When does that pregnancy glow kick in?

Well I finally made it to the second trimester and I'm definitely feeling a lot better! I finally got my appetite back (which was the biggest problem I had throughout the first trimester) and the bump is starting to show!

I knew from the beginning that I wasn't going to update this blog with weekly bump updates because 1) I didn't want to commit that much time to it each week 2) all I wanted to do up until last week was sleep 3) I certainly have not seen that pregnancy glow yet (in fact, my face has been broken out like a pre-pubescent teenager the entire time) 4) I have had stretch marks ever since I can remember so I didn't really care to answer that question repeatedly (I honestly don't know how women make it this long without any stretch marks) and 5) I definitely did not want to update my weight gain each week because I know I will get huge! Haha 

With all that being said, I have consistently taken bump photos every two weeks to show the progress, so without further adieu, weeks 4-14:

Our first trimester screening results came back perfect! The baby is in the lowest risk category for genetic disorders so that was an answered prayer! It's kind of funny because I always thought I would pray for a cute little baby (preferably girl) and from the second I got that positive pregnancy test, my prayers have been for a healthy baby. I pray for God to protect the baby and to keep it safe and to watch over it as it continues to grow. And I can honestly say that I have no gender preference at this point, as long as he/she is healthy! On that note, I never realized how annoying it is to be asked if you want a girl or boy until I got pregnant--that is all anyone ever seems to ask and I always reply with "either, as long as it's healthy!" It has certainly changed my outlook on what is appropriate/not appropriate to ask a pregnant woman! 

With that being said, we find out the gender in less that a month and it's so exciting to know that in a few short weeks our little blessing will have a name! We have already picked out names for a boy and girl (both of which start with L ;)). 

Also, I still haven't had anyone at work ask me if I'm pregnant so we will see just how long I can push it! It's getting awful hard to keep it a secret (and none of my dress pants fit), but it's kind of fun keeping it to myself!

Watching the baby move around on the ultrasounds has been the most amazing thing ever--I really don't know how people can be pregnant and watch the baby growing through ultrasounds and not be in awe of God's handiwork. It seriously blows my mind! I wish I could record the ultrasounds and watch them all the time, but unfortunately they won't let me. I'm so bummed that they aren't doing an ultrasound at my appointment next week (just listening to the heartbeat via doppler) because I really want to check in on Baby L!

Here's to hoping that pregnancy glow kicks in soon so I can stop looking like a pregnant teenager! Oh, on that note--the new girl at work guessed that I was 30 years old...usually, people guess that I'm like 20 so I was amazed that she thought I looked older than I am. But then it dawned on me that I'm now closer to 30 than I am to 20 and I was a little offended.