1 Year Later

So what's happened since my last post...well, I went into preterm labor and I was put on bedrest for almost 2 months. Honestly, I don't know which was harder...being on bedrest or having severe morning sickness. Then after getting off bedrest, I didn't deliver until a week after my due date which became very uncomfortable. (Side Note: For those that have never been pregnant, please do not ask a woman every week "no baby yet?" We cannot control when the baby will come, its is only up to God alone. I do not mean to sound rude but it can make the mother-to-be more uncomfortable than she needs to be. Sorry, that's my little vent there.) So RM was born June 27, 2009! Now he's 9 months old crawling and crusing (walking while holding on) everywhere! After looking back, I realized that everything was all worth it. Like every part of life, it is all just a season. When one season will end, another will begin.

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven." ~Ecclesiastes 3:1

Maternity Jeans

In my search for comfortable and fitting jeans, there was not much out there. The jeans either didn't fit right or were way too expensive. So that's when I decided that the only jeans that fit the best were my pre-pregnancy jeans but didn't fit with my growing belly...so I made them into maternity jeans and decided to share. You can also find a pair of jeans from the thrift store if you don't want to ruin your pre-pregnancy jeans, just make sure they fit you around your waist.

Materials Needed:
- jeans
- shirt or tube top (use one that is one size smaller than your pre-pregnancy size so it will be fitted around your stomach; if you are usually a size medium then use a size small shirt)
- sewing machine
- thread
- scissors
- wide elastic band

1. First put the jeans on and zip up the zipper up to where it fits comfortably. Then take off the jeans and cut off the excess part of the jeans. Also, remove the belt loops since they won't be needed anymore. After cutting off the excess, sew near the edge of the jeans so it won't continue to unravel. My jeans were low enough that I could keep one of the buttons on, but it's okay if you have to cut your button off.

2. Now take the shirt and cut the shirt so all you have is the bottom portion of the shirt. If you are using a tube top, there is no need to cut anything.

3. Now sew the elastic band to the bottom of the shirt, but leave about one inch below the elastic to leave room to sew the shirt to the pants.

4. Now fold the shirt in half to cover the elastic band so that the elastic is on the inside.

5. Now you can sew the shirt to the jeans. Have the elastic band sewn part facing out when you sew it to the jeans so when you put the jeans on, you won't see the elastic band portion.

6. This is what it looks like when your done sewing and flip up the shirt.

7. This is what the jeans will look like on.

Have fun sewing!!!

Pink or Blue?

I don't do well with surprises...I don't like not knowing the unknown. If I can find out something, I will. I guess it's the part of me that likes being prepared for everything. So right when we found out that we were pregnant, I told Matt that we have to find out if the baby is a boy or girl.
So we finally had our big ultrasound on January 30th. Matt and I were so nervous and excited at the same time. Then the ultrasound tech asked us if we wanted to find out the sex of the baby, I immediately said "yes!" Then she told us we are having a boy! I couldn't believe it that I asked her to check again! The second time she checked, there was no doubt about it that we're having a boy. So now we're on the hunt to find his name!

Hyperemesis Gravidarum

Also called HG or in other words extreme morning sickness where you cannot keep anything down, not even water. It affects 1 in 200 pregnant women. This is what I've been suffering from since the last week of October, which is when I hit 6 weeks. Currently I've been taking anti-nausea and I'm able to eat now, but the medicine makes me dizzy and tired more easily. For most women, it starts to subside in the second trimester but it can last the entire pregnancy. Unfortunately for me, my mother suffered from HG her entire pregnancy so its very likely that I could too. I've been praying everyday that it starts to subside in the second trimester and doesn't come back.

These past few weeks have made me realize even more that our strength truly does come from God alone, and he can give it to you or take it away. Although through this I just lean on Him more and I'm at His feet even more because I know it is Him that is getting me through this. My loving husband and my sister has been helping much more around the house, with the cooking and cleaning. For me, it was hard to ask for help because I felt useless if I couldn't cook or clean but my family reminded me that my body is making a baby and that's what I had to be focused on. So far the baby seems to be healthy and continues to grow.

"The LORD is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart exults, And with my song I shall thank Him." ~Psalm 28:7

Our Little Seamonkey

So I'm officially 13 weeks now! I still can't believe that there's a little person growing inside me. Maybe it will become more real once the baby starts moving. Then again, there's the constant feeling of morning sickness to remind me, which my doctor told me it is supposed to start getting better if not suddenly at least gradually. Matt and I are very excited and can't wait to see what our little seamonkey will look like and what his/her personality will be like.