I have been dreaming of the day that I could sit down and write this blog post for a long time and I’m still in disbelief and awe that the time is finally now.
I’m so thrilled to share with you that I am pregnant and we are expecting a baby on (or around…you know how these things go!) May 8, 2018.
Before I share more details about the pregnancy I want to tell you more about my journey of getting here.
I spent most of my 20s unsure of whether I wanted to parent. I think that deep down in my heart, I knew it was my truth but I was in no way ready to join the ranks of many of my high school friends and sorority sisters who seemed to be announcing pregnancies at an alarming (to me!) rate. I was super happy for them but I knew I just wasn’t there yet.
For me personally, my 20s were more focused on getting to know and understand myself on a deeper level and pursuing dreams, desires and career goals. I think that sometimes as a woman, it’s easy to feel selfish in doing that but looking back I know it was 100% the right thing for me at the time.
Sometime in my early 30s, it was like a switch went off…I just knew I was ready and I knew without a doubt that I wanted a family of my own. So of course after years of watching all of my friends, students and social media acquaintances announce pregnancies and have babies, I expected that it would “just happen” for us.
And it didn’t. First it was six months and no baby. I was okay because my doctor kept reassuring me that it was normal for it to take six months to a year to conceive. I was tracking my cycles through an app and thought we were getting it right and at this time I started using an ovulation tracker as well.
Six more months went by and we were a year in with no positive pregnancy test. I was frustrated because my cycles were regular, I was ovulating and I didn’t understand why it wasn’t happening. It was definitely an emotional roller coaster and hard because there were very few people I could talk to about it. Every month when I got my cycle I would give myself the day to feel really sad and cry, the horrible cramps right at the onset of my cycle didn’t help, and then I’d turn it around and try to be positive about the next chance.
My doctor is awesome and he was the best mix of taking action while still honoring my wishes to try to do things as naturally as possible. At the one year mark, we agreed that I would keep trying naturally for another six months before he wrote us a referral to the fertility clinic.
During this time I went through some more in-depth testing, as did Tanner, and we were actually scheduled for a minor surgery that would help our chances to get pregnant. We were told that it might be hard for us to conceive without this surgery. We were also planning a quick getaway to the Caribbean post-surgery to kind of lift our spirits. Then, two weeks before the surgery, I discovered I was pregnant. To say we were shocked and surprised is an understatement.
I have so much more to tell you about conceiving, the first trimester, how I’ve been feeling emotionally and physically, my hopes for pregnancy and childbirth and my excitement and fears over being parents but all that will come later.
For now, we’re over the moon to share our pregnancy news. I’m 14 weeks today and finally officially in the second trimester. (Depending on who you ask! Is is 13 or 14 weeks, who knows!?) I’ve had two ultrasounds so far and all looks good. I had my first “official” OB appointment today and we got to hear baby’s heartbeat at 150 BPM. It’s such an incredible thing to hear.
I am holding all of you who have struggled and are struggling with infertility and loss in my heart as I write this.
Thank you for all of your love and support over the last eight years and I’m so happy to bring you along for this new adventure.
xoxo,
Jen
All photos thanks to Bazemore Studios.
I am so happy for you and so excited to be able to hear about your journey through this amazing time! Since I started reading your blog many years ago, I have thought that you would be a wonderful mom to a human, as you are clearly so great with your dog babies. Hooray! So many smiles!
Congratulations!? You are going to be an amazing mom!!!❤️ I have been following your blog for about 8 years and have only met you once, at the Charlotte half we did last year. But, you are an amazing person with a huge heart who will be a wonderful mother ?
Hi Christina! Thank you so much for your kind comment! I appreciate you following and so glad we got to connect last year! <3 We are excited about this new journey!
Congratulations!
What a blessing! So happy for you ❤️
Yayayay!!!!! Congrats Jen!!! I have been a reader for years and this is SUCH exciting news!!!
Thank you for reading for so long Lizzie and for sharing my excitement. We are so thrilled!
Eek!!! Congratulations! I’m so excited for you!
Thank you Heather! <3
Congratulations!! I’m pregnant and due in May also! Let the adventure begin! 🙂
Ahhh congrats to you Laine! Let me know if you are interested in me setting up a private FB group for those of us due in April-June for support! <3
This was just the best news. I’m so excited for you both! Congratulations!
