Yep, I sure am!

"You should never say anything to a woman that even remotely suggests that you think she's pregnant unless you can see an actual baby emerging from her at that moment." -Dave Barry

This quote makes me laugh! Before, I didn't think much of it, but now I completely understand!!! Today, I am 12 weeks, 4 days pregnant. (YES- photos are coming soon). I went to the movies with some friends last night and afterwards, the three of us girls made a beeline for the restroom. (I am the only pregnant one in the group) My friend made a joke about having to go so badly that she would use any restroom at this point, even the men's restroom. I said, "I think I'll wait, any weird smell will make me sick."

A lady looked at me and said, "Why? Why will it make you sick?"

I said, "I'm pregnant, everything makes me sick."

Her response? "Yeah, I thought you were pregnant, but I couldn't tell if you just had a pooch or if that was a baby bump."

I couldn't help but giggle on the inside... and get a little excited to know a stranger thought I was pregnant. Guess I really am starting to show. :)

When You're Gone

I hate when I find a song that describes what I'm feeling... because that song won't escape my head. I'm trying to deal with the idea of being apart from him for 11 months and I think I'm handling it better than I thought I would. Nothing prepares you for this. Pregnant and alone. I just laugh sometimes because neither of us thought we would be here right now. I am counting my blessings every day. My child will forever know the value of freedom and will always have to be proud of this sacrifice he is making. Daddy loved you so much that he did this for you. How many fathers sacrifice this much for their country?

I've always loved Avril Lavigne, and this video says it for me. Enjoy. :)

Just Say Yes

The heat continues in Japan... it's so hot I'm sweating inside my own house! I spent the morning tutoring at the Japanese English-speaking school and the afternoon at a friend's house eating everything cold we could find. I am 11 weeks, 5 days pregnant today... and I'm still feeling it. Everything from little headaches, heartburn and nausea... today I felt dizzy for the first time. Other than that stuff, I am feeling fine. :)

I watched the movie, "Killers" today with Ashton Kutcher and Katherine Heigl and this song was in the movie. Enjoy. :)

"Just Say Yes" -Snow Patrol

I'm running out of ways to make you see

I want you to stay here beside me

I won't be ok and I won't pretend I am

So just tell me today and take my hand

Please take my hand, Please take my hand

Just say yes, just say there's nothing holding you back

It's not a test, nor a trick of the mind

Only love

It's so simple and you know it is

You know it is, yeah

We can't be to and fro like this

All our lives

You're the only way to me

The path is clear

What do I have to say to you

For Gods sake, dear. For Gods sake, dear

For Gods sake, dear. For Gods sake, dear

For Gods sake, dear

Just say yes, just say there's nothing holding you back

It's not a test, nor a trick of the mind

Only love

Just say yes, coz I'm aching and I know you are too

For the touch of your warm skin

As I breathe you in

I can feel your heart beat through my shirt

This was all I wanted, all I want

It's all I want. It's all I want

It's all I want. It's all I want

Just say yes, just say there's nothing holding you back

It's not a test, nor a trick of the mind

Only love

Just say yes, coz I'm aching and I know you are too

For the touch of your warm skin

As I breathe you in

So over this heat.

It got to 81 degrees F today... and you know what's no fun about that? No AIR CONDITIONING in our house. This base refuses to put A/C in our houses. Ridiculous! So basically I spend the day either sitting in front of a box fan or riding around in my car with my face in front of the vents.

I am 11 weeks, 4 days pregnant right now... and I cannot wait until winter hits here. We have heaters in our house, so I can easily adjust the heating, but not the A/C in 81 degree weather.

Pregnant + hot hot hot Japanese weather = unhappy Nicole. :(

11 Weeks belly picture

Week 11- Our baby is now the size of a lime! (approx. 1.9 inches) I'm still pretty bloated, but I've started feeling a little better. (You can probably tell since my hair is actually fixed!) I've had a TON of salsa and pickles this week. I am usually a sugar addict, but lately, all I want is salty foods. Baby White's fingers and toes are almost finished developing, while the teeth and nails are beginning to form.

10 Weeks belly picture

Week 10- Our baby is the size of a prune! This week, I've been sick and sleepy. Everything makes me tired and I just feel bloated and pudgy. We had our first ultrasound at 9 weeks, 6 days and Baby White is growing and changing. We even got to see the baby wiggle on the ultrasound!

Showing... just a little.

So I am showing... just a little, but neverless, I'm showing.

