The Best Things In Life Are Worth Waiting For
Sharing the snippet that I posted on Instagram:
Nathan and I are over the moon to share that our party of three is turning into a party of four! We are so thrilled to be welcoming a baby boy this summer! We have prayed and longed for this moment for the past few years and are so overjoyed to be growing our family. I still pinch myself daily about this new reality and am so grateful to be on this beautiful journey.
Our road to pregnancy was long and something I plan to share more about in the future. Through it all, I found a deeper love and appreciation for my husband, Nathan. I don’t know what I would have done without him. There were moments along this journey where I felt so helpless, and he provided constant, unwavering hope and so much love in a time that felt so uncertain. A reminder to choose your partner well because you never know what life might throw your way.
If you are currently on your fertility journey and in the waiting season, please know there is always hope and that you are not alone. I know that pain and sadness that comes from yearning for something so deeply and wondering if it will ever happen. Nathan and I are holding you close to our hearts and believing in this gift for you too. Sending you so much love and baby dust.
Where do I begin… We are so overjoyed to be welcoming a baby boy this summer. Thank you so much for the outpouring of love and warm wishes when we announced our exciting news. I was in tears reading through all of your messages, comments, and texts…We feel so loved and are overwhelmed with gratitude for the outpouring of support and excitement for our big news. Nathan and I have wanted this for so long and can’t even begin to express how grateful we are for our precious baby boy on the way. It still feels like a dream. The biggest and most amazing blessing. (Finn is so excited too and can’t wait to be a big brother!)
We have been taking the past few months to soak up this wonderful new reality, and enjoy the unfolding of this next chapter for our family.
Excited to answer a few of your questions and share a bit more about pregnancy thus far and looking ahead to the best thing that has happened to us…we are so grateful to be on this beautiful journey.
Were you planning/trying to get pregnant?
Yes. We have always wanted a family. And honestly as silly as this may sound, the moment Nathan and I started dating I just had this insane urge to have his baby. I love him so much and just knew what an amazing father he would be and couldn’t wait to start a family with him. He’s the most wonderful man I know.
We began talking about this in December of 2020. We made plans to begin trying for a baby at the beginning of 2021, but life had other plans for us, as it usually does… and it ended up being a very long road to baby. (around two and half years after we first began trying) It was one of the most difficult seasons of my life and Nathan’s, and was filled with lots of tears, doubts, fear, worry, anxiety…you name it. I plan to go into much more detail about this once I’m ready.
How did you tell Nathan?
We both found out at the same time via our doctor. The day before my birthday! I couldn’t have asked for a better gift. Nathan and I cried so many happy tears. It was so special and one of the best days of our lives. And Finn was with us when we got the call from our doctor so it made the news extra special.
When did you find out the gender?
We actually found out very early on and were both so excited to know it was a boy. Ever since I was little I always wanted to have a boy first. I just loved the idea of an older brother as a protector to watch over his siblings. Nathan was also very excited for a boy!! I can’t wait to see a mini Nathan walking around. Our most recent ultrasound looked just like him! At least from the side haha.
What was it like telling your family?
Our family was very much a part of this journey with us from the beginning (mostly both of our parents), and knew that we had been trying for quite some time. We told them the same day that we found out we were pregnant and FacetTimed them both immediately. They were absolutely thrilled for us and SO excited that our family was growing. There were so many happy tears on both sides.
What does your workout routine/diet look like during pregnancy?
I was working out so much prior to becoming pregnant, and have still maintained a steady workout routine with modifications. In February (at around 8 weeks) I joined a prenatal yoga studio in the neighborhood and it has been the most amazing thing for me. Breathwork, poses, and pelvic floor exercises are all incorporated and tailored to the stage of pregnancy that you’re currently in. It’s also a wonderful way to get your body and mind ready for labor and delivery.
As far as diet, I typically eat fairly clean and have continued to do so in pregnancy. Lots of salmon, chicken, beef, leafy greens, fruits, eggs, full fat dairy, nuts, black beans, whole grains, etc… All the good things for baby! + a trusty prenatal, DHA, protein powder, and greens powder. Will share a full post on pregnancy diet!
How have you been feeling? What symptoms have you experienced?
I have honestly felt really great. I never had any morning sickness or nausea and even kept asking my doctor if it was normal that I was feeling so good haha. I realize that this is not the norm and am definitely counting my blessings! I truly feel like God has been allowing me to enjoy a smooth and easy pregnancy after our rocky journey getting here.
