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March 6, 2008

Hello! My name is Rachel and my husband, Brennan, and I are expecting our first little one in July. We are both pretty excited! We've been married just a little over a year now (our anniversary was February 24th) and I have loved every minute of it! We had originally planned on waiting a couple of years before we got pregnant, but I think we both got the "bug" and now here we are. :) I'm a little nervous! I just hope and pray I'll be a good mommy. I know Brennan will be a great daddy so that helps a lot!

Today I am 20 weeks 2 days along. I just started feeling baby move the week before last, so that was exciting! What a strange, fluttery feeling! I've been trying to describe it to my hubby, but I don't know how you possibly can? We aren't going to be finding out what we're having, so that makes it even more exciting, to me anyways. :) We both have been hoping for a boy first (I always wanted a big brother), but we will be thrilled either way! I think it will be the coolest thing to hear "It's a -----!!" for the first time when baby comes out. I can't imagine the moment and I can't wait! :)

The first 4 1/2 months were really rough and I hated being pregnant...it was awful! But the last two weeks have been so much better! Even the fatigue has lifted and I'm starting to feel somewhat "normal" again. The biggest thing that freaks me out is gaining weight (trying to be sensible and not gain too much) and stretch marks. I'm trying to eat as healthy as I can and do everything I can so baby is born healthy. :) I'm hoping these oils I'm rubbing on my belly will help with stretch marks too...but we'll see. That's quite the controversial subject I guess! :)

Anyway, I am excited to meet anyone here! It will be fun to get to know some of you and go through pregnancy "together". I hope yours is going well! God bless!

March 14, 2008

Well, today marks nearly the end of 21 weeks already. This is going by so fast! Today was the first time I felt baby move up high and left in my belly. For the last three weeks, it has been only really low and lots of little flutters, but today it was definite. Big moves up a lot higher and left. I was kinda taken-back, it surprised me! Today I feel so good, besides being a little tired. It has been an extremely stressful week and the last few days have been awful, so I'm thankful today is Friday and I get all weekend to rest. I hope everyone is doing well!

March 19, 2008

Hello everyone! Just a little update... Before last week, I had the BEST couple of weeks being pregnant, ever! I think it was God's mercy on me because we just celebrated our anniversary with a whole week on the Oregon Coast, and I felt so good the entire time, and the week after! But last week and this week is another story... the heartburn has come back like a flood and I'm not sure if its me or if its just pregnant issues. I don't think I've changed anything I've been eating or anything! I am up to a 15 pound weight gain now at 22 weeks. I've been told its not too much for where I am, so that makes me feel better. So far I hardly show! My boobs and belly are the only thing that's changed...I'm still in all my same clothes! So I'm really not sure where 15 pounds is hiding? Anyway... The most challenging part of being pregnant right now is the constant exhaustion - like I can't even keep my eyes open. I was not expecting that, especially after those two really NICE weeks of feeling normal (and everything I've read that says that the second trimester gives you a "burst of energy")! :) It could have something to do with work, as its been extremely stressful here lately. I work for a chiropractor and we just switched from PC's to Mac's and we did a software change as well...and it has been SO MUCH work. I am so tired right now. The good thing is that it is such a better software and it wil make my life easier, once we get through the initial conversion and getting used to the system - and getting all the information in it like we need it. I don't know how I've made it so far, but I remind myself to just take it one day at a time. God is so good to us! Yesterday I went to a friend of mine's sister's house who is getting rid of a ton of baby stuff and I was able to buy all kinds of things for really cheap! I actually felt horrible writing her a check for so cheap, but it was really all she wanted! I got a bassinet, a swing, a huge bouncer chair, lots of cloth diapers and diaper-covers, bottles, clothes, a diaper bag, and much more, all for like $60! And my husband's sister is sending me a TON of stuff that she is done with, including a European stroller! Whatever that is! :) Another friend of mine is giving us her crib and changing table and tons of boy clothes. Another sis-in-law gave me all her baby's girl clothes!! So we're set whether we have a boy or a girl. Its just so awesome to watch God provide. Up until a week ago, we had nothing and we're just "getting by" financially right now, so there hasn't been much left over...so I've been praying for the last couple of months that God would provide for us. And wow, does He ever provide!! Really, He is able to do "exceedingly and abundantly above all we could ever ask or think...." Thank you Lord! I hope you all are doing well. Thank you to everyone who has dropped me notes here. It has been fun to get to know you! God bless. :)

