Growing Like a Weed!!

Oh my goodness... Eli is now 7 and a half weeks old!! The time is flying and he is growing like a weed! This past week he went through a growth spurt. He was eating every 2 hours when his typical daytime schedule is every 3. He also slept a lot. Rather than being alert and ready to play after his feedings, he was ready to go right back to sleep. He still isn't back on his typical routine, but we are getting there. I can already see that his legs are more filled out and he's getting heavier in my arms. It's bittersweet :(

We've done some new things this week. Eli and I went for our first walk in the park with our Jeep stroller. We have friends close by, Kelly (our amazing photographer) and Javier (her adorable 6 month old), who joined us. This was my first time getting out and exercising and it felt amazing. The cool fall air, the sunshine, the feeling of muscles burning, Eli sleeping away in the stroller and a good friend to exchange all kinds of new mommy wisdom. Kelly and I plan to meet up regularly to walk the boys around the park. I am so happy to have a walking buddy. Maybe some other new moms can join us down the line... Rhonda and Alicia!! ;)

Saturday morning, Shawn watched Eli and I got a much needed mommy's morning out. Thank you, sweetie!! It was splendid. Starbucks, shopping and a mani/pedi. I learned that it is just as easy to get carried away shopping for little boy clothes as it is for little girls. I'll have to have a fashion show with Eli and post all of the pictures. He is going to be very fashionable this holiday season!

This week is going to be lots of fun! Today we are meeting my family for an early Thanksgiving meal. We are making it easy on ourselves and going out to eat :) This will be Eli's first time in a restaurant - wish us luck! On Wednesday, we are going back to Kentucky to have Thanksgiving with Shawn's family. Eli will be meeting his Aunt Jourdan for the first time, YAY!!

So many "firsts" and I know they will keep coming. What a journey it has been so far and it is only beginning. We are so blessed.

Here's an updated video with more pics added! I love making these videos and hope to have a little collection to give Eli when he's older. http://animoto.com/play/wW11id8a9I1cLailSA5Cgw

Eli: The First 6 Weeks

Where do I even begin?! It's been a while since my last post but I believe you all understand why ;) Having Eli home has been the most amazing time in our lives, but it has left us with little time (or energy!) for anything else. These days we are finding our groove and getting into a routine.

Sleep. The big question we keep getting is how much sleep we are getting. The longest Eli has slept at night is 5 hours; that has happened twice. Most nights we get two 4 hours stretches of sleep. Fortunately for us, Eli is great about going to sleep at night. He wakes, feeds and goes back to sleep without a fuss. Our struggle comes more with putting him down for daytime naps. He does not like sleeping during the day and usually cries himself to sleep. Although he has been getting better, at least during the last week.

Eating. I am breastfeeding which has been very rewarding and challenging. I love our feeding sessions, even the middle of the night ones because its our little bonding time. We introduced Eli to the bottle (expressed breast milk) at 4 weeks. He doesn't love the bottle but he is doing well drinking milk from it. I haven't been away from Eli for more than an hour and a half yet, but that's bound to change soon and we want him to be ready.

Playing. My favorite time of the day is Eli's playtime. Right now, we are alternating between 3 activities: his owl mobile, his floormat w/ tummy time and his rocker. From last week to this week, playtime has transformed. He is smiling in response to things, kicking his legs and reaching out at objects. Each day, brings something new that he is doing.  I just can't wait to see what he does next :)

Here's a little video with highlights from Eli's first 6 weeks. It's amazing how in such a short time it feels like he is the puzzle piece that was always missing... Love him to pieces!!

Wow... I can't believe the countdown to our due date is in the single digits! Although the odds of Baby Sheehan actually being born on September 23rd are only 5%, being so close to that magical date brings a sense of excitement and calm that is difficult to describe.