Thanks Emily! 🙂 We are so excited!
oh my gosh i am over the moon excited for you!!!! I have been following you from the days of bakin and eggs…i love reading your journeys and appreciate your openness. Parenting is the BEST, i am so happy you have the opportunity to experience it. Lots of love
Carolyn! Thank you so much for reading for so long! What a journey it has been! <3 I’m excited for this new one and to share it with you guys. I can’t even tell you how READY I am. <3
First off, congrats!! Second, THANK YOU for sharing this. I felt like I was reading something I wrote about how you felt in your 20’s then just having a switch go off. Currently at month 5 and, like you, thought it would just happen. Oops, not so much! This post gives me hope! Thanks! Hope to see more soon!
Thank you Jamie! HANG IN THERE and stay patient and hopeful. Take the steps you need to feel like you’re being proactive but don’t lose hope. <3
Aww that is wonderful. Congrats to you both!
Thank you Angie! We are excited!
Congratulations!!! So happy for you!!
Thank you Holly!
Another long-time reader chiming in! You are literally the only blogger I’ve stuck it out with all through these years and I just want to say thank you for allowing us to follow along on your amazing journey through life. I always look forward to reading your posts. You are so incredibly inspiring to me in so many ways (I talk about you to my husband all the time), and as a mom to a two-year-old, I absolutely cannot wait to read more as time goes on! I am in tears right now because I am just so excited for you. Congratulations!
Ahhhh…thank you so much for the incredibly KIND words and for sticking with me. I know it’s been quite the up and down journey but…that’s life sometimes. <3 We are SO exited about this new journey and I am SO ready for a role change and for motherhood. I can’t tell you how appreciative I am for your support and for sharing our excitement. <3
Cheers to you all and best wishes for a happy and healthy pregnancy
Thank you Claudia!
Congratulations! So happy for you guys!! And I’m sure the pups will be such good older siblings ???
Thank you Beth! And yes, we think they will love it!
Holy smokes! This completely caught me off guard in the best way possible. Totally didn’t expect this!! You are really good at hiding this! Wow! I didn’t even.l notice a change in your eating habits or eliminating alcohol! How are you feeling? This is so great!! If you wouldn’t mind, as I’m also experiencing difficulties getting pregnant, what kind of surgery you and Tanner were going to have? I’m just interested to know about my options. I’ve already had the procedure to ensure my Fallopian tubes are open and all of that and his sperm has been tested. Isn’t it so frustrating when you can’t do the most natural thing you’re supposed to do?! Thank you for your candidness and openness on infertility. I’m not sure why we feel ashamed and like we can’t talk about it. I wish you ALL the best and am just over the moon for you all. Guess this explains the postponing of wedding talk!!!
Thanks Laura, we are really excited. I was lucky not to be sick in the fist trimester so I was able to maintain pretty normal eating and workout habits. If you want to talk more about the surgery, shoot me an email. Just for privacy I don’t want to put ALL of our business on the internet. And with the wedding stuff, we’ve never really been concerned about the order of it all!
Oh Jen….I have been reading your blog for YEARS and this is the best post EVER! Sending you, Tanner and baby all the love and happiness in the world!
THANK YOU for reading for so long and THANK YOU for sharing our excitement!
Congrats to you and Tanner! I’m a long time reader and this news has me so excited! Thank you for sharing this personal journey with us! I just had my first child, and it was frustrating trying to find a blogger who offered the type of exercise advice I was looking for during and after pregnancy – especially regarding yoga. I’m sure whatever you choose to share will be appreciated by many of your readers – pregnant, post partum, TTC, and otherwise!!
Thank you Tanya! I appreciate you reading for so long and following along. We are THRILLED about this new journey. Congratulations on the birth of your child! I will definitely focus on sharing pregnancy fitness information through this process.
Congrats!! That is so exciting for the 2 of you!!!
Thanks Ally!
Congratulations!! I have been following your journey for a while and love your authenticity through it all. Such a happy time for you guys! Excited to follow along 🙂
Hi Katherine – thank you. We are excited about this new life journey and I’m looking forward to sharing it openly and honestly with you guys! <3
Overjoyed for you! You will be such a nurturing and empowering mom and I am excited to follow this new journey. I’m sure it’s incredible to look back on your journey and to see that this has all come together. Love to your growing family ?
(Also… those pictures and including the pups — so adorable!)
