Last week, we came out with a BIG secret. We’re expecting our first baby, and it’s a boy!

Kyle and I still, 23 weeks in, cannot believe that a brand new life has come from the love we have for one another. When we first saw that second pink line appear, we knew our lives, and the world had just changed forever. God gave us this new, unique and unrepeatable little life to take care of — to say we feel blessed is a gross understatement.

Since we’ve started sharing the news, we’ve received so much love and support. To all of you who have reached out to congratulate us, offered encouraging words and prayers, and given me some much needed advice — THANK YOU. We know that every day we have with this little guy and my health is a gift — so please continue to pray for us as we journey throughout pregnancy.

We’ve also been getting a ton of questions as the news has gotten out, and I thought I’d spend a little time today writing down my responses to the most commonly asked questions I get. I know I’ll be happy to look back on these memories down the road, and maybe some of what I share will help you other Mama’s out there navigate through your pregnancies. Let me mention though, every mom-to-be experiences pregnancy differently. What I am sharing is just my experience, so please do take it as just that and nothing more.

How are you feeling?

Right now? Great! The first 12 weeks? Not so great. For me, “morning” sickness was more like “all day” sickness. It wasn’t anything severe, but for those first 12 weeks, I just had nagging nausea that followed me around all day. It made it difficult for me to eat, but when I didn’t eat, it got worse! This meme really had me rolling one morning because it was SO true for me.

I was also beyond exhausted during the first trimester. My body and my mind felt like piles of mush, so most days were spent on the couch watching Netflix or reading. It was honestly pretty tough for me to accept at first. I really hated being so lazy — but I had to remind myself that growing a human being (and a new organ, hello Placenta!) is a literal miracle. I just had to rest and let my body do what it needed to do.

Thankfully, at around 13 or 14 weeks I started feeling like myself again. I could function, eat normally, and had the motivation to get back to work. This has continued up to the present day and I can gratefully say that during the second trimester I’ve felt fantastic thus far. No backaches, swollen feet, headaches, heartburn or really any of the other common symptoms. I know I am blessed to be feeling so good. Who knows how the next 18 weeks will go, but I will welcome any discomfort for the sake of our little man.

Do you have any weird cravings or aversions?

The first trimester I could not fathom eating anything but carbs. Vegetables, meat, cheese, or really anything remotely healthy sounded horrendous. I could eat fruit, which I did, but mostly I ate cinnamon raisin bagels with cream cheese and honey nut cheerios. After week 12 I was able to introduce actual food to my diet again. However, my cravings for sugar and carbs haven’t gone away. I try to limit my intake and balance it with nutrient-dense foods. It sure isn’t easy though, especially when you’re constantly hungry like I am. #eatingfortwo

What made you decide to have kids so soon after you got married?

Kyle and I found out we were expecting 5 months after we got married. For many, that seems quick! I can understand that sentiment. For us though, the timing felt right. We had dated for 3 ½ years before we got married and experienced so much together. We’d traveled a ton, enjoyed time with our family & friends, and got to know each other in profound ways. There was no question we wanted to be parents and we didn’t have any reason to wait.

Despite all of that, it is still a daunting decision that we don’t take lightly. We won’t have the same kind of “freedom” we enjoy now like being able to drop everything and take off into the mountains, carefree. We won’t be able to do whatever we want to do whenever we want to do it anymore. We’ll experience plenty of hardship and stress as we become parents. We know all of this to be true, but we also know that all of the joy we’ve already experienced (and will) is worth any and all of the pain.

When did you feel baby kick? And has Kyle been able to feel the kicks yet?

The first time I felt the baby kick was on October 18th, right at the 20 week mark. It was unreal! It started out feeling like little flutters. The only way I can describe it is it felt like someone opened a can of seltzer water in my belly and all the bubbles floated upwards. Then I started feeling more clear nudges in my lower abdomen. Soon I could see them when I looked at my belly and by the end of that week, Kyle was able to feel them, too. Since then, they’ve gotten a little harder and more frequent — especially when I drink something cold or sweet! It’s the best feeling in the world.

What do you love most about being pregnant? And least?

Gosh this is a tough one to answer. There are so many facets of pregnancy that I love. However, my answer to both of these questions has to do with my body.

One of the things I love most about pregnancy is witnessing my body and my baby’s body do unbelievable things. Few things are more assuring of God’s existence & perfect design than my body creating a new life. Each week I follow along on the “What to Expect” app and read about what new developments baby is experiencing. This week he’s the size of a grapefruit and his hearing is developed enough for him to hear what’s going on outside the womb. All of his organs and limbs are working and developed and now he just needs to get bigger!

As a woman, I’ve done a lot of the things that these days one might call “empowering” — I’ve gone to University and received my Master’s degree, worked my way up into a Fortune 10 company, shattered the “glass ceiling,” been promoted several times and managed teams of people in a very male-dominated field. I’ve also quit that career and started my own business from the ground up. These aren’t massive feats by any means, however none of these things gave me the feeling of profound strength and dignity that being a mother has — even to a baby who hasn’t seen the world just yet.

On the flip side, my least favorite part of pregnancy also has to do with my body.

It’s grown.

In a lot of places that I wish it wouldn’t. I hate admitting to such a vain complaint, but it’s the truth. As someone who’s always tried to maintain a certain weight and fitness level, it’s hard some days to surrender to the changes happening that seem to be out of my control. I can and do still workout (safely) and eat health (ish) but I still don’t feel great about how I look right now. The control is hard to let go of for me, and pregnancy has been the perfect antidote for this flaw. I don’t feel the most beautiful every day or the most fit, but I’m reminding myself that my body as a woman is most beautiful when it’s doing what it was designed to do — create life. Not when it’s the smallest as the culture would have it.

So there it is!

A quick little update from our corner of the world. I can’t wait to share more about our growing family and to continue serving my amazing clients through all seasons of my life. Being a Mother will bring new challenges but I plan on growing this business alongside my growing family. I hope you’ll join me.