How can being close to our due date make me calm??? It's funny... Now that we are so close, it has made me stop and appreciate our life as it is right now. For example, Shawn and I went out to dinner the other night and sat out on the restaurant patio to enjoy the cooler weather. It was so peaceful that I just had to soak up the moment knowing "peace" may be hard to find soon.

While I am enjoying these last moments before Felix makes his grand entrance, there are times when I grow impatient. I know of 8 mommies delivering in September and so far 6 have already gone into labor. I told Shawn we are saving the best for last :) I'm also enjoying the last few moments where I have Felix all to myself.

Shawn, Coco and I had a little photo shoot recently to capture our excitement for the arrival of baby Sheehan. Here's a little video of those pictures that I hope you enjoy.

http://animoto.com/play/FVo0zndUKzU2hVKwy8gYjw

Hopefully, the next post I write will be as a new mommy! I can't believe we are actually going to welcome our first child into the world so soon. Wish us luck!

Ready, Set... Go!

We are just about 5 weeks from our due date!! I cannot believe it... Life as we know it will never be the same. But in an amazingly good way :) I've had some anxiety about how ready we are to bring home baby, but after 2 wonderful and generous baby showers I think we are finally ready to welcome little Felix home!

We are all set to hit the road with our Chicco stroller for everyday use and our Jeep stroller for walks and jogs. Between morning jogs in the park and evening walks with daddy, that pre-baby body will be mine by Christmas!

Bring on the dirty diapers! We got so many supplies from friends and family that I doubt we will need to buy much in the first few weeks. And I hope baby Sheehan never has to go through all of the diaper cream we got! We are trying out gDiapers which are a combo of cloth and disposable. They have a cloth outer diaper and a disposable insert that is flushable and biodegradable. I'll keep you posted on how they go. We also got lots of disposable diapers, so either way we are set. :)

We can't wait for bath time! In addition to all of the basics like a tub, soaps and towels we got so many cute bath time accessories we didn't even know about! One of my favorites came from a coworker of Shawn's. It's called Bath Luve and its an adorable towel that you dip in warm water and place on the baby to keep its body warm while you bathe. I can almost smell that baby smell now...

Mommy and Daddy diaper bags! We've already started stocking our bags with some essentials. Shawn got his diaper bag "The Diaper Dude" as a Father's Day gift. I highly recommend it for dads-to-be and can't wait to see him in full dad mode with it. Here's some Sheehan trivia for you... Shawn's diaper bag has our wedding colors gray and orange. How romantic?! ;)

Thanks to an incredibly thoughtful baby shower thrown by close friends, Jessica and Belinda, we are all set for story time. Instead of giving cards, guests for the baby shower were asked to bring their favorite children's book and write a message inside. Having these books and heartfelt messages means so much. I can't wait until Felix is old enough to understand all of the love in those messages. He or she is going to feel so loved and special. I also look forward to seeing what stories Felix enjoys most and wants to read over and over. There are so many great stories to choose from - I look forward to reading them all!

Thank you to all of the friends, family and coworkers that have helped us get ready to become parents! And for anyone who gave us a stuffed animal, you have definitely gotten Coco's attention... she thinks they are for her! haha

The Big Gender Question...

As of Friday, we are only 10 weeks from Felix's due date! As we get closer to meeting our little miracle, we can't help but bring up the question, "Are you thinking Boy or Girl?!" Shawn and I have gone back and forth through the entire pregnancy and have finally concluded that we have absolutely no clue! Felix has done an outstanding job of keeping us all guessing.

We have gone through all of the old wives tales used for guessing the gender. Here are a few of our results. You will quickly see why we are so in the dark.
-No morning sickness = BOY
-Carrying high = GIRL
-Skin looking better than ever = BOY
-Irish ring test (ring moved side to side) = GIRL
-Craving salty foods, meats and cheeses = BOY
-Chinese gender chart = GIRL
-Belly looks like a basketball = BOY
-Pillow faces south = GIRL

So we are back to the starting point, with no clue about the sex. While there have been moments that we just wish we knew, I'm glad to be in the dark. I can't wait for the moment we meet our child for the first time. I'm also excited for the moment Shawn walks out into the waiting room and announces the news to friends and family. :)

Feel free to take your best guess and place your bets!

