11th Week!

Jellybean, yesterday started your eleventh week.  Before the next one starts, family will know about you!  You are about two inches long and you weigh a third of an ounce.  Your hair follicles and nail beds are growing.  All your fingers and toes are fully, individually formed, as is your nose, ears, and tongue.  If you are a girl, your ovaries are developing!  We love you very much.

                                                                           Photo of an 11 week old in the womb


I am still dealing with fatigue, weakness and all day nausea.  Folding a load of laundry and putting it all away causes me to lose my breath.  Checking on my plants outside, with a little watering and bug-spraying, makes me need to sit down for a while.  It's a little frustrating that I used to be able to do so much, and now I feel very needy and "unable".  I have gained 3-4 pounds so far, which sounds good to me--I've heard stories of women who have gained 10 pounds or more by the end of the first trimester!

Recently, Jared and I have been coasting along, and not being overly concerned about being pregnant.  We talk about plans, do a lot of reading, and scheme for the best ways to tell our family, coworkers and friends.  I have a feeling that, once the secret is out, plans and talk will become action and everything will feel that much more "real".

Three days until the telling starts, eight days before everyone knows, and nine days until we hear the heartbeat!

Praises

Jared got a great offer for the job he has been interviewing for!  He called me at work this morning after he got off the phone with them, and I am so proud for him.  I've been thanking God every time it comes to mind.  God really does take care of us, and I'm so grateful for that.  Jared will probably start some time in the next two weeks.  This is the first time he has been earning a salary as opposed to commission, and the first time he's been offered benefits.  We will probably be able to put my whole paycheck in savings.

As for the puppy we were planning on taking home the last week of April--the breeder called us recently and told us that the mother dog only had two puppies, and they both died after a few days.  So, now we are waiting on a summer bunch--maybe bringing one home in the middle of June or so.

And about starting a family--we are still waiting to find out from our first month of official trying.  It seems like this is the longest two weeks I've ever gone through. 

Beginner's Steps

Once again, we're standing together on the precipice of change.  The last time we did this, we were stepping out in faith to purchase our very first home, which we have now been in for three months, and we love it dearly.  This time, we find ourselves with three hopeful, possible changes:

(1) Jared should hear back in the next 2-3 days whether or not he's been chosen for a position at a great company.  He's been working commission his whole career thus far, and we both know that's not cutting it.  His current position isn't giving him joy, and since we only have this one life anyway, why not do something you love? 

(2) Based on the outcome of (1), we intend on getting an English Bulldog puppy on the next two months.  It's been 10 years since I lived at home with a dog, and Jared's never had one.  We can't wait--we've already chosen a name for her.

(3) Now that Jared and I have been married for almost four years and we have a home of our own, we both agree we're ready to have children.  There's no news to share and there may not be for a long while, but the possibility is there and we're praying for God to bless us with a child.