8 weeks!!!

I feel like time is finally going by at a decent pace! I'm already two months pregnant!  Making progress over here people! This week has been a struggle for the most part.  I'm in the middle of a twelve day work stretch and I feel like a crazy person!
I cry at least every other day, and if I'm not crying I'm trying really hard to just stay on top of my emotions and not let them control me.  It is really really hard,  especially at work when I'm cleaning up after rude people. This week two of my nephews had birthday parties on the same day.  So all of the Goyer's were together (which like never happens) and all of Zach's mom's side of the family got together,  and I didn't get to go to either.  I also haven't gotten to spend any time with the Gilbert's lately either.  You all know how important my family is to me,  so missing time with them was incredibly sad for me.  I came home that night and just cried and cried while my poor husband tried to comfort me. I did get to see my mom and step dad this week and they took us out to dinner, which made me very happy! They have been searching for homes up here,  so hopefully they find one soon!
I have really enjoyed talking to my little sprout,  but sometimes it makes me really emotional so I have to stop. Other than being a crazy emotional person I have had no other symptoms! I'm still so thankful that I'm not pukey! Yay!
Today has been awesome!  I woke up to sunshine and I didn't have to work early,  so I got to go pick out paint samples for our new apartment! I am so excited about the colors I chose.  Unfortunately Zach had to work,  but he told me he trusts my judgment and likes what I like so go ahead and pick them (what a man!) We are doing yellow and grey for the baby's room,  and blue for the accent wall in the living room. I also wandered into a furniture store today and found an awesome mirror perfect for bump pictures!  I'm going to have Zach stain it to match the other things in our house. It was a great deal too, only 30 bucks!
Going to work is going to be a real kill joy in twenty minutes!
Here is my first official "bump" picture,  although,  my "bump" isn't a baby poking out,  it is what I had for lunch,  so don't let it fool you!

Happy Rant

Ugh!  I find myself overwhelmed right now with how much I have to be grateful for. I kinda just need to regurgitate it onto my blog.
I remember when Zach and I decided to "pull the keeper" so to speak and start our family. We had the same conversation many times,  "are we crazy? " yes, yes we are crazy!  For some reason God put it on our hearts to become mommy and daddy, but we couldn't nail down exactly how we were going to do it,  and that was scary!  What about insurence? Where are we going to live? How will Zach go to school? Where will we work? Even though we were warned,  you can never fully prepare for a baby,  we still tried so hard to prepare for things we just couldn't control. Just when I was about to give up with making a baby, God was like, "nope, here ya go,  your little miracle!"
And we were like,  "whaaaaaaaaaaaat?! Ok!"
It's only been 3 weeks since we found out about little sprout,  and already God has answered so many of our prayers. Zach has a new job,  I have two new jobs, we found an incredible apartment,  and I got insurance!
I'm pretty sure we must be doing something right,  because everything is going so well (except for my husband's wife is still being suuuuuper moody, someone get ahold of that girl!)
And can I just say,  while I'm still happy ranting, that my family is being so encouraging,  and so supportive and way helpful. Little sprout is doing cartwheels right now because sprout has the best family ever.  My mother in law sent Sprout a Valentines Day card!  Can you believe that? Sprout was only 6 weeks in utero when it recieved its first card,  complete with confetti! I'm excited to put it in Sprout's nursery when we get our new apartment.
Thank you to my family because bringing a baby into this world and making the family even bigger, has made me feel even closer to you all, and I certainly feel the love!

Week 7

This week started off so stressful!  Zach and I are both commuting to Salem for work now and I feel like I spend all of my time in the car. I had an interview on Wednesday and I felt like it went Ok.  Saturday was crazy busy at work, and it wasn't fun.
This week I've noticed a pattern with my queasiness. I've found it happens when I don't eat frequently enough. I've really been trying to cut back on sugars,  and when I don't bring snacks to work I end up eating candy so I don't get nauseous,  but it never makes me feel any better anyways. So this week when we went grocery shopping I loaded up on the good snacks!  I loaded up on veggies and fruits and nuts.  I did so well eating yesterday I only felt nauseous before dinner. 
I have still been battling the moodiness.  It is so bad! This puts pms to shame! I cry when I read birth stories,  I cry about cute pictures of babies,  I cry over sad songs. I'm just a giant cry baby. My poor husband is doing a pretty good job handling it,  but he doesn't quite grasp how I can get so angry knowing that what I'm feeling isn't realistic,  however still feeling the anger.  He misses being able to play and wrestle with me,  because honestly I just get mad for no reason!  It's dumb, and I feel bad,  but I can't just turn it off. Hopefully this moodiness doesn't stick around long! It makes working difficult because I can't just walk around being grumpy to people.
Anyways,  on to the good stuff!  Yesterday was freaking awesome!  Zach and I went to apply for our apartment and we got to view one of the 2 bedroom 2 bath units. This little old lady named Ruth gave us a tour of her apartment where she has been living for 16 years! The apartment is huge and wonderful, and Ruth was so sweet.  We talked to the apartment manager for a long time and after explaining our lease situation where we live now she offered to give us March rent for free!  I was thrilled to say the least.  I was dreading commuting for two more months. She is having us pick out paint colors,  and I'm very excited to have a HOME! She also gave us a gift card to French press!  Clearly these people are awesome.
We drove home and when we arrived I checked my email and low and behold I got an email from the coffee shop I applied at offering me the job!  What!? I couldn't believe it.  I'm so excited to make coffee again and start making more than minimum wage. They also have bubble tea,  and I'm excited to learn how to make that and try it,  because I've never had it before. 
Everything is working itself out. This week I need to apply for health insurance and start looking for birthing centers.