The Lucky Number is 29

Hello again!

It's amazing how the time is flying and how quickly things continue to change. As of today, we are 29 weeks pregnant. Only 11 weeks to go!! Thursday is also my 29th birthday! We already have a great evening planned to celebrate. Dinner at one of my favorite Italian restaurants and an outdoor concert with friends on Friday. Please pray for an end to the heat wave!

Shawn and I went to the doctor today who said that everything looks great, normal and healthy.  He may have recommended I dial back on the sweets to keep my weight gain in check. Hey, I've been eating grandma's cooking for the last two weeks! What do you expect?! ;-)


I have been so blessed that since May all four of my grandparents have visited from Puerto Rico. Spending time with them makes me very thankful for my Puerto Rican roots and my loving family. It also inspires me to make sure I teach our child as much as possible about the Puerto Rican culture. The pictures are from our mini family reunion this past weekend. I can't wait for the first time we take our baby to Puerto Rico to meet the whole family!


As you can see from the pictures, mommy and baby are growing with each day. It literally feels like each day brings new feelings, new symptoms and a wider stomach. Not every moment is pleasant, but I'm trying to take it in stride and keep a good sense of humor. Sometimes you just have to laugh at the craziness that is pregnancy! Shawn has been great too - bringing me water so I don't have to get up from the couch, rubbing my swollen feet, and making sure I avoid any chores that involve heavy lifting or being outside in the heat. I'll admit, I'm a tad concerned of what the next 11 weeks have in store for me... Luckily, we know the end is quickly approaching!!


Time to start the weekend with husband :)
Stefanie

Babymoon, Nursery and Hello Third Trimester!

Cocktails before dinner in Savannah

 Hi everyone!

There is so much to share with you! Shawn and I spent last weekend in Savannah for a little pre-baby getaway. We had an amazing trip! On Friday we went to Tybee Island where we visited Fort Pulaski before chowing down at The Crab Shack. That night we walked the historic district and River Street going into shops and enjoying the beautiful squares Savannah is known for. Saturday we grabbed a trolley tour which was great because we got to learn all about the history of Savannah. That night we had dinner at the Olde Pink House where the bartender treated me to a beautiful "mocktail". If you are ever on Savannah, the praline basket dessert at OPH is NOT to be missed! Overall the trip was perfect. We were so relaxed and spent most of the time laughing or having sweet talks about past memories and the exciting events in the future. I'm so happy we were able to have this weekend away and can't wait to take baby Sheehan to Savannah in December for a trip we are planning with friends.

Entering the 3rd Trimester!!

Now that we are back, we are in full nursery decorating mode. We have most of the big items out of the way with just some wall decor and a rug left on the list. I made the curtains by hand. Shawn and I chose the fabric together which sparked the bird theme. The crib and bedding were purchased by both of our parents (thank you SO much!!). They look amazing in the room and I can't wait to set our tiny bundle of joy down to sleep in this lovely crib. The rocking chair is the most comfortable chair in our house and I already go in there to rock when I want to chill out. The rocking chair also has a great view of the back yard which (I hope!) will be a calming site when I'm trying to soothe a fussy baby.

I still can't believe that in exactly 3 months our lives will change forever and we will be parents! Even seeing the nursery, my growing belly and feeling baby kicks aren't enough to make it fully sink in. It almost feels like I'll just be pregnant forever - which is not something that I would enjoy...

