Whirlwind

Oh the MIA thing....about that...sorry it's been 3 months...I've been busy GROWING A BABY and kind of wanting to die because I have been stinking sick!!
Rewind...
November flew by. We were able to go to Colorado for Skyler's mission farewell. We were there for less than 48 hours, but it was wonderful. Skyler was so anxious to go, and I'm so glad I was able to see him. My mom's parents and my dad's mom were both there and it was great to spend some time with family. Skyler now is in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, and is absolutely loving it! though the humidity is killing him ;)

The night we got back, we were both incredibly sick, a violent case of the stomach flu hit almost everyone in attendance at the farewell, and we were down and out for a couple of days, which was difficult because we left for a week in North Carolina just that Thursday.
Charlotte was wonderful. It was just the vacation we needed! We got to spend some quality sister in law time as girls, and the guys all played a lot of risk. Jared and I even went up to Asheville to visit Vanessa, Mike, and the boys, since we had never seen their place up there. We had so much fun and ate a lot of good food. It is so great to be a part of such a wonderful family, and to see it grow. Little Emmett was a joy to cuddle that week, and I wish I could spend so much more time with my little nephews!

Speaking of growing family, it was two days into that trip that I got this...

A positive pregnancy test! Jared and I were thrilled, but cautious. We have had some ups and downs with fertility this year, and knew a positive pregnancy test was just the first step, and of course, this all had to happen when I was a country away from my OB. We kept a positive mindset though, and hoped for the best, as we wished the time with family wouldn't have to end. We had a great Thanksgiving with everyone, and left the next day to fly back to Salt Lake, where we were able to spend a couple of days with my family, who had been there for Thanksgiving.
It was about this time that my sense of smell skyrocketed. I could literally name all the ingredients on a pizza I had never seen, I could smell EVERYTHING! And I was afraid...usually with the strong sense of smell comes a great sensitivity to food...and about a week later it hit me, and it has been a blur ever since! Growing a person is hard.
I was able to get into my OB very soon after getting home and we had an early ultrasound done

There's our little blob, with a heartbeat of 129 at 5 weeks 6 days. I thought the ultrasound would settle my nerves, but it made me more on edge. I was still not convinced this was all going to happen. But the sickness continued through Christmas, which was good, but quiet. Jared and I spent it at home, just the two of us, for the first (and last!!) time. I got Jared a stereo deck for the truck, and I got some gorgeous pots and pans (not that I've used them...just the sight of the kitchen...bleck!)
Work has been very understanding and I have been a bit of a bump on a log, but I am so grateful, and hoping I'll be out of the slump soon!
Jared turned 26 last Thursday, and we had a little party for him Friday. For his birthday, we went out to Chandler's, the best steakhouse in Boise. Neither of us had had gourmet steak, ever, so I figured this would be a good night, and amazingly enough I ate my whole steak! Which is more than I've eaten in 3 months! It was absolutely delicious, I've been dreaming about it since...

Man I look like a zombie...

Friends came over for Pizza, games, and ice cream cake Friday night, and it was fun. Jared has been an absolute dream, he has been so incredibly patient with me, and taken care of everything from the house, to filling my water bottle constantly, to running through the list of everything in the pantry with me just to find one tiny thing I could choke down. I could not have wished for a better companion during this tough time.
And just the day after Jared's birthday we had the 12th week appt, where we heard the baby's heartbeat for the first time. When we did the ultrasound at barely 6 weeks it was too quiet to hear, but as soon as my OB took out the doppler we heard the heart loud and strong, up to 166 bpm now. "It's running a marathon!" as Jared put it. That was the neatest experience, hearing that little heart, it makes it all worth it.
So baby is coming around August 2nd, and we won't find out what we are having until beginning of March, but I am fine with the wait, anticipation is half the fun! Until then we will keep working and praying that all continues well, and we appreciate any prayers on our behalf!
I promise to be better at keeping up now too. I finally feel a bit more human again, so hopefully that will continue!