A Little Overwhelmed

So, I thought I was doing a good thing last week by deciding to sit down and make a list of things we will need for this baby. Basically, I was wanting to divide things up into categories - must have's, want's, and don't really need it's. Well, apparently that is easier said than done. Because this hormone-crazed pregnant lady ended up on the verge of a break down.

How do you know what you really need? How do you know what's THE best? And when is it alright not to have the very best? What's a waste of money? And what makes you a horrible parent if you don't have it because you thought it was a waste of money? I could barely function.

I had also just been asked for about the third time in less than a week what the "theme" of my nursery is. I. Have. No. Flippin. Idea. And, at the risk of sounding like a complete moron, I didn't really know that I needed one. Yep, I said it. I just thought I could find things I liked and put them together. Maybe I'm wrong about that, too.

So, I found myself aimlessly clicking through websites getting more and more frustrated by not knowing what I thought I should know. I kept on picturing all of these other pregnant women and young mom's who seem to have it all together, while I clearly don't. They probably had their nursery theme picked out long before they saw the little pick positive appear on the stick.

I'm calmer now, but still a little concerned about how to know what to spend money on and what to skip. I've decided all major nursery decor decisions can wait until after we at least know whether we're having a boy or a girl. That way, I will only have half as many options to decide between. But, basically what I'm saying is, advice is welcomed, encouraged and begged for. I know this is the first of many rants/freak outs I will have. Some founded, many more not. But I guess that just means I'm transforming into a Mom, and if that's the case, I guess I'm okay with it.

Looks like I spoke a little too soon

Oops! So, my previous post was basically a love letter to my new toothpaste, which I thought was going to see me through my pregnancy. Well, here's some funny news. Turns out, I'm allergic to it. Yep. After brushing my teeth the other morning, I looked in the mirror and realized I looked like either a clown, or a child who had tried to put on bright red lipstick. I had a red ring all the way around my lips. Thankfully, it faded.

Being hard-headed, I tried the toothpaste again that night. I had just told Herschel about what had happened that morning and that I was going to give it one last try. And sure enough, red ring around my lips - particularly in the corners of my mouth.

So I get in bed, and say, "See, I can't keep using this, I look like a clown." Herschel looks up and immediately says, "Oh geez, yeah, you can't use that anymore!" After realizing he'd been rather harsh, he tried to soften his reply by saying, "You don't look like a clown...you look like the Joker!" Sorry, ladies. He's all mine. Such an encourager. So, now it's back to the toothpaste drawing boards for me.

I love my...

Crest Whitening Expressions Cinnamon Rush Toothpaste.

And not for the reason you might think. While it works well, it's not as if I all of a sudden have magically whiter teeth - I wish. No, I am in love with this newfound toothpaste because for the first time in a couple of months, I can brush my teeth without gagging.

While I haven't had a ton of morning sickness (thank goodness!), I have had a few food aversions since I've been pregnant. And one of those apparently was minty toothpaste. Without going into too much detail, let's just say, when you can't finish brushing your teeth without rushing to the toilet or nearest trashcan, it sort of defeats the purpose of brushing your teeth. Sorry for that, but it's the truth.

So the other day, I went in search of some non-mint toothpaste, which was surprisingly more difficult than I thought it would be. There are lots of different types of mint, but somehow I knew that wasn't going to do the trick. Finally, I found this Cinnamon Rush toothpaste. And I think I actually heard angels sing. It's taken some getting used to - imagine brushing your teeth with a stick of Big Red - but it's working! And frankly, that's all I care about at this point. I'm now looking forward to six more months of cinnamon-flavored, teeth-brushing bliss. Thank you, Crest!

Finally!

I am so excited to finally be able to post this entry...we are expecting a baby!! We found out in late January, and the following weeks were a mixture of pure joy and a little bit of torture. Joy - obviously - because we are beyond thrilled to welcome this new little life into our world, and torture, because I wasn't quite ready to tell anyone yet. (I can keep a secret, I just don't like it.)

So we waited. However a couple of weeks ago, I had a good visit with the doctor and we got to hear the baby's heartbeat. What an incredible moment! There really are no words to fully describe the sensation I felt when the doctor finally located that steady, quick whoosh, whoosh, whoosh. I was amazed.

And honestly, I needed that little bit of confirmation. You hear that you're pregnant, and then aside from a little bit of nausea (I realize I was lucky!), constantly going to the bathroom, and a whole lot of exhaustion, there's no tangible sign. But that little heartbeat changed my mind in an instant.

That's when we decided to start sharing the news with everyone we know. And let me just tell you, it's been incredible to feel just how excited all of our friends and family are for us. Not only does it make us feel loved, but it's also encouraging to know just how loved this baby will be by those same people. I've often written about the difficulties of being so far away from friends and family, and I know this experience will not make any of that any easier. But I am so thankful for the messages, emails, phone calls, and texts sharing in this very special time for our family. It makes us feel not quite so far away. Thank goodness for technology!

Herschel and I are soaking up these moments. We've had a lot of days where we've just hung out together, not doing much of anything, but knowing we better enjoy these quiet days while they last. At the same time, we are trying to prepare as best as we can. My heart is full every night as I hear Herschel pray over this child. We are humbled by this immense blessing in our lives. While at times, it seems to be an overwhelming task, I'm trying to take it day by day. There will be plenty of time to freak out, and today is just not the day.