As I enter the third trimester, I feel like so many symptoms have hit me all at once. Swollen feet, heartburn, trouble sleeping and a few others that I probably shouldn't share on this blog. I do love having little Felix safely tucked away in my belly, but I am also looking forward to soon having my body back to myself. I will say that the thing that I'll miss most about pregnancy is feeling our baby kick. Felix has been super active recently and as I feel his movements I get so curious wondering what he's actually doing in there! Whatever he's doing, he seems to be having a lot of fun which is all that I care about. :)

Wish us luck for the next 3 months! (And the 18 years following that - ha!)

Yours truly,
Stefanie

Baby Kicks

I have to start off by saying that pregnancy is so much more than I could have imagined. So often, we are too busy to listen to our bodies and often work against ourselves. Being pregnant, I have learned to listen to my body's cues and not to underestimate how good you can feel by just taking better care of yourself. Not that I eat super healthy ALL the time... if my body is craving double dark chocolate gelato, I know exactly where to find the ice cream scoop. :)

Another aspect of pregnancy that I am loving are feeling my little baby's kicks! It seemed like it was going to be forever before I would be able to feel them and then, almost overnight, they are happening all the time! They are a sweet reminder that our little Felix is growing bigger and stronger with each day. 

Something really special that happened yesterday is that Shawn was able to feel the baby kick for the first time. We were laying down to go to bed (a time when the baby usually gets active) and the kicks were pretty strong. I wasn't sure if Shawn would be able to feel, but I had him put his hand on my belly to see if he could get in on the action. It was so perfect. Just then, Felix gave a big kick right in the middle of Shawn's hand! A few seconds later, there came another. It's as if he was saying, "Hi, dad!". The moment was perfect and I am so glad that Shawn can start connecting with the baby in this way. 

We are less than 4 months from our due date and have lots to do! We have cleared out the room that is going to be the nursery and we are hoping to have the nursery done by the end of June. With our busy schedules, that actually doesn't leave too much free time to get it all done but I'm sure we'll make it happen - we always do :)  

Another exciting event we have planned for June is our "Babymoon"! For those of you who are not familiar with the term, Babymoon is like a honeymoon but its a couple's last getaway before the baby arrives. We have booked a weekend in Savannah and can't wait to take in the gorgeous sites and amazing food. We have our next ultrasound appointment the Friday morning of our trip. I can't think of a better way to kick off our Babymoon than seeing our little baby. :)

Thank you all for your love and support! I don't know what we would do without you!

Love,

Stefanie

Happy Mother's Day!

First, I'd like to start off by wishing all the amazing moms out there a Happy Mother's Day! Your unconditional love, endless compassion and tireless efforts are not recognized enough. I am thrilled to soon join such an outstanding group of women.

Although I have not yet earned the title of "Mom", this Mother's Day brought many sincere messages from friends and family. The first of such messages came Thursday evening after arriving home from a 5 hour road trip. Looking through the mail, I saw a card from my aunt Isabel whom I affectionately call "Titi Chavolo" (I love being Puerto Rican!). As I pulled the card out of the envelope, knowing exactly what occasion it marked, I started to cry. Happy tears filled my eyes as I realized that Mother's Day had taken on a new and very special meaning.

I recalled Mother's Days from my childhood. Richard and I had a very special tradition of making breakfast in bed for my mom each year. It likely started with a bowl of cereal and orange juice, then graduated to eggs, pancakes and coffee when we were old enough to manage in the kitchen. We would decorate a tv tray with a single flower and our best plate setting. Each year we were so proud to present our feast to our wonderful mommy. Imaging myself being on the receiving end of such love and admiration from my own child one day is more than my pregnancy hormones can handle right now! For now, I remain focused on providing this little miracle with all of the nutrition and safe-keeping it needs.

The pictures above are a glimpse into how I spent this Mother's Day. Shawn presented me with a gorgeous bouquet of red roses and the most perfect card to mark the occasion. He marked the envelope simply "Mommy Sheehan". This was the second card that had me crying before I read a single word! He also took me out to dinner. I decided to keep things low key and indulgent by going to Smokejack, an amazing barbecue restaurant on our downtown square. It was a wonderful day.