THANK YOU for all of your amazing support! <3 I am grateful for you!
Congratulations Jen! My husband and I are also trying to get pregnant and just received some pretty upsetting news from our fertility doctor yesterday while going over our test results. I’m trying to be optimistic and hopeful while also worrying about having my feelings crushed every month. I know exactly what you mean about “expecting it to just happen” like it does (seemingly) for everyone else. Thank you for your openness about TTC and I wish you the best with your pregnancy, I’m excited to follow along!
Baby dust your way ❤️
Hi Laura, thank you. I am so sorry to hear about your fertility appointment. I will be keeping you in my prayers and sending you lots of strength. <3
I am so happy for you!!!!! You are such a kind and thoughtful person. You will make a great mom! Congrats ?
Thank you for the kind and encouraging comment Noreen! <3
Congratulations to the whole family!
Thanks Kim!
Congratulations! So refreshing to hear you share that you didn’t spend your 20s dreaming about motherhood. I’m wondering when that switch will happen for me and often feel very isolated, so thanks for your honesty.
I just wanted to say that I didn’t get pregnant with my first until I was 36 and had my second at 41. It took me a LONG TIME to feel ready (and even at 36 I wasn’t sure!) — everyone is on their own time, and to quote Jen — you do you!! Whatever timeline you are on is okay because it’s your timeline!!
Ha! Are you me?!
I posted below. First at 35, second at 41.
Ditto to everything you said 🙂
I needed to read this!! On the cusp of turning 34, married 10 years… and just not sure!!
Please try not to stress. I was super unsure even WHEN I became pg!!! Like should I even be pg unsure.
And in my experience, those who wait and remain a little “unsure” make great parents.
You don’t know what you don’t know. My kids are the BEST and HARDEST things I ever done!!
Good to know I am not alone! I am nearly 31, married 10 years, and am just now maybe “getting the itch?” Hubby still isn’t on quite on board yet. I seems to “uncommon” to wait 10+ years to have children, so thanks for sharing ladies!
Same, Cassie—but I’m encouraged by Jen’s and others’ stories about their individual journeys/timelines! So happy for you, Jen…you will be an incredible mama.
Thank you Alison. <3
Hey Cassie – I most certainly did not…at all. I was just not in that space…at all. I feel so much more clear and grounded about all of it in my 30s. There is no rush. You give yourself freedom and a lot of grace around it all.
I’m so so happy for you. Im pregnant too and due next month. It’s our first kid and this has been quite a ride. What I’ve learned is that no persons journey is the same as yours and even if it was easy for someone to become pregnant – everyone struggles with something. The whole thing has been quite a learning process and I can’t wait to follow your journey. God Bless!!!
Thanks Katy and CONGRATS to you! Gosh, isn’t that the truth about how different everyone’s pregnancies are. It’s so crazy! Good luck with delivery and welcoming your baby into the world SOON!
Congratulations!!! What an exciting announcement and time for you and Tanner and the girls! As another long time blog reader I am elated for you and appreciate you sharing your life with us – cannot wait to hear more 🙂
Hi Nicki – I can’t thank you enough for sticking with me through the years. It’s been quite a ride and we are SO excited about this new journey. I look forward to sharing it with you guys!
Congratulations, Jen! Such exciting news. I am so happy for you and Tanner, especially after the difficult road to get here.
Thank you Megan. We are feeling so excited and grateful to finally be here.
Congratulations to you and Tanner! SO VERY happy for you both!
Thank you Michelle!
Congrats! Enjoy the journey. I’m so excited to read about it on your blog. I saw it on Instagram and totally did a triple take– thought you were getting a new puppy at first glance.
Haha, which wouldn’t be a crazy stretch for us! 🙂
Congratulations!!! I also was not sure I really wanted kids throughout my 20s, but one day in my 30s it felt instantly right and I had my first son at 36 and 2nd son at 39. They are the best decisions of my entire life and teach me so much about myself and the world everyday. I am so happy and excited for you to experience this.
Thank you so much for sharing how it happened for you Elizabeth. Your words are a huge comfort and source of inspiration to me. <3
Wow Wow Wow! Congratulations, what exciting news!!!
Thank you! We are thrilled!
So happy for you ALL! Hope you are feeling well – you must be with that huge Portland trip that you just took! Congrats and those pups are gonna love their new family member!
