Babay!

Oh pregnancy. Josh and I have always wanted to have children. We weren't planning on getting pregnant until later in the year but I guess this little baby just couldn't wait. 

A week before Christmas, December 17th, my period was a day late, which NEVER happens. I was still on my birth control and hadn't felt any different so I didn't think I could possibly be pregnant. Josh was sure that had to be it because he knew how I am never even an hour late every month. So to ease both our minds I took a test that morning after he had gone to work. I took the test and because it was digital I knew it would take a few minutes to show the results. SOO knowing it would be torture watching the test, I set it face down on the counter and got in the shower. I was kind of nervous so I took my time showering and got dressed and my hair brushed before looking at the test. When I FINALLY looked at it, it said Yes+! I was a little shocked to say the least. Naturally I had to take a second test. I had of course emptied my bladder on the first test so I had nothing but a couple drops for the second. But still 5 minutes later it said Yes+. 

WOW. I was in a bubble. I seriously could not believe it. I didn't want to tell Josh via phone call or text. He usually comes home between shifts everyday so I figured that would be the perfect time to tell him. It was agonizing having to wait. 9:30 came around and he decided to stay in Mesa and hang out with his best friend, Ray, instead of coming home. AHHH! So I had to wait till after he got off work at 5! I decided I should tell him in some cute way...so I wrapped the pregnancy tests in a box and was going to leave it on the front door for him to find. 5 came around and I remembered we had my Conway family Christmas party that night at 6. I didn't want him to find out and FREAK out right before we had to be around my whole family! SOOOOOO I had to wait even longer before telling him. That night I was a little out of it and felt like I  was walking around like a zombie. Needless to say, I made sure we left early cause I could NOT take it any longer. We got home and I handed him the gift and said it was left on the door for him. He put it under the tree and said he would wait till Christmas to open it. After yelling at him to open it he figured out it was from me. I lied and said it was the ornament I had gotten for him that year. His reaction was kind of hilarious...

 Happy.

 Excited.

 UHHHH.

 What?

Oh Crap.

At this point in the day, I had been bottling up all these emotions that I was ALL OUT BAWLING by now. Josh thought it was a joke until he looked up and saw my face. I was a mess. Not only was I crying in relief from finally telling him but I was terrified he was going to be mad at me. He was great. He just held me and calmed me down and told me everything was going to be ok. The next few days seemed a bit surreal for both of us. We both decided a long time ago that we weren't going to announce when we were expecting until we had past our first trimester. When I say no announcing I mean not telling ANYONE, including our immediate family. I know how much both of our families like to talk and I know that the way they keep secrets is by telling one or two people. Which then turns into those one or two telling someone and by the end of the week everyone knows. I was pretty set on not telling anyone until I realized my brother Todd, who is serving a mission is Spain, would be calling on Christmas and I wouldn't get to talk to him over the phone again until Mothers Day. So reluctantly we decided to tell our families at Christmas. I printed a paper that said "Baby Curtis Arriving August 2013, Merry Christmas!" and framed it then wrapped it.

I left the gift in my car while we were opening up presents because I wanted it to be the last gift. So after my mom opened up her gift from my dad, and cried because he got her a Ruby ring, I ran to my car saying I forgot a gift. I made my mom and dad open it together and as soon as they saw what it said they were shocked, and my mom was crying again. Later that day when Todd called via Skype I held up another sign that said "Uncle Todd, August 2013"

It took him awhile to figure out what that meant. Everyone was so excited and knew that I did NOT want them telling people. A week later when we went to Safford for New Years with Josh's family we told them the same way. Everyone was so excited for the first grandbaby.

My first trimester was pretty easy. Most people I know have morning sickness and are exhausted. I was really lucky to only be tired for a couple weeks and get a little sick to my stomach two, maybe three times. My 12 week marker was right before Valentines Day so I made a couple cute Valentines scratcher cards for my Aunt Carol and my Gma.

Later that day we made phone calls to everyone in our family, which took forever, but it was fun talking to all our aunts and uncles and grandparents.

I found this cute paper chain on Etsy that is custom made with your dates and the size of your baby that week. So I took a picture of that with the ultrasound picture to announce to friends on Facebook and Instagram.

