Our Biggest Adventure Yet: We’re Expecting a Baby!
Today marks a truly momentous occasion as I finally get to share the most incredible news with all of you! Pierre and I are overjoyed to announce that we are expecting a baby, due in mid-February. The anticipation and excitement are simply immeasurable. I’ve been holding onto this beautiful secret, patiently awaiting the all-clear from our early exams to ensure our little one was healthy and thriving. Though I had an unwavering feeling everything would be perfect, the peace of mind from those results allowed me to finally open up and share this wonderful journey with our beloved community.
Our story as a couple began when we tied the knot in November 2011. For many years, we shared a quiet understanding that four years of enjoying our newlywed life would be the perfect timeframe before embarking on the adventure of parenthood. Neither Pierre nor I were ever the type to rush into having children. While I’ve always adored kids and babies, I must confess that the immense responsibilities and life-altering changes that come with becoming a mother filled me with a certain apprehension. The thought of such a profound shift in our lives was, admittedly, a little daunting.
The Shift Towards Motherhood: A Nephew’s Influence
However, everything began to shift dramatically in my heart and mind last November, when my sweet nephew was born. I journeyed to Brazil to be present for his birth and stayed for over two months to support my sister during her postpartum period. Those weeks proved to be utterly transformative, nurturing a deep-seated desire for motherhood within me that I hadn’t fully recognized before. My little nephew opened my eyes to a whole new world of love and possibility. Witnessing my sister’s tireless dedication, I saw firsthand the immense effort and exhaustion that comes with caring for a newborn, yet, even more profoundly, I witnessed the unparalleled joy and wonder that a baby brings into a family. He infused our lives with so much love and happiness, and being around him brought me an indescribable sense of contentment. Slowly but surely, my fears began to dissipate, replaced by a profound yearning for a child of my own.
Another significant factor that solidified my readiness was my age. At 33, I felt a gentle urgency, not wanting to wait past 35 to start our family. By the close of last year, I knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that the time was now.
A Christmas Surprise and the Start of Our Journey
Despite my growing conviction, Pierre was still somewhat unsure about taking this leap last year. I chose not to press the issue, trusting that when the moment was truly right, everything would fall into place beautifully. And I was absolutely correct. On a magical Christmas Eve, December 24th, he presented me with a heartwarming card. Inside, it read: “May 2015, we try to have our little family.” I honestly couldn’t believe what I was reading! It was a tremendous surprise, and to be perfectly honest, my initial thought was that he was suggesting we get a pet, like a cat or something! Hahahaha. His genuine intention, however, was far more profound and brought tears to my eyes.
Upon my return to Canada, I immediately scheduled an appointment with my family doctor. Together, we meticulously planned every step of our journey. She prescribed essential prenatal vitamins and conducted all the necessary pre-conception examinations. After three months of preparation, we began trying, and to our absolute astonishment, I was pregnant just one month later! We truly consider ourselves incredibly fortunate, as we know many couples face a longer, more challenging path. I was genuinely surprised by how quickly it happened. For some reason, I had always imagined it would take much longer, despite never having any known issues. I had mentally braced myself for a potentially extended waiting period, making the swift positive result even more joyous.
The Moment of Discovery: A Wave of Calm Happiness
When I finally discovered I was pregnant, I was nearly two months along. Since my teenage years, my menstrual cycle had always been a bit irregular, so when my period was about 10 days late, I didn’t initially pay much attention. I waited another five days before purchasing a pharmacy test. To my confusion, that first test indicated a negative result. Feeling somewhat relieved and assuming it was just another late cycle, I embarked on a wonderful week-long vacation in Montreal with my in-laws, my husband, my sister, nephew, and my mother, who had traveled from Brazil to spend the summer with us. After a refreshing week, we returned to Toronto, and I decided to buy another pharmacy test, just to be absolutely certain.
The morning of June 10th arrived. I woke up around 5 AM, my heart fluttering with a mixture of excitement and nerves, and went straight to the bathroom. I performed the test alone, my gaze fixed on the small window, waiting for the verdict. When the word “YES” appeared, an immediate wave of happiness and profound calm washed over me. It was an incredibly beautiful, almost serene feeling. I had expected to feel overwhelmed or even a little scared, but it was quite the opposite – pure joy and tranquility. I gently returned to our bedroom and woke Pierre. Showing him the test, his face lit up with happiness. We immediately called his parents, and Pierre, with a playful grin, told his mother, “Mom, you better start knitting soon!” They instantly understood they were going to be grandparents again, a fact that filled them with immense delight. Next, I went to the guest room where my mother, sister, and nephew were still asleep and announced, “Bento is going to have a cousin!” We were all absolutely ecstatic. Sharing this news in person with my family, rather than over the phone, was incredibly special, and I felt as though the universe had conspired to arrange everything perfectly for that moment.
