Babycakes...!

So...it's been awhile. As in almost 12 months. What can I say; I've been busy. The past year has literally been a whirlwind - in addition to the normal things like working, sleeping, and eating, I have: gotten engaged, planned a wedding, moved THREE times, bought a house, gotten pregnant, and gotten married. I'm exhausted just writing that. I need a nap. You can see why blogging hasn't been top on my list.

However...with the impending arrival of Baby Blythe, or "Cookie" as her Daddy and I affectionately call her, I've decided to give this blog new life. I thought it might be a fun way to track Cookie's progress, and once she's here, all the shenanigans she gets into. (Disclaimer - JBB and I are NOT finding out the sex of our bambino; I just don't like to call the baby "It", so although I will refer to Cooks as a girl, there is no hidden meaning behind "her." Just a pronoun. I think...right? It's been a long time since I've studied the parts of speech.)

So, as of today, I'm 11.5 weeks along. Just hitting that stage where I look chubby but not pregnant. Coincidentally, that's also what I look like after a weekend at the Pork Festival, or a week in Canada. The bummer is, however, unlike with those events, I didn't eat lots of glorious, calorie-laden food to achieve that puffy look. Quite the opposite, in fact. I have no appetite. Which is strange for me. I actually have to remind myself to eat; I used to roll my eyes and scoff at people who said that, and now that has become me. This baby has sucked the appetite, along with any energy I might have had, right out of me. I'm ashamed to admit the amount of nights that I've been asleep before the credits roll on Wheel of Fortune.

Because I'm a sucker for a good list, I've compiled the top 5 pregnancy moments that have occurred this far. I can't wait for the million more the next 6 months will bring!

1.) Telling Jason. We've had a lot of amazing moments together in two years, but that one is hard to top. I wish I could have captured the sweet look on his face at the exact moment I told him. We were sitting on the dock at Canada, eating toast and looking at the beauty of the French River. Fitting that we were in my favorite place in the world when I told him the biggest news of our lives. I'm so, so happy that my kids will get JBB as their dad.
2.) Hearing the baby's heartbeat for the first time is the only thing better than getting to tell Jason we were going to be parents. When I heard that thundering heartbeat, the feeling that washed over me was surreal. I started shaking and crying from head to toe. I didn't know how badly I needed to hear that heartbeat until I did. I didn't ever want the ultrasound to stop.
3.) Speaking of crying - it's something I do a lot of. I'm a crier anyway, so throw in a case of raging hormones, and whoa buddy! Perhaps the most memorable moment - home sick from work, I watched E!'s Fashion Police. If you've seen this show, you know it's not known for its tenderness. However, when the usually withering Joan Rivers gave a very touching tribute to her friend and mentor Phyllis Diller who had just died, I. Lost. It. Called JBB at work, and in between hiccups, managed to choke out, "Who's Phyllis Diller?" If Cookie is in fact a girl, we just might name her Phyllis.
4.) The Invasion of the Stuffed Animals. For those of you who knew me as a child (...or an adult) you may remember I have a serious soft spot for stuffed animals. In a moment of genius, I decided who better to watch over Cookie in her nursery than my favorite animals from childhood, already full of love? Soo...to our house they came, from the attic of my parent's house. A lot of them. At this point, they are in their 30's, and are kind of a motley looking crew. Jason is such a good sport; he gamely gave them all nicknames, and I must say, we're having a high old time with them until Cookie arrives. I've come home to animals in the crisper in the fridge, head first in the cookie jar, and chilling in my bathtub. Cookie is in for some fun with JBB as her dad!
5.) Telling our parents and siblings about their coming soon family member! For my family, this will be grandchild #5, and for Jason's  #1. Both sides were equally thrilled. I'm so, so happy Cookie will have both sets of grandparents and aunts and uncles living so close. This little guy or gal won't be lacking for family.


I'm so glad we got a picture of the exact moment we told JBB's family!

For those of you reading who are parents - what were your favorite (or least favorite!) parts of pregnancy? (And please, keep any terrifying stories/labor horror tales to yourself, as I will vow to myself and Jason to not read them, then I will secretly end up reading them, and then end up googling until 3:00 am, at which point I will call my dad in sheer terror asking him if I really am going to have a 3 headed baby/92 hour labor/etc. So, please, for my dad's sake, spare us.)

Until next time!