I wish you all a Happy Mother's Day today and every day!

Yours truly,
Stefanie

Cutest Fetus I've Ever Seen!

Hello friends and family!

Time is FLYING! We are officially 20 weeks into our pregnancy which means we are halfway there! Now that we are just 4 1/2 months from meeting our little baby, things are starting become very real...

Our 20 week ultrasound revealed a little person that has developed so much in the last 8 weeks. At our last ultrasound, Felix had a tiny little body with only small nubs for arms and legs. This ultrasound his arms and legs are in perfect proportion with this body. If you look at the second photo his foot is all the way up by by his face! Speaking of face, is that first picture just the cutest you've ever seen?! I could pinch those cheeks already! I am so in love :)

Another thing that is becoming that is becoming real is my baby bump. It has virtually appeared overnight! I think in the last 4 days the bump went from being somewhat identifiable to completely undeniable! Not that I'm complaining - a growing baby bump means a growing baby. All I care about right now is making sure baby Felix (or Felicity) is getting everything he/she needs to be healthy and strong.

Stats for our growing baby are very impressive. The ultrasound showed that Felix is weighing 13 oz and is 10 inches long! I think Shawn's genes are at work on that one... By fruit standards, our bundle of joy is the size of a small cantaloupe. No wonder my baby bump is showing!

All in all, things are progressing well and we couldn't ask for anything more. Being pregnant has brought out a new side to mine and Shawn's relationship that has allowed me fall in love with him all over again. I feel like the luckiest woman to be blessed with such love.

Alright, enough sappy talk! ;) I already almost cried once today (for no reason at all!). I think I deserve a brownie...

Love you all so much!
Stefanie

4 Months Down, 5 Month to Go!

Hello friends and family!

I hope this posts finds you all doing well! It's been a while since I've written which just goes to show how crazy life has been. I feel like our calendars are booked through August! The next few months are going to be very busy as we juggle work, social events and everything we need to do to get ready for the baby. Wish us luck!

Today is officially 18 weeks into the pregnancy. We are almost halfway there! Our little Felix is measuring about 5 1/2 inches. He's grown a lot since being the size of a blueberry... he's about the size of a sweet potato now! As you can see from the pic, my little baby bump is starting to show :) Yay!!

They say for your first pregnancy, you will start to feel flutters between week 18-22. Every morning I lay in bed for a while to see if I can feel anything. Nothing so far, but I know it's coming soon! I can't wait to start connecting with our sweet baby in that way.

As always, thank you all for your love, support and prayers. When I think of all the wonderful people that will love and influence our children as they grow up, I feel so incredibly blessed.

Much love,
Stefanie

Special Times in the Second Trimester!

It's official... I'm in the second trimester! We are 14 weeks and one third of the way into this amazing journey. Another milestone for today is that we are exactly 6 months from our due date! I have to say, I am loving life these days. The baby bump is starting to show and I am falling in love with my pregnant body. It's surreal the first time you get dressed and see that little pooch! I love being able to see and feel the physical evidence of our growing baby, and I am so proud to show it off. Words can't really describe how incredible it feels.

Little Felix is now 3 1/2 inches or the size of a lemon. Last night Shawn joked around by rocking a lemon in his arms like a baby - he's so silly :) Felix is estimated to grow an inch a week for the next 6 weeks! I'm likely to gain at least half a pound a week for the next few weeks as well. So far I've gained 7 pounds. At least for now they are all around the mid-section!

We are very blessed to have so many special things going on right now. I have an appointment next week with our midwife. My mom has the day off work and she's going to join me for the appointment! Next weekend Shawn's parents are visiting from Kentucky. This is the first time we've seen them since the big news so it's sure to be an exciting weekend!

Thank you all for your love and support. You are truly blessings in our lives.

~Stefanie

Felix is Feisty!