Early Glimpses: The Miracle of a Beating Heart
Soon after, my husband had to travel for work, spending three incredibly long weeks out of the country. This meant that for our nine-week ultrasound appointment, I was alone. While a part of me felt a pang of sadness that he couldn’t be there, that feeling vanished the instant I saw our baby for the very first time. Witnessing that strong, rhythmic little heart beating on the screen was nothing short of a miracle. To have two hearts beating inside my body felt truly unbelievable, a profound testament to the wonder of life. I immediately called Pierre, and his excitement echoed mine, even from afar. Finally, Pierre returned, and we attended our second ultrasound together at 12/13 weeks. We saw the heart beating strong once more, and this time, our little one was even moving around! It was an incredibly sweet and precious sight, solidifying the reality of our growing family.
Navigating the First Trimester: Sleeplessness and Surprising Aversions
I must admit, my first trimester was profoundly tiring. I have never in my entire life experienced such overwhelming sleepiness. It felt as though I could have slept 24/7. Consequently, home-cooked dinners became a rarity, and we often found ourselves ordering food. As a food blogger, I wished I could boast about maintaining a diet solely of homemade and fresh meals, but unfortunately, reality often had other plans. While I certainly tried my best to eat healthily, there were many days when all I wanted to do was recline on the couch and drift off to sleep. Pierre was a wonderful support, often preparing grilled meals while I managed a simple salad. Yet, even hunger seemed to evade me in the evenings; Pierre often had to gently encourage me to eat. I discussed this with my doctor, who reassured me that as long as I was eating well during the day, there was no cause for concern. Indeed, my lunches were often delicious, organic meals from Whole Foods (conveniently located right next to my workplace), complemented by healthy fruit snacks. But by evening, my appetite would simply disappear. The sheer exhaustion also meant that house cleaning often took a backseat, though I am fortunate to live in a small condo that is relatively easy to maintain.
Fortunately, I largely escaped the dreaded “morning sickness.” While I did experience nausea, it primarily occurred late in the day and wasn’t severely debilitating. I believe I only vomited three or four times throughout the entire first trimester. The nausea didn’t even begin until around week 10. Oddly, I didn’t have many issues with food smells, but there was one shocking aversion: rice. Poor rice! It had always been one of my favorite foods, and suddenly, I couldn’t even bear to look at it, let alone eat it.
Entering the Second Trimester: Energy Returns and Gender Reveal Excitement
Today, as I stand on the cusp of completing 19 weeks, I am feeling remarkably well. My energy has returned, and I can now eat anything and everything – even rice! While I still experience tiredness, it’s primarily due to my busy work schedule rather than the pregnancy itself. We are absolutely thrilled to finally be sharing our wonderful news with everyone. And yes, we absolutely will be finding out the gender! I honestly can’t fathom how some people manage to wait until the baby is born; there’s simply no way I could endure that long. I’m already amazed I managed to keep the secret for this many weeks!
My curiosity is boundless! I’ve already tried a plethora of “old wise people” tests and even purchased an online test that claims to predict the baby’s sex using urine – it was quite hilarious! I have a strong gut feeling that it’s a boy, while Pierre is convinced it’s a girl. I even had a vivid and beautiful dream recently, where a nine-year-old boy appeared and told me he was going to be my son. He called me “mom,” and I felt a profound happiness unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. In the dream, Pierre walked towards me, and as he got closer, I told him, “Babe, this little boy is going to be our son.” Pierre simply smiled at the boy, and then I woke up. It felt so incredibly real and heartwarming. Of course, dreams can be tricky, and sometimes our brains play imaginative games, so I could be wrong! We’ll discover the truth at our 20-week appointment next week, which coincidentally falls one day after my birthday. We haven’t even begun to think about names yet, preferring to know the gender first. Our baby’s due date is February 11th, a date that holds special significance as it’s also my father’s birthday.
Looking Ahead: Gratitude and Future Updates
Wow, that summarizes our entire pregnancy story so far! We are utterly delighted to share every detail of this beautiful journey with all of you. We truly hope you’ve enjoyed reading this post. I promise to be back towards the end of my second and third trimesters to share even more updates and insights into this incredible adventure. Thank you all so very much for your unwavering support and love!