Baby Makes Five.
The last couple of months have flown by, and as much as I wanted to write, I actually appreciated taking some time to channel things internally. From becoming unemployed, visiting Michigan, having to quarantine for two weeks, job hunting, and being pregnant, a lot has been going on.
I am so glad we went home when we did! It felt like the safest time to make the trip, and I was desperate to see friends and family. It was nice to have some sense of normalcy—although the trip was far from normal—and spend some quality time with my sibs and their kiddos. They're growing up so fast and it pains me not to be there to see them—even if it would just be from a distance outside.
The doggos and I made the drive across North America together, and as long and boring as it was, we made the most of it and, most importantly, made it to Michigan safely. The funny thing about this trip home is that I found out I was pregnant the week I got there...thankfully I got in some wine time before taking the test, but I didn't get to enjoy any craft beer!!!
I took the test on a Thursday, before James was in Michigan, and kept it a secret because I wanted to tell him in person. We were FaceTiming that night and he was getting food and booze in preparation for our quarantine. He told me he was going to get a couple of bottles of wine, some Titos, and probably stock up on White Claw (don't judge us). I didn't want him to spend a bunch of money on White Claw that would end up going to waste, but I was going to see him the next day so I brilliantly told him I was over White Claw and suggested we just have craft beer delivered instead. He said ok, but later he told me he knew something was off because let's be honest, I'm never over White Claw.
I picked James up from the airport Friday and gave him a onesie that said "Adventure With Dad" to share the news! It took him a second to realize what was going on, but he (obviously) was really excited. Although I was very early in my pregnancy, we decided to tell our parents and siblings while we were in town, because we didn't know when we'd see them in person again and their reactions were truly priceless.
James and I were trying to get pregnant so you'd think we'd be like, oh yeah, we got this, but no matter how prepared you feel, seeing that positive test is the biggest reality check you'll ever have in your life. It's exciting and terrifying all at the same time. Pregnancy is wild. I never in a million years would have expected my body to flip upside down the way it did in my first trimester. It also didn't help to have to make the transition back to the higher elevation when we got back to Calgary from Michigan. That combo knocked me out for like a week!
I tried working out and almost passed out because I was so fatigued the first couple of times. I also spent most days feeling like I was either going to puke everywhere or that I needed to nap all day. It was kind of a blessing in disguise to not be working, because I could barely function for at least a month—no joke. This tiny little miracle growing inside of you sucks the life out of you and makes your hormones go crazy. Props to those working while pregnant! You are all super women!!
Having a baby in Canada is quite a bit different than in the states. I expected to have an OB, but you first start with a family doctor for your prenatal visits. I'm so thankful to find such a great family doctor here! (Shoutout to Dr. Hannah Faris in Bowness). You then are required to schedule your own ultrasounds and bloodwork. Your bloodwork is done to assess the risk of your pregnancy and check for the risk of chromosome disorders.
Ultrasound one (8-10 weeks) is to date your pregnancy, and the second (12 weeks) is the risk assessment and to see how your baby is developing. The third (19/20 weeks) will be to check anatomy and development progression. After the bloodwork and first two ultrasounds, you are either referred to a maternity clinic (low risk) for the rest of your prenatal visits or an OB for high risk. I have my first appointment with the maternity clinic in January. Stay tuned for more insight on universal healthcare, but so far I have zero complaints!
We had our first ultrasound and it was super emotional. Seeing the heartbeat and knowing everything is ok was such a relief. What's tough is the time between ultrasounds. You get all up in your head that something could go wrong because (although you have symptoms) you're not showing yet and you can't feel anything. The 12-week ultrasound was another reassuring day, because we could see the heartbeat again and see the baby moving all around.
I'm now 14 weeks along, we know we're having a girl, and both the babe and I are healthy! People keep asking me how I'm feeling and honestly, each day is totally different. A lot of days I wake up feeling like I'm hungover (how ironic), but some days I have a ton of energy! Like yesterday, we went on a hike that required climbing and was rated hard, but I felt great. This morning, the hangover headache is back. It's a great reminder to myself to slow down and put my health and safety first. It also shifts your perspective completely because all you can focus on is this child and how you're going to grow and raise them. It's a refreshing change from "work is my baby", and I never thought I'd say this but I'm excited about this change. I don't anticipate being a stay at home mom because I really do love the field I work in, but I have a new purpose and drive for life than I did before.
On that note, I plan to continue to stay active through yoga, strength training, and hiking. The job hunt is exhausting and mentally draining, but I'm hanging in there and not giving up. The holidays will be weird this year, but we're looking forward to a three-day trip to Banff next week to hike and stay in a little cabin and just make the most of this time as a family of four before baby gets here.
xo, Stef