Yesterday I was sitting on the couch and I stood up and Ryan says, "You're showing." First, I thought he meant my shirt was pushed up or something... I forgot what "you're showing" means right now. Sure enough, he's right.

I still just feel bloated. I was at our base legal office yesterday talking to one of the girls who worked here and I was showing her my belly. I told her I just felt fat, not pregnant. She said she was the same way, but there's definitely a little lime in there! In two days, I will be 11 weeks pregnant. Craziness!

I googled "pregnant celebrities" and after seeing this pic of Uma Thurman, I felt better. She's UMA THURMAN... so obviously if her baby gut is ok, mine is too. Anyway, pics coming soon. I promise. :)

Our last pictures as "two"... before #3 arrives!

We had pictures taken the other day. I wanted to get some made before baby comes.

Our photographer posted a "sneak peek" from our photo shoot!

We had such a blast. She is taking our baby's newborn pictures... I cannot wait! She is such a talented photographer. To see the "sneak peek," click this link Thank you Susan!!!! :)

A Beautiful Day

I have felt a little sick today and yesterday... but the gorgeous weather outside has lifted my spirits and I felt like this song was perfect for the craziness that is my life. :)

"A Beautiful Day" by India Arie

Life is a journey,

Not a destination,

There are no mistakes,

Just chances we’ve taken

Lay down your regrets cause all we have is now

Wake up in the morning

And get out of bed

Start making a mental list in my head

Of all of the things that I am grateful for

Early in the morning

It’s the dawn of a new day

New hopes new dreams new ways

I open up my eyes and

I open up my mind and

I wonder how life will surprise me today

Early in the morning

It’s the dawn of a new day

New hopes new dreams new ways

I open up my heart and

I’m gon’ do my part and

Make this a positively beautiful day

La la la la la la la la la [x3]

It’s a Beautiful Day [x3]

Life is a challenge not a competition

You can still smell the roses and be on a mission

Just take a moment to get in touch with your heart

Sometimes you feel like you’ve got something to prove

Remind yourself that there’s only one you

Just take a moment to give thanks of who you are

Early in the morning

It’s the dawn of a new day

New hopes, new dreams, new ways

I open up my eyes and

I open up my mind and

I wonder how life will surprise me today

Early in the morning

It’s the dawn of a new day

New hopes, new dreams, new ways

I open up my heart and

I’m gon’ do my part and

Make this a positively beautiful day

La la la la la la la la la [x3]

It’s a Beautiful Day [x2]

Let’s make this a wonderful

Let’s make this a powerful

Let’s make this a Beautiful Day

It’s a Beautiful Day

Life is a journey,

Not a destination,

There are no mistakes,

Just chances we’ve taken

Lay down your regrets cause all we have is now

Our first ultrasound! (9 weeks, 6 days)

We had our first ultrasound yesterday! It was probably the most exciting moment of my life. Never did I think a little blob on a computer screen could make me this happy!

The doctor showed us the baby's heartbeat- we actually got to see it pulse on the screen! Coolest thing ever. Then, we got to see the baby wiggle a little bit... then he/she hiccuped twice!

After hearing the heartbeat, the doctor measured the baby and said I am actually almost 10 weeks pregnant (about a week later than he originally thought) and that the baby looks perfectly healthy.

I was so happy than Ryan got to be at this appointment, since he won't be able to make any other appointments. Seeing him that excited was so precious... I cannot wait until he gets to meet his little baby! It's going to be a wonderful day! :)

Counting down the days

Today is Friday, July 2. Exactly one month from now, my husband will begin training for his deployment. I don't think I am ready to say goodbye just yet.

I did, however, find out some good news. He will be making a trip back to our home to spend 2 weeks with me about a month after he begins his training. I am thrilled that I get a little more time with him! Even more- I am thrilled that he will be here for (hopefully) my second doctor's appointment.

I borrowed four books from our library on baby names, since we are so very different in what we like. I spend hours looking up meanings of baby names too... I don't want to find this perfect name only to discover that it means "old shoe." :)

While I am at home typing this, my husband is at work early today.... which means he will be home early too. Man, I love him. :)

Kodak moment

Nothing in my life ever happens in a "normal" way. It just doesn't. I've gotten used to it over the years. You've heard, "when it rains, it pours," right? Theme of my seasons.

Anyway, so let me tell you another background story.

Thursday, May 27: I get a call from my husband, at work. He is at work and tells me that he just got word that there is a "possibility" he will be deploying in the fall. I am upset, but remembering it's just a possibility. That night, when he gets home from work, he hands me his official orders. Off to fight he will go. Be back in 12 months. So, after me crying and him hugging me, we start calling family & friends.

