Halloween Announcement

Every year, for Halloween, I prepare months before for an elaborate creation to unfold where does it come from inside of me, just a flicker of an idea.

This year I've been a little sidetracked with our new addition and mostly exhausted to think of a costume. It still came from within me an idea. It came to me one morning, just waking up, lying in bed.

It was also the perfect time for our announcement date. (tools needed for this costume and iron-on t-shirt.)

Mother Nature

Mother Nature theme costume along with a Baby Fig iron-on announcement. 

Here I am 12weeks 5days.

<< created here

First Trimester Recap 7-12w

On October 22, 2013, we got to see our little Baby Fig; it was such an unreal experience. He/she was actually moving so much inside of me, I couldn't believe it, all of 2in. of you! At this point, it became more real than ever. We could see all angles of our baby, its little feet moving, arms pumping, it was a little gymnast just floating in there. We even got to see him/her sucking their thumb (below).

You are 11w 4d old.

You are about 2in or the size of a FIG.

Here is the start of my weekly log. I will do my best to update it every week.  Through my obsessive blogging research, I found a few questions that I would document each week. I thought this would be a cute idea, given the ever-changing surge of hormones and body changes that come with pregnancy, and to see the progression of my baby bump. To share this as a life-changing event. 

How far along? 
7-12 week period summed up. First Trimester is almost over…fewww!

Total weight gain?

I lost a few pounds at the beginning due to a lack of appetite.

Maternity clothes?
My belly popped right out from the beginning, and my jeans were no longer of use. We were just getting into the fall weather, so I decided to stock up on leggings/jeggings. I also had to buy a few maternity shirts and take out a few loose tops. It was a perfect transition from spring clothes to fall. I also went from high wedges to flats or boots.

Stretch marks?
Nope. But I will be transitioning into using a Cocoa Butter lotion soon, to be on the safe side.

Sleep?
Well.... where should I start? This is something unless you have been there, you have NO idea. I wasn't just tired ALL THE TIME, the cramps in my legs kept me up at all hours of the night as well as going to the bathroom every half hour, so napping was a MUST. I found that exercise helped with my restless legs. This was one of the most difficult parts.

Best moment this week?
Definitely seeing our Baby Fig on the ultrasound (above)... it was so unbelievable! This is something that I look forward to each visit.

Miss anything?
Sleep, my mind, my body... to put it lightly :). Although I am so used to it now, I miss going out with friends and hanging out with them in the cold weather.  It is nice and relaxing just to stay at home right now, though.

Movement?

Not yet... but I know Baby Fig is moving all over in there :) hehe

Food cravings?
I used to be a chips and salty kinda girl, and I am now a sweets person. With all of my senses heightened, I had for the first time while pregnant ice-cream and it was like fireworks in my mouth...wow. I have been craving lots of water on a good note.

Gender?

Not yet, but I do think it's a boy, just a guess.

Labour signs?
Nope

Symptoms?

I could list all of the symptoms of the first trimester from the book  What to Expect When You're Expecting, but I won't.(More of my symptoms in this post) The first trimester, I was in a pretty horrible place for a while... a little coo coo.

Belly button in or out?

No, but it's surfacing.

Happy or moody most of the time?
Happy at this point, but I was the definition of moody... I feel bad about putting this, but it is the truth. I am definitely taking advantage of my good days now!

Looking forward to?
Just getting through the first trimester. I can not stop thinking about our next doctor's. Appointment.

Thank you for letting me share this. I'm looking forward to more posts.

First Trimester Recap 2-6w

I would have to admit that the first trimester was very difficult for me emotionally. Looking back now, I can't believe what an emotional roller coaster it was. From what I have found, I'm not sure if many women do. It wasn't what I was expecting it to be at all. What I found so difficult were mainly two things. 

I was constantly tired, and at night, I couldn't sleep from the leg cramps and having to get up to use the bathroom. At all hours of the day, I was purely exhausted. The second thing I found the most difficult was how emotional I was. I felt confused and worried, after all, I was supposed to be so happy about being pregnant, and I was just sad. 

It was a strengthening period for Chip and me. I felt so bad for him after all, he could not relate, and he was honestly thinking he had found the craziest girl on the planet…. I was beginning to feel like I was a crazy person.

I also had periods where I broke out on my face and neck. I did buy some face wipes to help. I was a little held back on the thought because I had never had an issue with that.

