*Finally!*

   I'm going to go ahead and say that the buzzword for this post today is "finally." You may get sick of reading yet another "finally!" (especially when it is accompanied by exclamation points), but this post has long been up my sleeve, and I am finally able to write it!

   Our little family has some exciting news to share: We're having a baby!! We have been keeping it a secret for what feels like FOREVER, so I am thrilled to be able to publicly announce it! FINALLY!!!

   We found out in the middle of December that we were expecting. Considering we only started trying in the middle of November, we were pretty shocked (and ecstatic) when we found out! I immediately called my family, just so my mom and older sister could tell me what I was supposed to do! My husband told his mother and stepfather, and his grandmother the following week. We waited to tell extended family just a little while longer -- we told my mom's family on Christmas Eve, and my dad's family on New Year's Eve (so much squealing and whoops of happiness!). 

   I finally had my first doctor's appointment this past Monday (of course while my husband is in the field training), and was so nervous and petrified that I literally burst into tears when I saw the sweetest little baby on the ultrasound monitor! I've always wondered why mothers-to-be frame the ultrasound pictures -- don't they realize they will have MUCH better photos to frame if they just wait a few more months?! Yet in that one instant, I totally got it. I know why moms-to-be frame those dark, static-y, hard-to-see ultrasound pictures -- those are the first glimpses of the new baby, the reality sets in that I am going to be a mother, and it is love at first sight. You don't want to forget that feeling, and thus, you frame pictures that barely show any features other than a large head and small body. Because that is your baby.

   I have gotten a ton of support after finally announcing my pregnancy, and I will admit, I was touched (and probably shed a tear or two, but gimme a break, it's the hormones!!). It's hard to be away from all of my family and friends during such an exciting time, especially when I'm not entirely sure what I am doing! (Can I eat turkey? Should I zap it first? I really like Eggs Benedict, but I'm guessing those are no-nos? Am I supposed to be sleeping 20 hours a day??) Thankfully, everyone is always a text or phone call away (and hey, there's always the Internet!), but still, nothing replaces buying onesies with your sisters, or having your mom cook you dinner because if you even SMELL butter you will surely barf, or eating Mexican food with your best friend and laughing about weird baby names. But then all the encouragement poured in, from friends with whom I hadn't really kept in touch to people I went to Honduras with during my formative years. Mates from London wished me well, as well as my Pacific Northwest buddies. All of my Southern friends sent love and even a few "bless your hearts" when I mentioned being so tired. Parents of my students said kind words, and former teachers and mentors of mine said such loving things that I teared up (yet again). I am so blessed to have such wonderful people around, but even more than that, I am so blessed that this baby is already so loved!

   Now that I have had to stay my tears yet again while thinking back on all the love showered on our little family, on to something a little less tear jerking. Since I have been failing in my attempt to use this blog as a "furniture repurpose/craft" blog, I think I will just start using it to document the happenings of our lives. Considering I won't really be painting a whole lot now that I've got a little lime inside me (for those who didn't understand that, the baby is now the size of a lime -- and now I am craving guacamole. Awesome.), I probably won't be exciting in the furniture-repurposing department, and I am kind of just too tired to do crafts! Honestly, even if I wasn't pregnant, I doubt I could do either of those things; I am still teaching four days a week and am now the lead teacher for the 2/3s! (I truly can't remember if I told you that in my last post. I also can't remember what I ate for lunch yesterday, so it's really not that surprising.) I am also getting my Montessori certification, so when I am not teaching, eating whatever sounds good at the moment, or sleeping, I am studying. (OK, let's be serious: Most of my time is still devoted to Mary Todd. And then I play on Facebook. And then sometimes, when the TV isn't really entertaining, I'll study. IF my husband is training, otherwise we are probably having some really deep discussion about theology or what pizza to order.) 

   I think I am nearing the end of this post, finally. I am starting to get sleepy, which is kind of surprising since I slept a lot last night AND Mary Todd and I took a healthy 2.5 hour nap today, but I guess this is what happens when you grow another person inside of you! 

   I'm having a baby!! Hooray! (And finally!! =D)

~Abby