The Details....

Thank you for all the the kind words on twitter, facebook, and the blog-we are so excited!!!

Let's backtrack a little.....

In October of last year, we decided that we would go off the pill in March. March came, and we went off the pill. We didn't really tell anyone that we were trying, because not knowing how long it would take to get pregnant, I didn't want any added pressure. And already being married, 30, and childless you get enough pressure when you're not trying that I certainly didn't want to add to it.

Two months later we became pregnant! At the time, it honestly felt like we'd been trying forever. I always thought we would get pregnant the first month. When we didn't, I slowly realized it could take a long time. Looking back now, I realize trying for 2 months is hardly anything at all. But in the moment, it seemed much longer.

I was supposed to "start" on June 1st. On Thursday May 31, I figured I would take a pregnancy test, because I was planning on going to kickboxing that night, and if I was pregnant, I wasn't going to go. (sidenote, when we were on vacation in February we bought a pregnancy test because we found one in english).

So I took the test that afternoon, and it was negative. So I drank a coke and went to kickboxing. June 1st came and went without anything. Which for me, is VERY abnormal. I'm like clock work. So I started to wonder if we could possibly be pregnant.

I realized that the pregnancy tests we could buy in our city, would A. not be in English, and B. not be extremely accurate, so we figured the longer we waited to take another test, the better. This killed me to wait!!! But Daniel and I agreed I would take a test Wednesday morning.

Tuesday afternoon, I just couldn't take it and if I was pregnant, I really wanted to know before Daniel, so I could tell him, ha! So I went to a nearby pharmacy and asked for a pregnancy test. Of course, I then asked how to use it because I couldn't read the instructions. After a lot of charades, I figured I could just wing it. And yes, the test cost me $2.

Daniel was in class, and I took 2 tests.

The tests didn't have a plus or minus, but I knew if there was a second line, it meant positive. 

I was kind of in shock and disbelief. I just couldn't believe it!

I researched and realized that if I was about 4 weeks along, the baby was the size of a poppy seed. So when Daniel was out of class, I put a poppy seed in his hand, and said "do you know what this is?" He thought we had some type of weird bug problem. So I told him, "This is the size of our baby!" Then we hugged and I started crying!!

That Friday I took another test, and Sunday morning I took another one. They were both positive!

So....we found out officially on June 5th that we were expecting! And I boarded a plane on June 10th for the States. I'm glad we found out before I went, but it was pretty hard on Daniel to not share it with anyone. I told my parents and sister when I saw them. Remember, Sarah's preggers too. She is TO THE DAY 8 weeks ahead of me, how cool is that?!!?

Because of all the risks in the first trimester, we decided to just tell family and a few close friends until we were further along. I went to the dr in the States and she confirmed I was pregnant, but it was too early to do an ultrasound.

So when I got back to EA, I went to a local dr that speaks English. He did an ultrasound and we saw the heartbeat on July 3rd. The baby was SO tiny on our first ultrasound, I couldn't believe it.

Yesterday we went back and heard the heartbeat and had another ultrasound. They were trying to do the NT test, but the baby was moving around so much they couldn't do it. Apparently our child is active! We saw 2 arms, 2 legs, the spine, the heartbeat, the head, and a little belly! And for maybe the third time during my pregnancy, I cried, ha!

I'm ending my 14th week tomorrow, and I'll start doing weekly preggo recaps. I also feel like I have tons to write about because I feel like I've known for so long and haven't shared hardly any of it! 

Below are my belly shots. Yes, I realize I'm wearing the same outfit in 3 of the pictures. Trust me, they were taken different days. Apparently I need to branch out in the wardrobe department a little bit.

 I think week 12 I had a little belly, but not sure where it went this week?

14 week recap will be tomorrow!

love

laura

I'M PREGNANT!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm 13 and a half weeks and due February 8th!!!!!!!!

Details coming soon!!

love

laura

Zoo and Honey

Last week, Daniel and I flew to see some friends who live a little north of us in the mountains.

I was pretty excited about the cooler temperatures. Our city isn't insanely hot, but it is humid and it's been in the 90's the past few days. So I was excited to enjoy some temp's in the 70's!

We went to the zoo. Somehow I ended up taking a lot of pictures of the monkey's, which is strange considering I pretty much despise them. Anyways....

They had this table of food you could buy to give the monkey's. It really looked like a table of snack food for children. And just like kids, the monkeys wouldn't eat their carrots.

Here we are, enjoying the beautiful weather!

 I love being surrounded by mountains!

We also traveled to a beautiful lake!! It was such a pretty, relaxing day!

All long the road, people were selling homemade honey straight out of their beehives. A little crazy but totally crunchy, so I had to do it!

Who needs wholefoods right?

