell me that that was it. Alex was welling up across the room and came closer as she tried to locate it again after my mini explosion :) Even Holly, who has delivered over 400 babies got a little foggy over our joy and excitement. I came prepared with my phone to record the momentous occasion and got a nice 20 or so seconds of strong beating heart.

That's the sound of life, my little bean, thriving inside me.

We've Found Our Midwife

Off of a reccomendation from our soon to be Bradley Method coach, we got hooked up with Holly Shearman, CPM/LM of Compassionate Care Birth Center in Fishersville, VA. She is a wonderful woman that loves mothers and babies and specializes in home water birthing. We've had three visits with her so far and have really hit it off :) She is a very caring and gentle individual with a soft and warming smile :) Please read a little bit more about her and her practice by clicking on the links above.

Honey (whisper)...It's Positive.... (6.5 weeks)

So, our adventure starts on the morning of October 29th, with a home pregnancy test. I rolled out of bed at 3am (I couldn't wait any longer), opened the package (heard Alex turn over in bed and his heavy sleep-breathing stop with anticipation) and peed on the stick. Not wanting to get my hopes to high, I went about getting ready for work. A few minutes went by and I looked at the test and it had a plus sign, but one line was much more faint than the other. I took out the directions and in really big bold print it said:

"IT DOES NOT MATTER IF ONE LINE
IS LIGHTER THAN THE OTHER."

I had my answer. I opened the bathroom door and could see Alex's eyes trained on me in the dark. I crawled up next to him and whispered that it was positive. His exact words were "Really? You're not f'**king with me? Really? REALLY?"...Hugs :)

My doctor ordered a blood test that day. Not able to wait, I completed another positive test on Saturday morning. We had to wait, painstakingly, until my doctor's appointment on Monday for the confirmation.