19 WEEKS!!!

Well, we are almost 1/2 way there!  I can't believe how fast time has gone by.  It seems like it was yesterday when I saw those 2 pink lines on my HPT.  I was at work on Monday, August 22nd, and took a test in the hall bathroom.  The second line came up immediately.  I texted my friend Ally to come in there ASAP, because I needed another set of eyes- I just knew I was dreaming!  She saw it & I started shaking uncontrollably.  I was so scared, excited, and in complete awe. Honestly, my first thought was "Linda has everything to do with this...Thank you God!"  In all that J & I had been through over the past month, getting pregnant was the very last thing that I thought would happen.  I was so convinced that I wouldn't conceive until everything settled down, so I had pretty much been getting drunk every night for four days in a row (from Thursday night- Sunday)  No, I'm not a lush, but we had several family & friends that had get-togethers, so the wine was free-flowing. I can't resist good wine!  :)  These past few months seem like such a blur to both J & I. As time goes on, our excitement and anticipation grow stronger.  And my belly keeps getting bigger!

We found out last weekend that two of our girlfriends are also preggers!  I'm so excited that I'm not the only one in our circle of friends!!  One of the girls is 4 weeks behind me, and she's married to J's best friend.  The timing couldn't be better!  We'll get to be on maternity leave together and our kids will be close.  The other couple is due in August, I believe.  They haven't officially told us (secrets are hard to keep among all of us), so we've been practicing our surprised faces ;)  I think they're waiting until they get out of their 1st trimester to tell us, which is understandable. After getting this great news, it just confirms our having to wait so long for our baby was all just part of God's plan!  I'm grateful for how this is all playing out & I don't think it should be any other way.

We have 6 days to wait until we find out the sex!!! J & I can hardly stand the wait....Whatever it ends up being, I'll be excited & I know J will be too.  Even though he REALLY wants a boy, since he is the last male in our family with our last name.  He got really emotional about it the other night...It was hard to not laugh, but aren't I the one who should be emotional?  It's sweet to see him so excited and happy about all of this...I love that man.

We keep forgetting to take pictures of my belly...I'll probably regret that later.  I'm to the point that I can't see my toes anymore, so that should give you some perspective on my growth.  I love it, but I am kind of missing my waistline. It will return, I'm sure though!  I'm anxiously waiting for some definite action from this baby.  I want to feel some kicks, punches and rolls.  I want J to be able to feel it too.  Hopefully, it will happen in the next couple of weeks!  If there's one thing this baby is teaching me, it's patience. Believe me, I've definitely needed it! 

I will post again next week after we find out......  eeeek!