I have experienced a few symptoms though. Constantly needing to pee, bleeding gums, and the latest – leg twitches (apparently this is a thing!). It’s amazing how pregnancy can manifest in your body and how every body and every pregnancy is different.
Have you had any cravings?
I had a few cravings in the beginning, and the main ones were whole milk, black beans, and a few sweets. What a combo! I am definitely not a sweets person and have never really gravitated towards them, but in those first few weeks of pregnancy, I was frequenting the many bakeries in our neighborhood for croissants, pastries, fruit tarts, and donuts. The sweets cravings have subsided but I’m still always chugging whole milk. And eating black beans haha.
How have you felt mentally?
I have felt really good, and I’m so thankful. Truthfully if you had asked me about my mental state prior to pregnancy the answer would have been the complete opposite. The journey getting here was so draining – emotionally, mentally, and physically that now being here I’ve felt such a sense of peace and just so incredibly grateful for the blessing to carry life. To carry the love of my life’s baby.
Anything you’ve been surprised about in your pregnancy so far?
How great I’ve been feeling. Movies and television always depict pregnancy as a time where you’re constantly sick and feeling horrible, moody, emotional, eating everything and anything, the list goes on…and I haven’t fallen into any of those categories. Again, very grateful this pregnancy has been so easy and smooth. I’ll circle back when we get to baby number two!
I also was surprised at how early I started showing. I had a tiny bump at around 8 weeks and then really popped around 12 weeks. I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that I’m growing a tiny human inside my uterus. Our bodies are truly amazing.
Do you plan to purchase maternity clothes?
I didn’t plan to purchase a lot of maternity clothing because I knew my bump would be largest around spring/summer and I own a lot of flowy dresses. Thankfully they’ve all been great during pregnancy and still fit! I did however purchase a pair of workout leggings to go over the bump from Target and have been living in them, over the belly bike shorts on recommendation from my friend Lauren, and a pair of maternity jeans and overalls from Hatch. Also living in both and loving. Will share a full post on my pregnancy style philosophy soon too!
Any purchases since being pregnant that you’ve been loving?
Pregnancy pillow and birthing ball. I purchased this pregnancy pillow very early on and Nathan actually ordered the birthing ball for me. He is already such a kind, caring, and attentive husband, but really kicked it up a notch as soon as I got pregnant. He’s been doing so much research on the side for me – which vitamins to take, what to eat, exercises that are good for me, and what extras I might need. Enter a birthing ball. Also validated by my prenatal yoga instructor. He even ordered this bathtub mat for me very early on so I wouldn’t slip in the shower as the bump started to grow. And this greens powder by Perelel Health that I’m loving. Everyone needs a Nathan. He’s truly the best.
What is your vision for the nursery?
I’m going for neutral tones in the nursery. Whites, creams, tans, and soft greens. A lot of earthy and natural colors. Almost like bringing the outdoors in. Currently contemplating painting the nursery too and we picked up a few contender paint swatches over the weekend. Stay tuned!
(So many of these! haha) Do you plan on staying in New York City?
Yes. We love living in New York, and are so excited that our baby boy will be born here. We can’t wait to show him around our favorite city. We’ve also done so much to our apartment and love the neighborhood we live in. (The Upper West Side has been so perfect for us and for Finny to be close to the park and now our growing family.) We do want a house someday and are always talking about where that might be. We could see ourselves eventually moving back to Texas, but are in no rush at the moment. We also really love living on the east coast. Our plan is to just let life unfold as it does and see where it takes us!
What are you most looking forward to about becoming parents?
Everything. Nathan and I have dreamed of this moment for so long, and have been purchasing little gifts and goodies for the baby over the years. It truly still feels surreal that we will have a little one joining our crew at the end of summer. We can’t wait to welcome him to the world, introduce him to all of the things and people we love, and watch everything be new in his eyes.
I plan to go into much more detail about our journey to pregnancy once I’m ready. In the meantime, I’m enjoying this beautiful chapter unfold and resting in the fact that it has finally arrived. We can’t wait for our little boy to be here and are so excited to start our family. God is so good and faithful and we are so grateful for this wonderful blessing.
I was 14 weeks in these photos! <3
photography by Laurel Creative.