Thanks Lauren! Yes, I have been blessed with ease when it comes to sickness. So grateful for that. And yes, the girls will love the baby!
CONGRATULATIONS! What a wonderful journey y’all are about to take on. As someone who struggled to conceive and who went through extensive testing (alongside my husband) and ended up going through IVF for my first (#2 was a total happy surprise!), I feel for you and your struggle to get to this point. Even though we don’t know each other I’m so excited for you! Best wishes 🙂
Thank you Lauren! 🙂 I’m so glad to hear that you were able to conceive and become a mother – no matter how it happened. <3 I hope we can all feel like we kind of “know” each other through online connection! I am so grateful for all of the support and love you guys are sending my way. It’s such a blessing.
Congratulations! You both will make amazing parents!
Thank you Angela! We are so excited!
Congrats!! My daughter’s due date was May 8th of this year! She was born on the 11th and is about to turn 6 Months. Hope you have a wonderful pregnancy 🙂
Aww! Congrats Tera! 🙂
Congratulations to you both! Thank you for talking about how you were unsure if motherhood was the right path for you while in your 20s. I’m currently 29 and honestly I still feel this way. I love babies and children (I work in pediatrics) but I’m not in a place yet where I wish to be a parent. Part of this is being a medical student and part of it is just simply it is not what I want right now in my life. I get a lot of comments about this from people (particularly women to be honest). I know that someday in a few years I will re-explore this and perhaps change my mind (or not). Thank you for normalizing my experience. 🙂
As a woman, I’m sorry other women bug you so much. Don’t worry. You sound right on track to me! It will unfold when and if it should!
You are so welcome Melissa. Either way you decide to go, it will be the right thing for you. Give yourself freedom and grace. <3
Hi Jen,
I have been a loyal follower since the beginning!! I am so excited for you! I am also excited to see how you integrate exercising and pregnancy. I know that you probably know this but it is so doable. I was able to run until the day I went into labor and I have a healthy and very active 3 year old boy. Enjoy every second of this and I hope you are feeling okay in the second trimester.
Nicole – thank you SO much for following along throughout the (very crazy) years! I will be sharing a lot about fitness and pregnancy so stay tuned! I have had so many great examples in my community of fit moms and I know I’ll be supported in my desire to stay active throughout my pregnancy! I am feeling great and grateful to be feeling so good. <3
Amazing news!! Congrats!! Having a child is the most wonderfull (and challenging) thing in the world!!
Thank you Julie! And yes, I know it will be so hard and so wonderful all at the same time.
I have been following your blog for many years (pre yoga teacher days even!) and I have always wondered if this day might come! I am so happy for you two! I am a little extra excited because I am also pregnant and due June 7. 🙂
Oh thank you so much for following along for the ride Holly! And congrats on your pregnancy! Would you be interested in a private FB group for those of us due April-June?
Congratulations! So exciting may babies are the best:)
Thanks! I think it’s a pretty great month for a baby! 🙂
Jen,
Congratulations from a longtime reader, a thorough appreciator of your wise words and positive energy, and a May 8th baby! It’s a great birthday.
Annie
Hi Annie – thank you so much for reading and for the kind comment. I’m excited to share this new journey openly and honestly. <3
Congrats girl! Know there will b tough times but you got this!! Now go pig out on carbs 😉
I am SO on that! They’ve been a staple of my diet the last couple months, haha.
Congrats Jen!! I’m thrilled for you and Tanner. I can’t wait to follow along!
Jackie
Thank you Jackie! <3
Congratulations! I am so happy for you! Welcome to motherhood, it is the best (and hardest) thing. Your are beautiful inside and out and I am so excited for this next beautiful part of your life.
Thank you Sarah. I am excited about this new life journey but under no disillusions that it will be an easy one but I know it will be beautiful and worth it. <3
I also had struggles for years with infertility before I was able to have my kids. I am so happy to hear that you guys are expecting. Infertility is so hard on us individually and as a couple. Congratulations !
Thanks Samantha and I’m glad to hear that it did work out for you. <3 You are so right that it is hard on us as couples. We were both blaming ourselves and it was so hard on him to see me so upset when I would get my period and to feel so helpless.
Congratulations!!! I am so happy for you both! Can’t wait to hear more about your pregnancy!
