Pregnancy Week: 19
Dearest Baby Koch,
I
should have begun writing letters to you a long time ago, but every
time I started, I never could seem to get anything down on paper. This coming Friday marks the half way point in our pregnancy, so if I am going to do this, I better get on it. There is no better place to start than from the beginning.
We found out about you on July 3, 2013. Our vacation to Branson had just ended and I surprised your dad with a puppy the night before. Being pregnant was the farthest thing from my mind. Looking back, I suppose there were signs. I was a bit more tired than usual, felt bloated and I was getting “motion sick” from on the boat which doesn’t normally happen. In
fact, the last day of the trip, I was so over being outside and being
on the boat that I just laid on the seats and slept the whole day while
everyone else was busy in the water, drinking and enjoying our last day
of vacation.
Finding out that we were going to be parents was a shock. We
had spent years talking about how we couldn’t wait to start our own
family, but becoming parents before we were married wasn’t how we
imagined our lives together would begin. In hind sight, this really was the biggest blessing God could have ever given us. Not only were we going to commit our lives to each other in a few weeks, but we were committing ourselves to you as well. Our lives weren’t consumed by ovulation charting, financial worries or when we would finally get pregnant. You were simply coming and we had to accept that, ready or not.
Immediately,
I made doctors appointments to determine if I had the Neuvirth family
blood clotting disorder and to insure that you were okay. Our first appointment was the week after we found out we were expecting. Because I was considered high risk until the results of the blood test were back, we got to see you on an ultrasound right away. Although you only looked like a small, fluttering blip on the monitor, we both loved you instantly. They determined that your heartbeat was strong, our pregnancy looked healthy and our due date was February 28, 2014. The same birthday as your great-grandpa Neuvirth and your cousin Noah!
As we waited for the test results to come back, we both struggled to contain our excitement and our visions of your future. Doctors tell parents to wait to announce their pregnancy until 12 weeks, but we couldn’t delay sharing the news. We told our parents, your grandparents, immediately and our siblings, your aunts and uncles, shortly after. Everyone was so excited for us and to meet you! The blood test results finally came about 10 days later; I do not have Factor 5 Leiden and our pregnancy is considered “normal.” No news has ever brought me such relief!
Our wedding day came when I was exactly 13 weeks pregnant. Most of our wedding party already knew our secret, but the rest of our friends and family did not. Towards the end of the reception, we took the time to tell everyone about you in person. We were happy everyone could finally share in our excitement and we no longer had to keep you a secret. By this point, I had reached the end of our first trimester and couldn’t wait for the real fun to start.
Most of the usual pregnancy symptoms haven’t plagued me. There was never any morning sickness, only the occasional bout of nausea that was easily contained with a small meal. Weight
gain has been minimal thus far; in fact, I lost 10 pounds the first few
weeks with you and have only recently begun to put some of the weight
back on. My clothes still fit relatively the same,
although, I did buy a few maternity items already as I hate anything
being tight around my stomach. No major cravings yet aside from my usual yearning for Pink Poodle Prime Rib and sweets. Your
father has done his best to make sure that I am eating healthier than
usual and doesn’t let me give in to too many indulgences. Let’s see if that continues!
I still can’t determine if I feel you inside of me. There
are these occasional flutters that I have been feeling for about a week
and half now, but I don’t know if it is you or gas. Most
people say, at this point, a baby moving feels like pop corn popping or a
fish blowing bubbles, but whatever I feel is more like my stomach
dropping a tiny bit. Thinking about you moving inside of
me makes my heart soar and I can’t wait to know for sure that it is you
and to have your dad feel it too! Hopefully in the next few weeks your movements will become more defined and your dad and I can share in this together.
In only five short days (October 11), we find out if you are a boy or a girl. Most of our friends and family are convinced you are a girl, but I don’t have a gut feeling either way. Your father and I really just want a baby to love and to spoil and to share in our lives. Our big “gender reveal” party is on Saturday and we cannot wait to share the news with everyone! If planning your birthday parties are half this fun, we are in for a good time!
I hope you know just how much your father and I love you. Even before we get to meet you, you have stolen our hearts and changed us forever. We pray for you daily and talk about the life we hope to give you all the time. Just know, no matter what, we are always going to be here for you. Even
when you get mad at us and think we are the worst parents in the whole
world (and yes, we do know this is going to happen), we still love you. Only 21 more weeks until I can remind you of that in person!
Until next week baby Koch…
Love,
Your mommy