I am now 22 weeks along and can't say I have any real complaints about this pregnancy so far other than the constant need to use the bathroom. I am trying to go to the gym at least 3 days a week and I usually walk on the treadmill for about 3 miles. The baby kicks ALL the time! Mainly when I am trying to relax. I first felt it move when I was about 17 weeks and it was just a little flutter in my belly. Now it is full on karate kicks. Josh was able to feel it when I was about 19 weeks and it was still very faint. This last weekend he had his hand on my belly and was shocked at how strong it is now. We got to have another ultrasound last week and it is amazing how much has changed since the first picture! Instead of a blob we can see details now! The baby yawned and kept putting its hand up to its face during the ultrasound. It sleeps just like mom with its ankles crossed and hand at its face. We saw the fingers moving and it took the ultrasound tech awhile to get a good picture cause it was moving so much.

We are thrilled to say the least. I can't wait till August when I finally get to hold this baby. I'm so excited to see Josh be a dad. I know he is going to be so great. Seeing him with his little cousins makes me that much more anxious to have this baby. If we have a boy Josh says he will be in Camo every day. If its a girl it will be in bows and pink every day. Either way this baby is going to be one spoiled kid. We can't wait.

21.3 weeks

Here Goes Nothin....

So...due to the fact that I am now pregnant, I figured it would be a good time to start a blog to document our lives. I am no good at writing so bear with me. I guess I will start with a basic background of Josh and I.

Josh is my husband. He was born in Safford, AZ and moved to Eagar, AZ with his mom when he was 7. He was always involved in sports growing up, specifically wrestling and football. Go Elks! After high school he moved to Gilbert for work and some pre-mission independence. He was then called to serve in the Mexico City South mission, reporting in August of 2008. He quickly learned the language and loved the people and culture. He returned from his mission in 2010 to Safford, where his parents moved to while he was gone. He then started to attend EAC for his degree in Criminal Justice.

I was born and raised in Gilbert, AZ. High school was less than a fun experience for me. I was never involved in sports and wanted nothing to do with high school. I had decided at a young age to become a chef so I didn't see the point in learning English and Math in school. The fall after high school I started attending Scottsdale Culinary Institute, Le Cordon Bleu, for my Associates in Patisserie and Baking. Although I thought culinary school would be easy, boy I was wrong. It was extremely challenging every day but I loved it still. I loved getting to learn how to make something new every day. After school I started working at AJ's Fine Foods as the Lead Cake Decorator. When leaving school I thought everything would be just like culinary school where everything was made from scratch. Wrong again. The cakes were pre-baked and frozen. The fillings were either from a tub or just needed water and whipped cream added to them. I was pretty bummed but I figured it would be a good base job to help me get my decorating skills perfected. After 3 years of working at AJ's, I received a mission call to serve in the Florida Orlando Mission. I was to report November 17, 2010. I worked at AJ's until I had just 2 weeks left before having to leave. Since I had been working 50+ hours a week I felt like I hadn't had enough time to prepare, both physically and spiritually, for my mission. So I postponed for 3 months. This is where the story gets kind of interesting....

One of my close friends, Tera, was getting married Thanksgiving weekend and she was going through the temple the week before, in the Gila Valley Temple. She invited me to come through with her which I was so excited for. She decided to set me up on a blind date with her friend Josh. I had no idea what I was in for. So, two days after my report date, November 19th, I went to Tera's house and met Josh. Tera hadn't told Josh we were going on a date. He had to figure that out himself when he got to her house and saw everyone else was paired off except for him and I. We went to the river and had cowboy dinners and watched a movie. Luckily for Josh it was a cold night by the river so we HAD to snuggle to keep warm. After that weekend he was hooked. I on the other hand wasn't so sure about him. I had the goal of making it on my mission, that I technically should have already been on. He will tell you I was a big meanie, but I really just didn't want to lead him on if I had no intention of actually dating him. For the first month I only let him hold my hand....and only when we were alone....never in public. Little mean?? Maybe. After that first month tho, I was all his. A month later we said "I love you." A couple weeks later I got my second report date given to me. I had a huge decision to make. It was honestly the hardest thing EVER! I had to choose between serving a mission and marrying Josh. Both things I was dying to do. After a couple weeks of prayer and scripture reading and temple going I made my choice to get married! 2 long months later we were married!

Now almost 2 years later, 2 cities, 2 apartments, 8 vehicles, 5 jobs, one dog and countless laughs, we are still as happy as can be. I'm so grateful I said yes to going on that blind date even though I didn't want to. I'm grateful for Josh's patience with me while we were dating. And I am so glad I decided to marry him. He is my best friend and I enjoy being with him every day.