WOOO!

I've been bad at updating this blog - most of my energy is spent updating Trying For Life. I'm now in my second trimester and am enjoying every moment, from the weight gain to the barf - it's a beautiful reminder of God's grace that allowed us to get pregnant in the first place!

Things are going so well for us. Financially, we've been able to put money into savings each month which is something we hadn't been able to do since we first got married. We are so thankful for our church body, our home, our cat, our everything! God is great and life is good.

We're PREGNANT!

Hello friends!

I am overjoyed and shocked to announce that Jonathan and I are expecting a baby in October! We went through a long and difficult season of trying and we are thrilled!

I had been keeping a blog chronicling our journey to conception and now to parenthood. It's called Trying For Life and it is now open to anyone who wants to read it. I do not censor myself in the blog - it is full of frustration, sarcasm, hope, medical jargon, and personal experiences.


Here is a glimpse into our story:
We decided to start trying around Christmas of 2009. The blog itself started in February of 2010 when we thought we were pregnant - I misread a pregnancy test and started the blog within hours of the good news. A few hours after starting the blog, I re-tested with another brand and it was negative. (I never thought I'd be one of those women who would misread a pregnancy test, but turns out its a lot easier than it seems!)

Our town is a young town with conservative values, which means people get pregnant all the flippin' time. Everytime I logged onto Facebook it seemed that someone else was either announcing they were pregnant or just popped out another kid. I was especially frustrated with those younger than us or who had been married for less time (or not married at all) who were having children before us. I started charting, taking my temperature, and becoming overly aware of my ovulation, but nothing was working. In November, we had a chemical pregnancy which is essentially a very early miscarriage. It was devastating and we were more determined than ever to do whatever it took to conceive. We had testing, samples, extra doctor visits, and nothing happened.

Finally, at the point of surrendering everything to God and letting Him control our futures entirely, God allowed us to conceive!! Looking back, we wouldn't have wanted it any other way. Every bit of this pregnancy, from the nausea to the weight gain, are things that I am so thankful for and will not take for granted.

Good sign

Jonathan and I just had lunch at Fridays and the server asked if we needed separate checks. Apparently we were having so much fun that we didn't look married!


I think that's a great sign of a healthy marriage.

Ultimate Playlist

I made one of my new favorite road trip playlists:

1. Scenes from an Italian Restaurant - Billy Joel
2. Accidentally In Love - Counting Crows
3. King of Anything - Sara Bareilles
4. Who Says You Can't Go Home - Bon Jovi
5. Motown Song - Rod Stewart
6. I'm Alright - Phil Vassar
7. Feelin' The Same Way - Norah Jones
8. Suddenly I See - KT Tunstall
9. Come On Over - Christina Aguilera
10. The Two Of Us - NSYNC
11. Let the Music Get Down In Your Soul - Marc Broussard
12. La Vie En Rose - Pomplamoose
13. Falling For the First Time - Barenaked Ladies
14. Roly Poly - The Little Willies
15. Hope For Me Yet - Marc Broussard
16. Anthony - Nickel Creek

Presidential Nerdom

I'm geeking out over this graph:

http://www.creditsesame.com/blog/net-worth-of-american-presidents-vs-national-debt/

Friends

"Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another,

'What! You too? I thought I was the only one.'" - C.S. Lewis

I am blessed to have amazing friends that think I am interesting, funny, and worth loving. Even when I am feeling worthless, they still want to be my friend. I am blessed with these sisters and I am looking forward to even more laughs, tears, and adventures!

Ukulele

I bought a new toy - a ukulele! Her name is Ukulola and I have already doubled my guitar repertoire. It's WAY easier to play than a guitar and it makes everything sound very cheeky and adorable.

My favorite songs to play are Justin Bieber's "Baby" and Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance"- SO much fun!

Birthday of Love

I feel very loved today. My staff decorated/trashed my office with streamers, baloons, and a Laura look-alike. It was such a welcome surprise as I trudged in with a sinus infection. They also surprised me with a birthday lunch!! I am beyond blessed - my staff is awesome.

Birthday

It's my birthday :)

26 days

I turn 26 in 26 days. When I was in high school, I thought by the time I was 26 I would be married with a Bachelor's degree and staying home with one or two kids and a dog. Instead I'm married with a Master's degree, a job I love, a wonderful cat and no kids. I have more than I ever thought to ask for yet there are things I want more than anything I've ever wanted in my life.

Perhaps this is what John Mayer was thinking about when he sang "must be a quarter-life crisis"?