12 Weeks

We had a big week this week! Our 12 week Dr's appointment was first on the list and it was such a success. We had an ultrasound and heard the heartbeat for the first time. I'm so excited that the pictures now look like a baby vs. a gummy bear. 

12 Weeks

This Monday Dave begins traveling for work, to San Francisco every Monday through Thursday till the end of April.  It is going to be a major adjustment to have him gone all week but hopefully the next project will be local.  

This weekend was one of my best work buddies birthday celebrations.  We had a fantastic time at a secret underground supper club.  The food was amazing and we had such great company. 

Madde the Birthday Girl

Me and Madde

Liz, Kelly, Me

10 & 11 Weeks

2014 is off to a great start, it's hard to believe that there's only a few weeks left in my first trimester.  We are finally in double digits now in week 10, I'm starting to feel much better.  Little not no nausea, and I'm starting to get my appetite back which I'm grateful for since eating cereal for dinner was starting to get a little old. 

This week kicked off my traveling for work, starting with Nashville.  It was fun being back in such a great city, great food, great music.  

10 Weeks

Week 11 is here!  This week I headed off to Las Vegas for yet another work convention, these long weeks of traveling are certainly starting to wear on my energy level but just a few left and then I can take a break from being on a plane.  

I have continued to feel much better week by week less tired and my appetite is definitely back. Thank goodness because there are so many wonderful restaurants in Vegas and I got to take advantage enjoying Craft Steak which is Tom Colicchio from Top Chef's restaurant. Dave's current project for work is going well but his time of not traveling is about to end.  He will begin making weekly trips out California :(  

My latest side effect is pretty awful heart burn and no matter what I'm eating or drinking it rears it's ugly head. Hopefully this will not last to long since it's rather uncomfortable, but I guess it's better than not being able to eat.

11 Weeks

      

9 Weeks....Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year! How crazy that it's 2014!! This year marks Dave and my 10 year anniversary and we are so thrilled that it is also the year our first child will be born.  Baby Walter is 9 weeks along and due August 6th, 7 months to go! 

Dave and I decided to change it up this new years and take a break from Chicago.  We headed up to Barrington to celebrate NYE and Priscilla Morrison's surprise 30th birthday.  Her husband John did a great job keeping the secret and she was very surprised.  

L to R: Rena, Casey, Lindsey, Britini, Amanda, Me, Jessie

8 Weeks...First Ultrasound and Christmas

The week of Christmas was especially exciting for Dave and I as we had our first ultrasound.  We got to see Baby Walter's heartbeat as well as our little one on the screen in 3D.  The technology is amazing and I was so excited that I actually could make out what we were looking at.  

We celebrated Christmas in Barrington and while I was so excited to be with my family I was nervous about my food aversions.  In week 8 I am about 5 pounds lighter than when we started this journey.  Chicken is no longer on the menu and my go to is really any carb, especially french fries.   

The Larsen family joined us for Christmas Eve for our annual tradition, this year at the Mellon house.  Christmas day we enjoyed opening presents, visiting our very close friends the Campbells and then a small family dinner with my parents, Aunt Jane, Dave and me, and of course Brisco and Abby. We had a wonderful time and kept reminding ourselves how much fun next year will be when Baby Walter is with us. 

Dave, Me, Jane, Mom, Dad, Brisco and Abby

Me, Dave and Siri

We concluded our Barrington Christmas with our annual Egg Harbor brunch.  The group was smaller than years past but it was so nice to get everyone together and to see Caitlin, Billy and Rory and catch up with them.  

Me, Billy, Caitlin, Rory, Rena, MJ, Dave, Tyler

6 & 7 Weeks

Week 6 was off to an OK start, I've started to feel some early pregnancy symptoms; I'm fairly exhausted, an increased sense of smell and food is not so appealing especially around dinner time.  This week was fairly slow for us, coming off the stomach flu, I flew to Denver for my company's annual sales conference.  This was certainly a test for me as I was not feeling great from being so sick over the weekend while trying to meet all my new co-workers.

Ho Ho Ho almost Christmas

That Saturday we headed up to Barrington for our annual Friendsgiving party, this year held at my Besties house, Britini Wilkens.  She did a spectacular job hosting the event this year.  The food was amazing, her Christmas decorations were perfect and the company was exactly what I needed.  Being surrounded by some very amazing friends.  While we still aren't sharing our news, I'm sure everyone will have a giggle when they read this and realize I was trying to be super sneaky with my mocktails :)

From L to R; Rena, Me, Britini, Jesso, Megs, Kristin, Jessica, Jenny

(not pictured; Dave, Tyler, Matt, and Nick, Rebel and Lilly)

In week 7 Baby Walter has grown to the size of a blueberry.  I've continued to keep up on reading my what to expect when expecting book.  It has been very helpful and has certainly eased some concerns on what seems abnormal and all the things I am not allowed to eat.  

We received a wonderful holiday gift from Dave's partners, a yummy bottle of Dom Perignon.... a gift that we will save till after Baby Walter's arrival and drink in celebration, especially since i'm the champs lover in the family. 

5 Weeks....Happy Hanukkah!

Back at home and settling into our news our schedule was filled with lots of holiday parties and figuring out how to keep our BIG news a secret for awhile.  First things first celebrating a holiday dinner with my girlfriends from Nickelodeon; Liz, Madde and Kelly.  I successfully got through the night sneaking sparkling white grape juice. 

Next was our annual Christmakkah dinner with our IU family.  It was a great night filled with good food, laughter and a new game Cards Against Humanity. I've never laughed so hard.   

It's Official We're Pregnant

As Dave and I headed off to Treasure Cay, Bahamas for Thanksgiving with my parents I had a slight feeling that I should probably take a pregnancy test prior to enjoying one to many Gumbay punch drinks and Pina Coladas.   Our first morning there I woke Dave up to the exciting and slightly overwhelming news that we were in fact pregnant.  For some reason I felt the need to take another two tests just to be sure, ya never know with those Bahama tests :)

Following our exciting news our first morning on the island, we had a fantastic time with my family enjoying some sun, playing with Brisco on the beach and making a delicious turkey dinner. 

4 Weeks Pregnant