Sprouting.

After six long weeks of feebly trying to keep our lips sealed, we are finally ready to spill the beans - I am delighted to announce that I am pregnant with our first child. We have at last reached the twelve week mark and heard our little "Sprout's" heartbeat for the first time this morning. Its bup-da-bup-da-bup-da-bup was music to our ears and brought on a myriad of emotions - relief, excitement, wonder, and most of all, joy. 

Up until now this pregnancy has felt like a dream.  At times real (such as when I have been curled up in the fetal position clutching my stomach or giggling over the phone with my mom and sisters) and at others a big mystery (something - someone is growing inside me?!). Without a cute little bump I still look normal. I have not gained excess weight and my waist is still intact but if you look closer the top button of my favorite jeans is already unbuttoned, my face has broken out in hormone-induced acne, and I have a knowing smile on my lips. Yet my smile does not come close to equaling this baby's Daddy's. If you want proof of his excitement, just ask him about the night vision baby monitor that he bought at 4a.m. a couple of weeks ago (it's going to be perfect). 

Above is Sprout's first picture, which was taken when I was just eight weeks along. To anyone else it is just a blur. A little jelly bellian-like sea monkey in a black oval. But I will say that watching a baby, our baby, move was incredible. I look forward to that feeling coming over me again and again as watch our little one grow, develop, and finally join our family.

For now my days, nights, sleeping and waking thoughts are consumed with thinking, wondering,  and worrying about this tiny thing. Am I eating well enough to give it what it needs? Should I be getting more rest? What will it look like? How big will my belly get? And will my morning sickness ever end? Thankfully I have a lot of people I can turn to for advice and I will need it all the more as the weeks go by so please, keep it coming. 

By the end of next month or the beginning of October we will find out what it is and I greatly look forward to that day but for now I am enjoying its anonymity.  Right now my mind is not filled with visions of tutus and dolls or basketballs and trucks. Instead I am simply enjoying that Sprout is just that. Our Sprout.