Week 6

This week has been an interesting one. We had lots of snow, and although it was pretty, it made it so that we couldn't go anywhere! We were so very stuck, and I went stir crazy big time. It was pretty upsetting because it thwarted our plans to visit my in-laws at the coast, and I was really looking forward to seeing them.
Zach and I were stuck inside with our pooch so we tried to make the best of it. The snow started coming down on Thursday and it didn't leave until yesterday, so on Friday Zach made a giant fort in the living room. I must admit that his fort building abilities far surpass mine. It was the coziest of forts. Stocked with ample amounts of blankets, and lots of cuddles. We pretty much stayed in the fort for about two and a half days until we felt like we needed to come out of hibernation. Reggie, however, loved the snow, he took to it like a husky. He just needed a few more friends and a sled and we would have been in business!
So far little sprout has been so so nice to me. I really haven't had any morning sickness. Sometimes I get a little queasy, but it hasn't been terrible at all, thanks little sprout, you're the best! My shoulders are still bothering me when I am up and about for any length of time, but I'm going to start taking Tylenol and see if that helps.
I've also been nervous/stressed/uneasy lately, and  I can't blame Sprout for that because this week has been full of life changers for us. Zach got a new job at Lowe's, which is so crazy because for then entire time I have known Zach he has only worked at Les Schwabs. The absolute best part about this is that Zach gets to keep his beard. I just love Zach's beard. It makes me happy. It also means that I now have to find health insurance elsewhere, which means dealing with the biggest pain in the butt since comcast, Cover Oregon. What a nightmare! I have also been working on finding another job because working part time just isn't going to cut it. So I sent my resume to a few places and I have an interview tomorrow at a coffee place in downtown Salem.
We did have success (FINALLY) in finding an apartment. This is the crem de la crem of apartments, and it has everything I've ever wanted and more in an apartment, and they love Reggie. It is out of our price range, so we have to do some serious budgeting to see if it will work. I'm praying that it will, because I couldn't imagine a better place to raise our little sprout when he/she gets here.
I'm really trying to enjoy each stage of pregnancy, and right now I'm just so thankful I'm not sick. But little sprout, I cannot wait to feel you moving in there! I can't wait to feel you give me little kicks or feel you hiccup. It will be probably be around 10 more weeks till I can feel you, and that just seems like eternity!

Week 5 oh... hey hormones

Apparently I forgot to post this one.  This is from last week.  Week 5 is here!  My baby has a heartbeat now!  Look at you grow little one!
My body is slowly starting to change,  and it seems like it will take forever for me to have a baby bump, but I am trying to enjoy every stage of pregnancy,  so here is to week 5!
My hormones have stepped up their game, yesterday I was having ridiculous mood swings at work, I felt like a crazy person. My nasal passages are stuffed up.  Also my "girls" are growing so quickly that my shoulders are aching everyday. They look great,  and they are excited to perform the one task they were created for,  feeding the baby! But man,  my shoulders are having a hard time bearing the weight.
Side note: went to the store for icy hot for my achy shoulders,  and icy hot has a pregnancy warning on it! For Real? Ok I'm pregnant,  I'm not a little piece of fragile China. It's so annoying!
Anyways,  I went to natural grocers today to get some coconut oil,  and I also found some special coconut water, and let me tell you,  it is the best thing ever. It is leagues better than any coconut water I've ever had before.  I LOVE it! It was almost 5 dollars for only 16 oz but I can't have wine,  beer,  or coffee, so it's totally worth it! 
This week we get to visit my in Laws in depot Bay for a little coast trip. It will be nice to have a relaxing day at the beach.  Reggie just loves the ocean.  Hopefully Zach will be able to build me a chalk board this week.
My husband and I are facing many big decisions and there are so many different ways we could go,  so we have been trying to navigate through those options. We are just praying that God makes it blatantly obvious to us which path to take.
I'm just so blessed to have my husband,  he is willing to do anything for our family,  and he helps me manage my emotions,  and as crazy as I can feel, he never makes me feel like my emotions are invalid or silly. He rocks!