Fast forward to a few days later, Sunday, May 30. We have started calling relatives to tell them the baby news. My dad was hysterically happy, while my mom had to sit down and kept saying, "Oh my god" over and over. We didn't tell Ryan's parents yet, because they were flying to Japan to see us that following Tuesday.

When we pick up his parents, sister, and grandmother from the train station, we gave his dad a Father's Day card... but this one said, "Grandfather" on the front and on the inside, we wrote, "We're having a baby!" This was their response:

It was perfect! I'm so glad I captured it on camera. :)

We're pregnant!

Ok, so I know it's been forever... but I promise I have a *really* good excuse.

See? I told you. Perfectly good excuse.

On Saturday, May 29, 2010 at around 8:00am, I decided to dye my hair. My sweet husband was still asleep, and I was trying my best to keep quiet and not wake him up. I was in the bathroom, waiting on my hair color to finish developing.... bored and anxious for 20 minutes to pass.

Well, allow me to back up and explain something else. About a week before, while shuffling through coupons a friend of mine mailed to me, I found two "$3.00 off any EPT pregnancy test" coupons. So, because I am related to my grandmother (the coupon queen of Alabama), I decided to go ahead and use it at the store.

Ok, back to the story. I am now shuffling around under the sink, attempting to re-organize the cleaning products, extra toilet paper, etc. I then ran across one of the EPTs and decided to use it. Usually, I'm assuming people sit and stare at the test, anxiously awaiting the results. Since I thought it was definitely going to be negative, I kinda forgot about it and went back to my organizing. When my timer went off to check my hair, I stood up and looked in the mirror. On the way down to reset the timer, I just glanced at the EPT test. It read "PREGNANT" in bright black letters.

I jumped up (hair color still in hair), and ran into the bedroom to wake Ryan up. I touched his shoulder and said, "Um, honey..." and held the test about a foot in front of his face. He opened his eyes and said, "Omigosh, what does that say?" We both just stared at each other for a minute, and then finally the excitement and confusion set in.

I went and rinsed my hair, then took the other EPT test. After getting another positive result, I went to the store and bought a few more tests. I called our base's Urgent Care Center (UCC) and asked them if I could come in for a pregnancy test. The girl on the phone said, "Well, m'am, have you taken a home pregnancy test?" I told her "yes," and she said, "Well, congratulations. You're pregnant."

Shocked. I'm still shocked.

My next post will tell you about our families' reactions... for now, I'm off to bed. It's past midnight in Japan! :)

And we're moving to Japan

Ryan got word that we're headed to Japan. He finishes his assignment in West Virginia in May, then we head to Pensacola for a few months, then it's off to Japan. We'll be in Japan for 3 years. I'm excited, but a little nervous about getting everything together and moving the two of us (and Frank the cat) overseas...

After Ryan told me, I called our families to tell them. Most of our relatives acted excited, but I'm pretty sure my mother will be hiding in my suitcase so she can go too. It will be weird to be *that* far from family/friends/American soil. A plane ticket from Mobile to Misawa, Japan runs anywhere from $1300-2100. Ouch!

I'm trying not to get stressed out yet. Mrs. Pam (family friend and Army wife) will be hearing from me a lot between now and then, since this is my first military move. Oh, what an adventure!

"The best is yet to come, and babe won't it be fine..."

This is our cat, Frank Sinatra. He is about four months old. Other than being absolutely adorable, Frank is very entertaining. He's not a big fan of snow, but seems to be fascinated with the blinds in our living room. I never thought Ryan and I would become "cat people," and I still run from other peoples' cats. My parents have 2 cats, and I'm sure that one of them is Satan himself. However, I play with this fuzzball a lot more than I thought I would.
Ryan tried to get us a dog right after we got settled in our house, but because of strict laws in Virginia, (we had to go to VA to find pets, we live close to the WV/VA state line.) we couldn't adopt a dog under eight months old. Frank was one of about eight kittens from a friend's cat's litter. When Ryan took me over to look at the cats, Frank was the only one that would come to us; the other kittens ran away, hiding under the couch.
Frank's name was Dump Truck, which is very appropriate now that we have him. His first few nights with us, all he did was howl. Ryan came up with the name Frank Sinatra, since he liked to sing so much. His coloring is one of my favorite things about him. He looks like a black-and-white tiger! He's befriended most of our friends on base, with the exception of Sears, who is allergic. Just thought he deserved a post of his own, since he gets all of our attention. :)