13 Weeks...

Josh and I are thrilled about our little one on the way! It's actually starting to feel "real" now that we are making the news public! We found out that we were pregnant on Feb. 12th {SURPRISE!}, so we've been keeping the the big secret for almost 2 months. It's been so, so hard, but the weeks have really flown by! Here are a couple of pictures we took the day after we found out. Josh made me take another test the next morning just to make sure that the other 2 tests we took weren't lying to us....sure enough, all 3 tests were positive!

I've been feeling really well! No morning sickness...praise Jesus for that! But, I've been RAVENOUSLY hungry....as long as I eat, I feel great! If I wait too long to eat between meals I start getting that weird, icky feeling. Increase hunger was one reason I was suspicious that I might be preggo (and the fact that I was a couple of days late). My energy has been up as well...I've continued working out which I think has really helped. Some days I get tired mid-morning and mid-afternoon, but most days I'm good until about 8:30/9:00pm. Bed time is definitely earlier now! Besides waking up to pee 2-4 times a night, I'm sleeping great too. My back has been hurting a bit....but problem solved last week thanks to the Snoogle pillow! (Thanks for the recommendation Kim!)

We took my first belly pic yesterday....there is obviously not much there, but my stomach is definitely hardening and slowing getting rounder. I'm starting to sport that awkward pooch....It's awesome.

{Just kidding here....Josh was making fun of me, so I was giving him the evil eye. I really am excited to be pregnant...awkward pooch and all!} Here is the real one for week 13...

Deciding on a doctor was really tough, but we have chosen Dr. Christopher Riegel of Prestonwood OB/GYN Associates of Plano. He offices right next door to Plano Presbyterian, where I will deliver. He has his own solo practice, which I really like because he will definitely deliver baby Rives unless he is sick or out of town. He's also a believer and serves as a deacon at Prestonwood Baptist Church....another great selling point for Josh and I. We've seen him twice so far (at week 7 and week 11) and we really feel comfortable with him. I think we made the right choice for us!

Now to the million dollar question....am I still going to Zambia this summer? Answer: God willing, YES! Dr. Riegel has given me his blessing and we've contacted 2 other doctors that are familiar with Lusaka, Zambia (one that lives there full time researching malaria for the U.S. Government). Both doctors feel that it's safe for me to go! So, as long as things continue to progress the way they should (I have another doctors appointment on April 26th), we're planning on boarding the plane to Zambia on May 15th. From the beginning of this journey, we've been praying that God would clearly show us whether or not I should go. Josh and I both feel very confident that we are suppose to go and serve the orphans of Zambia! That is definitely our biggest prayer request right now....that Baby Rives is healthy and growing in my womb according to God's will....and that His banner of protection will be over me and baby while we're in Zambia. I'll be 18 weeks when we leave and 26 weeks when we return on July 9th.

I've never felt so blessed in my life....God is so good and quite the miracle worker! I am constantly amazed at his handy work....He is truly the giver of LIFE! Thank you Jesus for your sweet gift. May your glory increase throughout this journey!

"...and His banner over us is LOVE!" Song of Solomon 2:4