March 26, 2008

Hello everyone! Nothing new really to report this week. I can't believe that Monday will mark the end of 24 weeks! This pregnancy has gone by really quickly so far. Yesterday I finally broke down and went and got some clothes...I'd had friends give me a bunch of maternity clothes, but I'm not showing enough to need them yet. I'd try them on and it would look like a huge sack on me! So far I have made it in all my regular clothes, with one of those belly bands to help hold my jeans up since I can't wear a belt. Its really nice that my jeans are still fitting nicely! I've always worn low-rise anyway, so they may last for awhile, hopefully! Anyway I went to Fashion Bug yesterday and found the CUTEST clothes and they were having a 60% off sale! I got a bunch of empire waist shirts that will grow with me (they're not maternity per se) and probably last throughout the rest of the pregnancy, and the most I spent was $16.00 for a shirt. The rest of them were around $6.99 up to $9.99! It was a great buy! I'm so happy - now I actually have something to wear. I'm just in that "in-between' stage I guess. Anybody else feel like that?

Yesterday felt like spring! The sun was out and shining so bright...and I was stuck inside working. I was able to get out and enjoy the fresh air a little bit yesterday evening, and I even got a really good workout in! That felt really good. I've been able to exercise more in the last week so that has definitely felt good. This morning I woke up at 4am with my hips and low back aching though! I didn't want to take anything for it - I hate drugs...so I suffered through it. A pillow between my legs didn't even help. It was bad. I hope this doesn't continue!

Anyways...as you can tell, not much to report. I hope everyone is doing well! I'm excited for baby to get here...and I know I've got a long ways yet! Well...God bless you all! :)

APRIL 16, 2008

Wow, its been a little while since I've posted anything here! I guess I've just been really busy and I haven't really been surfing around here very much either! I hope everyone is doing well. Today marks 26 weeks 2 days and I can hardly believe it! Its going by so fast. I remember holding my breath through the whole first trimester, hoping I would keep this baby, and now here it is, almost the end of the second!

I am doing really well...the biggest pregnancy "blah" has been the constant exhaustion. I am SO tired, all the time! This is amazing. No matter how much sleep I get, I am just beat. I hope this goes away! I never got the "energy rush" that a lot of moms talk about during the second trimester. Bummer. Other than that, I'm having to really watch my blood sugar. I was hypoglycemic before becomming pregnant and it seems to have really increased tenfold! Four hours after a meal the other day, and my blood sugar was down to 51. Not good. Its been a struggle trying to figure out what to eat and what not to eat to keep my levels more constant, but I think I'm gaining some ground.

We've been going to Bradley childbirth classes (tonight is our fourth class I believe) and it has been so fun and informative!! I have to keep track of everything I eat and I turn it in every week. That has been amazing for accountability! I didn't realize I eat so well until I actually wrote it down...and it definitely helped me stop worrying about my weight, because I am definitely NOT eating too much! I am being so good! So the 12 - 15 pounds I've put on so far are good. :)

My hubby is still sooo excited for baby to get here. I feel so blessed to have that! I know some women don't have that - and a close girlfriend of mine never had that excited support from her husband...and I am so grateful for him! God definitely blessed me beyond all my wildest imagination when he gave me Brennan. He brought me a decaf granita last week at work, with a little card, and it was so precious...he wrote, "P.S. I can't wait to be a daddy and I know you are going to be a great mommy!" That made my day. :)

God bless you all!