Today we got to check up on Felix with our 12 week ultrasound! Shawn was able to join me for this appointment as well. I am so thankful his work is supportive of him taking time off to experience these special moments.

I have been anxiously awaiting this appointment for weeks. I have had no morning sickness and many of the other symptoms that I had have been subsiding. I know this is normal as you approach the end of your first trimester, but I still need the reassurance of a healthy ultrasound to calm my nerves. Today, I got just that.

As soon as the tech placed the ultrasound wand on my belly, it was clear - there is a baby growing in there!

And not just growing... waving, kicking and flipping. That's why I say he is feisty. It was so cute to see him moving around and having a ball. He was so active and full of life. We got to hear the heartbeat too - beating away at 152 bpm.

They measured him at about 7cm or 2.75 inches. So right now he's about the size of a peach. I've read that over the next 3 weeks he will grow to 5 inches! Watch out because my waistband is going to be growing right along with him! No real baby bump to report right now, but stay tuned.

By the way, I know I am referring our little fetus as a "He" but that's really just to avoid saying "It". Since we have chosen the name "Felix the Fetus" I am going to refer to Felix as a him for convenience. We are still planning to keep the gender a surprise. The doctor today asked if we wanted his prediction on the gender which was shocking at 12 weeks! He said that at 12 wks they are 80% accurate. We politely declined his offer, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't curious to know what he was thinking.

All in all, it was a fantastic morning. My next appointment is in two weeks to meet the midwife who will hopefully be the one to deliver our baby. Thanks for being part of our journey to parenthood.

Love,

Stefanie

Felix the Fetus

Hi friends and family,

Thank you all so much for your love and support during the last few weeks. Getting random calls and messages asking how I'm feeling or how we are getting ready for the baby means so much. You brighten my day and make me feel so blessed to have such an incredible support system.

Thursday I had my second appointment. The doctor stated that my weight gain is right on track and answered many of our questions. We didn't get to hear the heartbeat like I thought - the doctor said it was too early. We do have another appt on the 13th to get our second ultrasound! I can't wait to see our little fetus. :)

That brings me to the title of this post "Felix the Fetus". Shawn and I have been tossing around baby names lately and have a few good contenders... Felix was one name that didn't quite stick as a baby name, but we have decided that it works perfectly as a fetus name! Until our little baby enters this world and reveals its gender, he or she will be affectionately referred to as Felix the Fetus.

Along with choosing names, we are getting the house ready and making plans for the nursery. Shawn and I took a trip to the fabric store to see if we could find some inspiration for the nursery. When we came across the fabric in the photo we fell in love with the idea of a bird theme. I'll be making curtains for the nursery using this fabric. We also found mini-birdhouses that we are going to paint to go along with the theme. The color scheme is neutral with accents of yellow. We have a good bit to do around the rest of the house, so it will be a while before we get started in the nursery.

I think that's all for now... time for this mami to go to bed.

Yours truly,

Feliz por Felix (Happy for Felix)

The Disappearing Waistline

As you may have gathered from the title of this post, my once hourglass figure is looking more like a glass Christmas ornament each day. I was starting to freak out (as I do with many situations in which I have no control...) but I got some great advice from my mom. She simply said "Don't stress. Just go with the flow and take these changes as they come". Seems so simple, but sometimes it takes someone, especially a mom, to help you see the obvious.

So I decided to embrace these changes and enjoy the ride. Rather than feel sorry for myself because I can't fit into a cute shirt that I've only worn once, I packed away all the clothes that are definitely not seeing the light of day until spring 2013 and did a little shopping to fill in the gaps of what I have left. I feel better already! Thanks, mom :)

To update you on Baby Sheehan, this week the baby is 2 inches long! Quite a long way from the 1/2 inch blueberry. Our next appt is less than a week away and I believe we will be able to hear the heartbeat. I've heard it's a magical moment so I am very excited and glad that Shawn will be there too. Keep your fingers crossed that we will have another ultrasound to see our baby's growth. I've learned that ultrasounds are not as frequent as I thought... Shawn and I are not planning to find out the sex of the baby, but if we were we would have to pay out of pocket.