Thank you Jessica! I’ll be sharing a lot! 🙂
I am so, so happy for you! Lots of live from Stockholm ❤️❤️
THANK YOu Jeanna! <3
you’re gonna be the most amazing mama.
xo
thank you erin! you’re certainly an inspiring example to watch!
OMG I AM SO EXCITED FOR YOU!! Wishing you only the best! xoxox
Thanks lady! <3
Congratulations!!
Thanks Amanda!
I am over the moon excited for you & Tanner. You have always taken meticulous care of yourself (it seemed by the blog) and it is one of the things I admire about you most. I know you will make a terrific Mom and wish you the best for a wonderful, healthy pregnancy!
Hi Andrea! Thank you so much. I am really trying to be as intuitive with myself as I can during this completely new experience with my body. <3 I pray that intuition will carry me through pregnancy and motherhood and serve me well. <3
I actually let out an audible “YAY!” when I saw this post. Congratulations!! You are both going to be such wonderful parents.
Thank you for sharing my excitement Jenn!
Congratulations! I’ve been reading for a long time so I am very happy for you; you’ll be an amazing mom!
Thank you Jackie! We are so excited. <3 I appreciate you reading and leaving a comment.
Congratulations!!!!!
Thanks Jenny!
How wonderful!! Congratulations!
Thank you Jerri!
Congratulations!! Happy for you both.
Thank you Jodie!
I am SO so happy for you Jen! You’ll be such a wonderful mom!! Can’t wait to meet the sweet babe!!! <3 ya!
Thank you friend!
Congratulations – this is lovely news! Can’t wait to follow your pregnancy journey. I’m sure you will be wonderful parents ❤️
Changing the subject slightly, I was interested to see that you were planning a trip to the Caribbean while trying to conceive. My husband is in the British military and many of his colleagues have just returned from the Caribbean where they were assisting with the hurricane repairs, and they have all been told not to try to conceive for six months due to the Zika virus. My husband is currently in North Carolina where he has been working with US forces and he has been told the same as Zika virus is also an issue there. This is obviously not a concern for you as you are already pregnant, but I just thought it was interesting as it’s something we in the U.K. are being strongly advised against, but presumably you have had different advice? It’s such a minefield and hard to know what’s best as we are also looking at trying to conceive soon.
Anyway, congratulations again! Xxx
Hi Eve! Thank you! 🙂 We are so excited.
RE: our planned trip. We expected it to be another 3-6 months after the trip before we conceived post-surgery so we didn’t really worry about the Zika threat because we could go through testing if we did think it could possibly be an issue. As far as NC goes, I haven’t heard anything about it being a threat here?
Good luck to you as you TTC. <3
AWESOME❤️❤️❤️You seem like such a kind be, warm and loving soul. What a lucky child to have you and Tanner as parents?
I appreciate your warm, kind and encouraging comment. <3
Congrats! Such happy, exciting news! ❤️
Thank you Sarah! We are so excited!
So exciting! Congratulations to you and Tanner. And Zoey & Sullie since they will be big sissies!
Thanks Connie! They will be the best big sisters! 🙂
Congrats! I had a hunch this was coming when you were eating so much sourdough with honey and banana- delicious but a bit outside your norm 😉 Like many of the above commenters, I’ve followed for many years and excited for you! Especially looking forward to how you will adapt workouts for pregnancy! Thanks for sharing with us
Haha, yes…I have been all about the carbs in pregnancy! 🙂 Thank you so much for following and I’m so excited to share this new journey and life direction with all of you! I’ll definitely be sharing A LOT of pregnancy fitness info so stay tuned!
Long time reader, Jen. Congratulations!!!
I was like you. Had my first st 35 and my second at 41. I’m now 42. To those of you struggling with fertility issues, your time WILL come. I was lucky and didn’t have trouble, but I had a loss far into one pregnancy so I sure understand the “I want- no, need!- to be pregnant!” feeling.
So happy for you Jen. You’re gonna be great. My advice? Just do you. Turn off the noise. The only thing that’s “right” is what works for you and your family.
All BEST!!!
Alicia
Hi Alicia,
Thank you so much for your comment. It’s great to hear from other mommas on later timelines. <3 And yes, it’s so hard to trust the timing of all of this but there is some sort of crazy reason behind it all.
Congratulations!! I am currently expecting our first child on April 10th, 2018 (18 weeks yesterday!) I am so excited to follow along with you and see how you are feeling!