Here I am with the bees!

have a good weekend!

love

laura

Long Time No See

This title is perfect since I haven't updated the blog in a while and it's exactly how I felt about our home until yesterday.

Since getting back from the states a few weeks ago, Daniel and I have traveled to 2 different cities, each a few hours away, for almost a week each.

Just a few days after arriving back to EA, we flew for a week for a language training that was being offered. Since language learning takes up a majority of our time, we were pretty eager to attend this training. We learned so much about how to improve our language learning and were both so encouraged about how to better go about it. We wish we had learned most of this a year ago, but better late than never!

While we were travelling, some friends took us to a fancy restaurant. Probably the fanciest I have ever been to in EA. I wish I had pics of the food, but I was way too busy eating!

We flew back home on the 13th and have literally had something every single morning or night until we left again on the 19th. All good things, but it still kept us pretty busy.

We had a baby shower at our house for a friend of mine. Shockingly, this was the very first baby shower I have EVER hosted....how is that possible, I'm 30 for crying out loud. I'm not really sure how I've never hosted one before.

Anyways.....I knew I wanted to make a cookie cake, my friend's fave, and try my hand at monogramming it. 

We also had an iced coffee bar...yum!

We had mint brownies, fruit, cookie cake, and a veggie tray. I picked up the cute napkins and plates while I was in the States.

I'll do another post for our travels last week...but get excited because it includes a local zoo and buying honey on the side of the road.

Also, in wonderful news, preggo Sarah is having a girl!!!!! I'm so excited I can hardly stand it!!

love

laura

Headed to Houston

After spending about 10 days with my parents in Illinois, I headed south to Houston to see Sarah and the boys. I have to admit, I was pretty excited to be going to Texas. No matter where I live, somehow it always feels like home.

But first, here I am with my dad on Father's Day!!

I ate really good at Sarah's-she is an amazing cook and is totally crunchy, I love it! She cooks with qinoa, chia seeds, flax seed, and a lot of other organic stuff that I've never heard of. 

Chickpea pasta, bruschetta, salad:

Salmon, green beans, and qinoa:

Ethan (3) and Grant (5):

Me and the boys before church:

Almost every night, after the boys are tucked in, Ethan comes down and sleeps on the bottom step until Mike and Sarah go to bed. One night, we found him asleep like this. Crazy kid!

Whenever I would try to kneel down to get a picture with the boys they always tried to sit on me:

Me and Sarah-we were both in our pj's so it made for a strange pic.

I had a wonderful time in Houston. The heat wasn't too bad, and I had a wonderful time playing with the boys and eating yummy good food!

I've been back a week here, and we're leaving again today for a week of travel!

Stay tuned!

love

laura

Wedding Time

Wow, sorry it's been a while! I got back home here in EA very late Friday night, it was literally Saturday morning. It's taken me a few days to recover!

So...the wedding!

We spent a few hours getting ready, curling hair, doing make up, you know, the usual girly stuff. 

I haven't had my hair curled in forever, so i was pretty excited about wearing it curly! Here we are! 

Me and my mom!

Shane & Caroline were married outside, and then we moved inside the barn for dinner and dancing. It was beautiful!

It was so fun to meet all the blog/twitter friends!

Love this picture of Caroline and her dad!

BFF Amy couldn't make it to the wedding (she JUST had her first little baby!), but I was still so excited to see her parents! They are both so dear to me!

It was such a fun wedding, and really hard to say good bye! Especially not knowing when I'll see Caroline again...it was a teary good bye! But I'm SOO thankful I was able to go-it was so special!

love

Laura

Wedding Prep

As ya'll know, I flew back to the States for my best friend's wedding. Caroline and Shane got engaged December 7th, and were married on June 14th....Flag Day.

My parents and I drove from Illinois to Arkansas last Tuesday. We got in kind of late so I didn't get to see Caroline till the next day. She picked me up so we could go get mani/pedi's. I haven't had a good pedicure in SO long, my toes could hardly wait!

After nails we went to CFA. That could be an entire post by itself, oh my goodness! My parents don't have one near them so I was dying to eat it!

Wednesday night they had a cook out and I ate one of the best hamburgers ever! It had been a long time since I had a grilled hamburger, oh how I miss grilling out! I also wanted a full length picture of myself in my new dress-it's been a long time since I've bought a new dress, so I was excited to show it off, ha!

And I was able to sit down with Shane and get a little one on one so I could really get to know him. It was so weird for Caroline to marry someone that I had never met!!! So I was excited to get to know Shane and don't worry, I approved!

Caroline, her sister, mom, and me all stayed at a hotel the night before, and had a little personal shower for Caroline. I got this cake at Rick's and it was delicious!!!!!!

Caroline had the big crown to wear, since she was the star, and we all wore the mini ones. Caroline also wore the crown the next day when we went to breakfast, ha!

Stay tuned for the wedding!

love

laura