For your enjoyment, here is a new segment I like to call "Things Husbands Probably Shouldn't Say to Their Pregnant Wife". Take a look and let me know what you think.

Wife: "Hey babe! Look! I think my baby pooch is starting to show!"

Husband: "Are you sure it isn't just the ice cream you had last night?"

To Shawn's mom, yes your son said that and yes you have my permission to hit him over the head the next time you see him ;) Fortunately for Shawn, my hormones were at just the right level for this comment to roll off the back without any serious consequences. Next time he may not be so lucky...

Thank you for reading and best wishes to you for a wonderful weekend!

Sincerely,

Saying goodbye to anything in size Small

Week 10 Friday Fun

Hello friends and family!

Today marks 10 weeks into this 40 week journey! According to online articles, Baby Sheehan is about the size of a cocktail shrimp. Seeing as how shrimp is pretty much my favorite food, this is kind of a big week for me :)

I'm still feeling pretty good! My appetite has really picked up so I'm trying to eat as nutritious as possible to keep calories in check. The kitchen is stocked with fresh fruits/veggies, lean meats, whole grains and nuts. Shawn and I have always considered ourselves healthy eaters, but we've really stepped it up. I hope we keep it up long-term and you know I'll be sending along any new recipes worth sharing.

I weighed myself yesterday and I've only gained 3-4 lbs. My weight gain is on track for what is recommended in the first trimester. (A pleasant surprise since I feel like a bottomless pit!) I am also doing mommy-friendly workouts and taking evening walks with Shawn. I can't wait to "spring forward" the clocks so we have even more time to enjoy outside in the evenings.

I've gotten lots of predictions regarding the sex of the baby. If you haven't heard, Shawn and I are planning to wait to find out. But I came across this video and just had to share. This is a glimpse into what my daughter will likely be like at 8 years old. Enjoy! Much love to you all!

Best Valentine's Day Ever

What a weekend it has been! I am so blessed to be surrounded by so much love. I find it appropriate that this is the week we celebrate Valentine's Day. :)

Saturday night was spent at a girls wine night at Belinda's house. This was the night I have anticipated for weeks because it was the night I told my closest friends that Shawn and I are expecting. I made a slideshow to reveal the news and the reactions were priceless. I'm so thankful to have a great circle of women to share these moments with and lean on for support. We have been there for each other through college, relationships, weddings and now starting our families. We are as close as sisters and I can't wait to watch all of our children grow up together.

Sunday was simply perfect. Sunday was the day that Shawn and I celebrated Valentine's Day. We began our day with breakfast. While I was gone on Saturday night, Shawn set up a romantic table complete with flowers and our wedding china. We had a huge breakfast of pancakes, eggs and bacon complete with virgin mimosas (orange juice and ginger ale). We made breakfast together, laughing in the kitchen and feeding Coco pieces of turkey bacon. It was fantastic. After we were full and the kitchen was a mess, we went window shopping for the baby! We went to Babies R Us and Target to start figuring out all of the things we will need in the coming months and making a mental tally of the dollars to be spent in the near future. Needless to say, we are living lean these days!

The best part about this weekend was enjoying time with my husband and taking a little extra time to show how much we mean to each other. We are not perfect people, we are not the perfect couple, but we love each other very much. I feel blessed knowing that our example of love is one of the best gifts we will pass on to our child.

Happy Valentine's Day to you!

Sincerely,
Luckiest wife and mommy-to-be

Our first appointment

Finally! The day we have been waiting for... our first doctor's appointment! Shawn and I have been anxiously awaiting this day so that we could get the thumbs up from the doctor that all is well and we are on our way to having a healthy baby. Today, those hopes were met and even more.