Surprisingly, I didn't call to my Drs. office much. The one time I did I had stomach pains on my side. It was just stomach muscles stretching, it's quite normal and I'm used to it now.

Anyways, this just does not sound like much like a joyful experience, but from what I have read and how I have been feeling now you will be yourself again and have an enjoyable experience. I feel a lot better now after my 11 week period. I would describe it as my head feels out of the clouds, and I can breathe again!!

Its a strong cocktail of hormones and chemicals, not to mention our little Baby Fig. The hormones estrogen and progesterone increase rapidly in the first few months, affecting the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain. (read more on it here) 

6wks 5days 11mm 128 Beats/min.

Here are some helpful suggestions on how to put your mind and body at ease.

Take it easy. Slow down, I found that when I was moody, everything was extreme. 

Bond with your partner. Although I thought that just telling him how I was feeling and having him understand would work. Allow him to be connected as much as possible. Most of all, make time for both of you!

Do something that makes you feel good. It meant a lot to me when someone took me out to get my nails and hair done. These little things would relax me and put me at ease, looking back. I would also start reading up on baby blogs and books to get a better understanding of myself and pumped for the baby..

Reach out. Air your worries with understanding, supportive friends. Just being able to get them out with help releases some of that anxiety. They would also be useful in giving you insight into solutions or disputing them. My friends helped me out so much, I don't know what I would do without them. Talk with your partner as well, keep it a two-way street, andlisten to their feelings too.

Manage your stress. One thing that I have learned in the past is to manage my stress that was helpful and key to being healthy and happy. Don't overt think stuff, write things down, see a counselor, find ways to decompress. SLEEP eventhough this was nearly impossible during my first trimester. Eat well be conscious of what goes into your body, but snacktoo. Exercise, find a routine to do. Have fun!


I found it really helpful to listen to other friends and to read others' stories… this is mine.

These suggestions are just what I found helpful. You don't have to follow these, nor do I have any medical backing.

I'm Pregnant!

The Big News...

We are expecting May 11, 2014!!!! We are both so excited about it and couldn't be any happier to start our own little family. 

I have to say it's been the hardest secret to keep; we couldn't wait for the first 12 weeks to make the announcement.  

Immediately, I started to read up on health, nutrition, symptoms, and what our next step should be. Chip, being the protector that he is, wanted to make sure the baby and I had the best care we could get. He was on the phone right away, and before I knew it, I had a set OBGYN and whole birthing plan put together.

How many times can you have such an experience? I wanted to log my pregnancy and early baby months and takeadvantage of this journey. I thought it would be an extraordinary way to see the progress and share it with others. To have this as a journtal for our little one to have one day. 

So, here we go, the blissful moments, to mood-swings to new memories we are so looking forward to these 9 months! :)

Our Short Story...The Beginning

A brief introduction of how we came together. When "Little Baby Fig" came into light. 

We are incredibly excited about all of the new life changes we have ahead of us. Discovering each other, moving into a home, and MOST of all, both of us being new parents! 

From the time in both of our lives, when we met, for me, I realized life is short, and we should embrace moments and not overlook or overthink what we want. We were ready to share the love that we have with both of us with an addition to the world. Never in a million years did I think I would be where I am today. Both of us go by our gut, and from the start, we dove into us. 

Finding Out...

When we found out >>> Seeing that big + sign over Labor Day weekend was such a miracle for us. Little did I know what that little + was about to bring, and so little did we know. 

This has been a journey for us so far. We are discovering and embracing new things in each other and every moment with our little one growing every day , inch by inch.

You have been brought here with so much love and attention. "Little Baby Fig". 

Here is our journey, every moment of every breath I took, you were here with me. "Every adventure starts with a curious mind and a brave heart."

I will do my best to share every experience, discovery, helpful information, tips, fashions, and DIY projects.

"The closest things to your heart have the most potent effects in life."

Story of Baby Fig

For most moms-to-be, you could guess what the relationship of a Fig to being pregnant is. I thought it was the cutest idea to come up with real-world measurements using anything from a poppy seed to a pumpkin to show how far along you are.

The idea of a Baby Fig came from how far along I was when I started this blog. Our baby now has its first nickname, Baby fig.

As of now...

So while"Baby Fig" is already kicking and stretching, we won't feel the movements for another few weeks, around week 20 or later. He or she is almost fully formed at this point, with all of the internal organs.