Thanks Alicia and congrats back to you!
Would you be interested in a private FB group with a few of us who are due April-early June for support, questions, connection, etc.?
WOW! What incredible news. Congratulations to you and Tanner!! I wish you all the best in your pregnancy.
Thanks Joy!
Congratulations Jen!!! I am also pregnant (20 weeks) with our first and endured quite a bumpy road to get here. So happy for you and excited to follow along. Sullie and Zoey will be excellent parents!!
Ha…I meant siblings. You guys will be excellent parents. 🙂
Hi Rachel – happy pregnancy to you and congrats on getting to 20 weeks. <3 I will be sending you a lot of love and prayers. Haha on your pregnancy brain with the typo, I’ve been doing that kind of stuff constantly! I think our minds are overwhelmed by all that they are processing!
Congratulations! I have been following you from the very beginning and still use some vintage Bakin’ and Eggs recipes 🙂 I am over the moon excited for you and Tanner and the pups! We are currently in the midst of trying (and not succeeding) so I know the heartbreak every month when it just isn’t happening. Your story gives me so much hope <3
You have such a beautiful soul that shines through in all of your posts here and on social media – you are going to be an awesome mom!
Hey Nitasha! Thank you SO much following along for so long. I really appreciate it. <3 We are SO excited about this new journey and I am so ready for the life change. I’m so sorry to hear that you are in the same cycle that I was in. I really just tried to stay positive and believe in abundance and timing even though sometimes it was really hard. Definitely move forward with testing and getting answers when it’s the right time, it helps to feel like you’re doing *something* proactive. I’ll be sending you lots of baby prayers.
I had noticed a lack of wine on the blog lately! Congratulations, so happy for you!
Haha, I’m missing it…for sure!
THIS IS THE BEST NEWS!!!!! I’m so happy for you, Jen! You two are going to be amazing parents! And everything that you wrote about – samesies. We tried for so long, and then we moved. The distraction of packing up an apartment just made me get pregnant instantly. It even happened a second time, when we bought our house. It’s so random. I’m so happy for you. Big hugs and happy dances all around.
Thank you Duffy! We are so excited. Your moving/house stories are funny. The timing of all of this is truly mysterious and so out of our control.
Yes!! So darn happy for you. Being a Mom is the best! Can’t wait to follow your journey into motherhood. ?
Thank you Trish! <3 I am SO excited about and ready for this new journey.
Congratulations!! Thank you for such an honest and heartfelt post. I have been reading your blog for several years and you’ve been an inspiration to me. I am incredibly impressed that you’ve kept up your workouts and your cooking during the first trimester. I had a baby girl seven months ago, and I can relate to many of the fears and uncertainties that you wrote about.
Hi Catherine – thanks for reading and for taking a moment to comment. I really appreciate it. I have been so fortunate not to be sick in the first trimester and workouts are what helped with my anxiety and feeling connected to my body. Obviously, I’ve toned them down a bit but overall it’s been feeling good to move. Congrats on your baby girl! <3
Oh wow, what incredible news!! Congrats to you two! Wanting to have kids was never a thing for my husband and I, but one day the switch just flipped for me! It was the craziest thing. 2 kids later, my family is complete. Enjoy your journey!! 🙂
Isn’t is SO crazy how all that works!? Love it.
Oh Jen how I love this!! I have been following you for about 5 years and I have loved watching your journey through life and love and everything in between. Fantastic news! Congrats to you, Tanner and the girls!
Thank you for reading Katie! I am SO thrilled about this new life direction and journey and so ready!
Congratulations! What a very exciting time for you and Tanner!! So glad to see this today, good for you:)
Thank you Anne!
Woo! So happy to hear this news. I’m also due in May with my first!!! Looking forward to hearing how you are feeling. My husband said last night if he could sum up my pregnancy so far in 3 words, it would be tired, cold, and nauseous. What fun! 🙂
Ah, congrats Katie and I’m so excited that we’re on the same timeline! <3 I love those three descriptors. haha. Would you be interested in a FB group if I made one for us girls due in May?
Congrats Jen!
I know it’s early in the game but I am 99 percent sure you are having a girl ???
Girls generally have higher heartbeats than boys.
Wishing you all the best!