During the ultrasound the doctor located our little bundle of joy and it was a moment I will not forget. He stopped on a location and pointed out the little blur that is our baby. Then he said, "Do you see that little flutter?". There was a small area within the blur that was moving. He said, "That's your baby's heart." In that moment I was mesmerized as I watched the little heart beating strong. Then I looked at Shawn with tear in my eyes and he was all smiles. It is real. There is really a baby growing in my belly! Today has been a great day and I can't even imagine the many similar moments we have to come. We are truly blessed.

PS - Notice that on the ultrasound the doctor wrote "High Folks" instead of "Hi Folks". Shawn and I have had a few laughs on that one... ;)

Yours truly,
Simply overjoyed

First doctor's appt moved to tomorrow!

YAAAAYYYYY!!! Someone cancelled so we are able to get into see the doctor tomorrow!! Our appointment is at 11:30a and Shawn is able to take off work to join me. :) I'm most excited to get reassurance from the doctor that everything looks healthy and normal. More details to come...

Week 7 does not feel like Heaven

My how things have changed from my last post! I'm definitely feeling the toll of the pregnancy on my body. Very tired, weakened immune system has caused me to catch a cold (I pride myself in rarely getting sick) and my emotions are all over the place. The hardest part about right now is that several of my close friends don't know I'm pregnant. This is hardest with my emotions being all over the place because they are the ones I call when I want to have a completely random girlie cryfest. I'm planning to tell them at a girls wine night that Belinda is holding on Feb 11th. It can't get here soon enough!

In lighter news... we are happy to report that our little bundle of joy is now the size of a blueberry! We actually ate blueberries with our breakfast this morning and smiled thinking about how our baby is growing. Right now the cheeks, chin, eyes and nose are all starting to take shape into that adorable face. Last night Shawn and I played a game to see what our baby might look like. We printed a picture of each of our faces, separated the pictures into forehead, eyes, nose and mouth and mixed them up to see what our baby might look like. We had some interesting results and lots of laughs.

An idea that has come up from several people I have talked to is making a Baby Journal. Unlike this blog which is meant for friends and family, the journal is for the baby. I will capture all of the special moments throughout the pregnancy and how much I love the baby already. I can also continue the journal for the first years of life and write about first steps, funny things they say and add pictures too. I am definitely going to steal this idea and thank you to those who recommended it!

Yours truly,
Exhausted and under the weather

And I'm Feeling GOOD!

Another great day! I have to say that I am thankful that I have not had much discomfort with the pregnancy so far. A few things here and there, but nothing unbearable. Part of me wishes I had more symptoms so I could "feel" pregnant, but I think I've got the better end of the stick :)

Shawn is NOT feeling so good today. Poor thing came home early from work with a head cold. Pray he feels better soon.

Exactly 3 weeks until my first appointment! Something tells me I'm not going to be able to contain this news that long...

Sincerely,
Wanting to shout from the rooftops

The Good News!

Dear friends and family,

If you are ready this blog then you already know that Shawn and I are expecting!! We are very excited to know that in 8 months we will have a little boy or girl to hold in our arms. What a blessing! It is still early in the pregnancy (exactly 6 weeks), so we are cautious about spreading the word. My first doctors appt is Feb 13th and the first trimester ends in late Feb, so I imagine come March we will be shouting from the rooftops and giving the thumbs up to activate the family phone trees. Until then, thank you for keeping our news a secret :) Trust me, we are bursting just as much as you!

As far as the pregnancy, things are going well. Experiencing a few early pregnancy symptoms but nothing terrible (thank the Lord!). Shawn is being so helpful around the house :) We are plotting out ideas for the nursery and getting in lots of play time with Coco.

I'll be posting updates and pictures to chronicle the Journey of Baby Sheehan. Thank you for all of your love and support. We are blessed with the best family and friends in the world.

Love you all!
Soon-to-be Mami