Pregnancy Q & A

I have been informed that there may be many questions coming my way, now that the news is out. I know I enjoy getting the scoop from new expectant mothers-to-be, not realizing that I may have just asked them the same question for the fiftieth time.

I do not think it will bother me to answer the same questions more than once, but if this post will help, then here we go!!

Q: When are you due?
A:  Around May 18th, but I have a feeling it may be a bit later than that. At my 10 week appointment, the first view on the ultrasound looked like a 9 week baby. The more she measured she commented, "This looks closer to a 10 week baby." I think the baby was somewhere in between 9 and 10 weeks at that appointment.

Q: How far along does that make you?
A: Thanks to my pregnancy app that reminds me on a daily basis, I am 12 weeks and 5 days today. Thursday will be 13 weeks!!! The baby is the size of a large plum, but neither Nate nor I eat plums so that does not mean a whole lot to us. We get the idea though.

Q: How have you been feeling?
A: I have given several different answers to this question already. I did have a two-week span where I would eat breakfast and was not able to keep it down. I eventually quit eating before 10:00 a.m., but then my stomach did not appreciate that. I have not thrown up for a week or so, and I am back to eating breakfast. Evenings are my least favorite, but if I keep munching then I am usually fine. All in all, I would say I have had it pretty good.

Q: Were we surprised to find out we were expecting? 
A: I wouldn't say so. We have been married for over 2 years and were excited to start a family, but obviously it is something we took to God in prayer. We asked for His ultimate will and timing to be carried out. Although He had to bring us through some undesired circumstances, He did grant us the desire of our hearts. We have a ways to go before we will hold "baby bird" in our arms, and we know not all pregnancies have happy endings. I definitely have to guard against the fears that creep into my soul. Thankfully God has the ultimate control over this little soul, and we would have it no other way. 

Q: Do we plan to find out the gender of the baby?
A: Yes, yes, yes! There was really no discussion, between Nate and I, on this topic. We were both in agreement, from the start, that we would like to find out the gender. I like to plan ahead and know what is coming. I will be lost in every other aspect of having a baby, and this is one area in which I can have a little control. I give credit to those who can patiently wait for 9 months without knowing. Also, we won't keep the gender to ourselves, we will share the findings.

Q: Do I plan to continue working?
A: I know some girls struggle with this decision, but I really have not. I plan to be finished working around March or April. Nate and I both grew up with stay-at-home moms, and we feel that it is a very high calling. I remember those days, as a little girl, rocking my baby dolls back and forth. Lord-willing that dream will become my new reality. I realize that I am blessed to even have this opportunity, and I pray that I will never take it for granted. 

I shared the news with my co-workers yesterday, and after all the excitement and hugs died down, they realized that I would not be returning. The word "bittersweet" came up, and although I will miss the social part of work, I think this new stage of life will be mostly "sweet." 

Q: What am I most excited for right now?
A: At the moment, I am most excited for my 14 week appointment, in which we can hopefully see the heart beat again. We did not get to hear it last time, but I am hoping we are able to at this upcoming appointment. Some days it just does not seem real that I am pregnant, but little reminders (like ultrasounds) sure have a way of encouraging me. 

I am also excited to start working on the baby room. I can finally pin things on Pinterest without people getting suspicious. I did not even think of creating a secret Pinterest board. O well!

These are the main questions that come to mind at the moment. Thank you for all the warm wishes and sweet messages we have received. We can tell that baby Z. is going to be very loved and cherished by many.

Until next time.

A Reasonable Excuse

Did you think I would ever return? I admit that my three month absence from blogging was not intentional. It was possibly just a lack of motivation on my part. There were a few times I sat down to write a post but did not stay seated long enough to finish my thoughts.

There may be a reasonable excuse for all of this.

I am going to use the same excuse to explain that my house has definitely not been in tip top shape lately. I just cannot keep up with it.

I have also been a bit more forgetful than usual. Getting my dates wrong or throwing away very important documents is not normally like me.

The couch and I have been best friends the last few weeks. Plenty of bonding time has been going on between the two of us.

My poor husband has been enduring an increased amount of frozen pizzas for supper. Usually I only pop them in after a long day of work when we are rushing to get to Wednesday night church, but it has been the last four Wednesday nights in a row now. Not impressive Hannah. While I typically enjoy being in my kitchen, I have not wanted anything to do with it lately. Cooking makes me nauseous.

I think my co-workers may be getting suspicious of my continuous snacking. I get to work at 8:00, and by 9:00 I am munching on whatever I can get my hands on. When 11:00 rolls around I start asking, "Is anybody else hungry for lunch yet?" 

I have also bid farewell to those nights where I could sleep all the way through and not get up to visit the bathroom. Last night I hit a new record of three trips to the facilities. Please tell me it does not get worse. You mothers are probably rolling your eyes.

Carrot sticks are the best. I eat carrots like children eat candy. A handful of carrots can give my stomach the relief it needs to help me fall back asleep or last until lunch time. McDonald's french fries basically do the same thing, but unfortunately I cannot justify a continuous supply of those. 

I could proceed, but I am guessing most of you know where I am going with this, so I will cut the suspense. 

We are excited to announce that we are expecting! Baby Zollinger is due to arrive in May.

We are thankful for this journey that God has in store for us. Although we are more clueless than anything, we are prayerful that the Lord will provide all of our needs as He sees fit. We know He will.

 

More details to follow, and I will not make you wait another three months. I think I am getting over the hill as far as sickness goes, so maybe the blog will move up a little higher on my list of priorities.

 

Blessings to you all!!