Possibly yes… by a Chinese gender prediction chart and based on bpms I was “supposed” to be having a girl both times :). But, both my boys had high heartbeats (over 140 for #2 And 160 bpm with #1), so you never know! Either way, it’ll be fun to see. 🙂
Hey Chole – thanks for the comment! We will find out in 4 weeks! 🙂 Can’t wait.
Congratulations! How exciting!
Thanks Rebecca!
Oh my gosh I am so happy for you guys!! Big congrats, you look absolutely radiant about it. xo
Thanks Nicole. We are really excited!
Wow! Congrats! That prenatal yoga training you took will be even more handy now with your own practice.
Yes, totally! I learned SO much from it.
Congratulations — after following you on the blog for several years now I feel like I know you and am so happy for you! What a lucky kid!
Thank you SO much for the really kind and encouraging comment Liz! <3
Congratulations to you and the fam — how exciting! I can’t wait to follow along on your pregnancy/parenting adventures 🙂 xoxoxo
Thank you Hillary!
This is such great news – congratulations to your family! Wishing you a continued safe and healthy pregnancy 🙂
Thank you so much Chelsea!
Congrats! I am a few weeks behind you, so it’ll be nice to follow along if you plan to blog pregnancy updates!
YAY! 🙂 I’ve found a group of about 5 of us locally who are within a few weeks of each other so we’ll have to get together after the holidays.
I am so excited for you both! I’m a long time reader, and lately you’ve never seemed happier! Becoming a mother is a true delight and miracle. Enjoy every moment!
Thank you Ashley. I’m really looking forward to the life change. I know it will be a huge adjustment but I’m so ready for it.
Congratulations!! I am very happy for you! I too had this journey with my second child. 2 1/2 years of naturally trying and suffering a loss, we finally conceived our miracle baby with one dose of Clomid and at 41! I am a fan of your blog and I can’t wait to read about your journey into motherhood!
Thank you! And congratulations on your second child! <3 What a blessing!
Congratulations!!! So very excited for you, and looking forward to following along in your journey. I could’ve written the same thing you did about not being at all ready in my 20s to have kids (even though I got married at 24). Once I felt more settled in my career and life in general, that switch flipped and it felt “right.” I had my boys at 33 and 35 and wouldn’t have changed a thing (they’re 3 and 16 months now).
Thanks Laura. I think there’s just nothing wrong with being on a different/later timeline although it can sometimes feel a bit isolating. These days it seems that more and more women are waiting until their 30s to parent, which is a comfort.
Congratulations!! I was very unsure if I wanted to be a parent or not. I still wasn’t sure even when I found out I was pregnant with my daughter. Now, she’s fifteen and my son is eleven and I can honestly say I cannot imagine my life without them. Parenting is an amazing journey. Blessings to all three of you!!
Thank you so much for your honesty in sharing this Amy. It’s a comfort and refreshing. <3
I knew it!!! I have looked at your pictures the last couple weeks and said you looked pregnant!! I am sooo happy for you and Tanner!!!!!!
Aw! I love the idea that it was obvious to others. 🙂 Thank you! We are excited.
Congrats! Welcome to the best part of life. We struggled to conceive (and stay pregnant too). But being a mom is truly the best and will change you forever in the best way possible!
Thank you Heidi. We are looking forward to it. You know, obviously we’re respectfully terrified but also so ready. <3
How exciting! Congratulations 😉 Those two pups are going to be very happy when they find out, haha!
Haha! I know! We think Sullie already knows. Zoey is clueless!
Dear Jen,
First of all, congratulations! What exciting news and I wish you a very happy and healthy 6 months ahead!
I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your honesty and your willingness to share your story. I, myself, am going through the infertility struggle as we speak. I’m nine months into trying and have had two miscarriages this year. So I know all too well how heartbreaking it is every time your period comes around and I feel tremendous sympathy for anyone who has had to experience the grief, loss, and frustration that infertility, even without miscarriage, brings. I feel as though every time I check facebook or Instagram, another friend is announcing her pregnancy and, while I certainly don’t expect everyone to share their story of how they got there, it feels, from the announcements, as though everyone can get pregnant in a hot minute except for me. I know that that’s not true and I appreciate that people often keep their fertility struggles private – and this absolutely should be a time for celebration and not for reflecting on the pain that may have led to the exciting announcement. Still, I cannot help but feel gratitude to you for acknowledging that trying to conceive can be very very painful at times. I wish more people spoke about it in such an honest way so that those going through this process did not feel so alone and… broken.
