6 Weeks

It's been a busy few weeks here. In a 4 week period, Ross had 3 work trips, Noah and I took one trip to Omaha, and we took a family road trip to Oklahoma. We got back home for a bit right at 6 weeks... just in time for symptoms to get a bit more real. I had been fatigued and super hungry from day one, but now the hunger has been replaced by unrelenting nausea. Most of it, obviously, is hormones, but I'm sure some of it is the fact that self-care has been non-existent for the past month.

Anyway, the symptoms sure make it all feel more real. However, I'm a little sad that my general "blah"ness interferes with my time with Noah. I guess I thought I had 9 more months with  just him, and I'm feeling super emotional about that.

BUT I'm so in love with Noah, and I can't wait to get to know this baby, too. I'm kind of glad it's so busy right now, because by the time life calms down, I will hopefully be through the worst of the symptoms and on to the parts of pregnancy I really enjoy: feeling baby move and learning his or her rhythms and preferences.

I will also say, I generally hate winter, but if it has to be bitter cold outside, and I have to be nauseated over everything, I'm glad the two coincide. I'm pretty sure that first trimester is the only time I appreciate cold air and cold water. Warm puffy vest season is also super beneficial for my awkward first trimester body. Overall, I really can't complain. It's starting to sink in that this is all really happening!

The biggest proof? The ultrasound we had this week.

Baby,

I breathed a sigh of relief seeing you in there at 6 weeks and 3 days. I was so PROUD of you! You measured right on target, and your little heart was already beating away at 119 beats per minute. I'm so excited to experience the fun parts of pregnancy again, but now that I know how much personality your little blueberry-sized body already embodies, I can't wait to get to know you, too!

Love,
Mama

5 Weeks

Hi baby!

I'll be honest, I was really nervous about writing this letter. I'm G4P1. What if something happens to you and I've gotten too attached? But then I realized, what does "too" attached even mean? Whether it's for 5 weeks or 50 years, you'll always be my baby! The fact of the matter is that you're here right now, and you already hold a spot in our family.

We weren't going to tell people quite so early, but, well, your big brother is REALLY excited to meet you. Noah and I were at my parents' house while your dad was traveling for work, and my mom, dad, and brother Bobby were all sitting at the dinner table toward the end of dinner tonight. We were talking about med school, and I said, "oh! Did you know Dan from grade school is an OBGYN now?"

My mom said, "he'll make a great OBGYN!"

Noah said, "Mama has a baby in her tummy!"

Everyone just looked at me. I realized there was no escaping, so I laughed and said, "It's true!"

Bobby needed toddler-speak clarification, so my mom screamed, "Therese is having another baby!"

Noah was a little scared of all the screaming. But after the noise died down, he really proudly and sweetly said, "I'm a big brother now!"

The next day he said the same thing randomly while playing: "Mama has a baby in her tummy. I'm a big brother! I'm two years old!"

He is so proud and so sweet and so excited. We all are, little one.

Love,
Mama