My hopes and dreams becoming actualized

This week has definitely been one of the best weeks of my life (only second to my wedding.) I have been waiting for this for what seems like forever! I have been imagining this for months!  I imagined how I would feel when I got my positive pregnancy test,  I imagined how I would tell my husband,  and how he would react!  I imagined telling our family, and seeing the joy on their faces. I imagined how I would feel to have a little baby inside of me.
Well now I know,  and it is even more than I could have imagined.
I took a pregnancy test on Sunday morning, I knew it was going to be negative because I felt like I was pmsing like no one's business.  I just felt like it wasn't our month,  and maybe next time,  but probably not because I was ready to give up. It is so so hard not getting your hopes up when you want something so badly. Anyways,  after my big fat negative Zach and I went up to Portland to help my sister and her family move to the apartment under theirs.  I had the best job of taking care of Ella and Wesley while everyone else did the heavy lifting.  Wesley just kept looking at me with the sweetest smiles, and it made me feel a lot better about my negative test, at least I have my family right? Ella kept me laughing because she is the best conversationalist.  She says the most amazing things. Anyways the kids made me feel better because it's hard to be sad when they keep smiling at you. Mollie made us homemade gourmet margaritas in her vitamix, um,  amazing!  However it really didn't make me feel good.  It made me nauseated. It was super annoying because it was so yummy. Aunt flow didn't visit me Sunday.... And she also didn't visit me on Monday.
I was thinking how rude it was of her to tease me like that,  but I guess she isn't known for being nice to anyone. Monday night I picked up some more tests because why not? I figured it would be another negative,  but I thought I would try anyways.
Tuesday I woke up and peed in a cup,  got my test out and dipped it,  put it on the counter,  and layed down on the floor and prayed that I wouldn't be too disappointed and that God's will would happen one way or the other.  I peeked my head up and saw.... THE LINE!!!! I quickly pulled all of the other tests I had out of the cupboard and opened them and started dunking them.  I even used the big fancy clear blue test. Pregnant,  pregnant,  pregnant!!!
I sat down on the floor and started crying and praying.  How could I be so lucky? How could there be a little baby in me? I was flooded with the most happiness I have ever felt. It was the best news I've ever gotten! I'm going to be a mom!
I had to decide how to tell Zach.  It was 6 am and he was sound asleep. I let him sleep longer before I told him the life changing news. In the meantime I just prayed and wrote my letter to my little sprout. Around 8 I just couldn't wait any longer. I made a collar out of ribbon for Reggie.  I put a little tag on it that said big brother.  I woke Zach up and told him to look at the collar I made for Reggie. I'm one of those people who always put things on my dog so Zach want entirely impressed.... Until he read his tag.  I handed him the positive test and he was like, "really?! Go take ten more" ha ha silly man,  I already took three.
We spent the morning praying and talking about how excited we were.  I don't think I've ever prayed more in my whole life.
We started telling our family,  and it was so awesome to hear everyone so excited for us.  We are surrounded by so much support and love.  Our little baby is going to have wonderful grandparents,  beautiful aunties, and awesome uncles. Not to mention 10 cousins. Lucky little duck we have here.
We still haven't gotten to tell everyone yet, but after today all of our family should know.
We are so unbelievably happy to start our journey with our little butt chin baby!

My little sprout

Dear little sprout,
Today I just found out I get to meet you in 9 months.  I don't know you yet and you don't know me,  but your daddy and I have been praying our hearts out for you.
You see,  your daddy and I decided that we wanted to spend the rest of our lives loving a baby.  We want to spend the rest of our lives raising you, laughing with you,  playing with you,  and helping you through all the struggles in life that just don't make sense.  We have been praying that God would bless us with a baby.  It wasn't easy and your mommy got really impatient at times, but your daddy encouraged me every step of the way. I can't believe that we are the lucky parents that get to raise you!  I love you little sprout, I love you so unbelievably much.  It really doesn't even make sense.  You are the light of my world.
Some day soon you are going to start letting mommy know you are in there.  You will probably make me puke a lot,  you might make me get chubby.  You might give me stretch marks. But I know you will make me the happiest mommy in the whole world. I'm ready little sprout.  My body is completely yours. I love you so much! 
Your daddy is still sleeping and when he wakes up I can't wait to tell him about you.  He is going to pee his pants. You get front row tickets to the show. 
I love you little sprout.