Thank you again for sharing your story and I hope you continue to document the joys that will now follow.
My best to you and Tanner,
Laura
Big hugs to you, Laura! My husband and I tried for almost a great before going through extensive testing for infertility, then almost another year before a successful IVF cycle. Infertility is isolating, lonely, and an emotional roller coaster, to say the least. My heart breaks to hear of others going through this and especially for your losses. I hope for you and your husband that you find success building your family, and please know you are not alone!
Hi Laura –
Thank you so much for your heartfelt comment and your authenticity. I am so sorry to hear that you are in the same boat and to also hear about your losses. I know exactly what you mean about the announcements and that’s why I wanted to be honest with how we got here. Don’t get me wrong, I am SO happy for those who don’t struggle but I don’t think enough of us who do are talking about it and social media just adds such a complex layer to it. One thing that really helped me with seeing all the pregnancy and birth announcements was to keep in mind “bless that which you want.” There are enough babies and enough success and enough love in this world for us all and to me it was important to stay grounded in the abundance mindset and try to maintain the hope that our time would come when it was the right time. And in hindsight, I understand so much more the timing of everything now. I’ll be writing more about that soon. Regardless, it’s a painful and frustrating process and I’m sending you so much love and strength and prayers for baby.
Love,
Jen
Ahh, so many congratulations to you and Tanner, Jen!
Love, a longtime reader
Thank you so much Rachel.
Heartfelt congratulations to you and Tanner!! What a gift!!
Thank you Kristen. We are so excited. <3
Congratulations! I had a hunch when you put up the picture in your Under Armour travel outfit – it looked like there was a bit of a tummy there ?
Thanks Ellen! Haha, I thought I was doing a good job hiding it! 😛
Sending you many congratulations, Jen! So happy for you and excited for your new chapter. You’re going to be a great mama – and the pups will be great fur siblings 😉
Thank you Ally! And yes, I’m so excited for the girls. I think they will love it.
Jen, I’m just so over the moon for you two! This is one of those awkward blog moments where I feel like I know you since I’ve been reading for years and years, so it’s like hearing about a good friend. This is such wonderful news, congratulations. I can’t wait to read more about this journey!!
Thank you Haley! It’s so not awkward and I so appreciate your excitement! It’s my hope that we all feel connected, even across the internet! <3
Yay!!! So happy for you both!
Thanks Kath! We are super excited!
Congratulations! What exciting news. My son is just about to turn one and your story resonates with me so much. My husband and I tried for a year and did the tests necessary for a referral. Before my husband was even able to get his results, I found out I was knocked up. I wasn’t sure if motherhood was right for me but that changed once my son was born. Congrats again!
Thank you Wendy! And isn’t it just crazy how the timing of all of this baby stuff works? We truly have no control.
Congratulations to you and Tanner!!! I, like you and apparently many of your readers, have been on the infertility rollercoaster for the past year. It’s been more emotionally and physically exhausting than I could have ever imagined. I unfortunately know the pain of get your period, humiliating ultrasounds, disappointing news, all of it. Even though I feel pain when I see a new pregnancy announcement (um, daily!) I am beyond happy for you guys, and comfort in knowing that you were able to conceive after a difficult road. Sending lots of love your way!
Oh my gosh my birthday is May 8th!!!! Congrats to you and your family. This is amazing and you are going to make such a great and inspiring momma!
I love the pics! We are due June 5th. We are still trying to decide what we want to do for a picture announcement. May of the ideas involve our dog too 😉
Omg Congratulations!! So excited for you! My daughter (she’s 2.5) was due on May 7th and her dad’s birthday is May 8! I’m 100% convinced that May is the absolute best month of the year to have a baby. The weather is so lovely and perfect for those postpartum weeks when you’re healing and exhausted and feel like crap. Best wishes for a wonderful pregnancy!
Oh WOW! Just reading this! Congratulations! So very thrilled for you! Wishing you a super healthy and beautiful pregnancy. xo
I am reading this with a smile on my face and tears of joy for you! I have been reading your blog for over 7 years now and am so grateful for the way you so bravely and honestly share your life experiences with all of your readers. My husband and I just started seeing a fertility specialist after similar struggles and reading this today after our appointment seemed like it was meant to be. Congratulations again to you both! Warmest Hugs and Wishes!