Allergies may pose potential harm to baby.....

I imagine when God created me, He had himself a little chuckle.  He made me with several odd quirks.  How often does a person have 10 extra permanent teeth in their mouth?  One of my odd quirks is my allergies.  I haven't struggled with my allergies in several year, however, in the past few weeks they have really flared up.  When I mentioned this to the doctor, she just gave me a knowing smile and said "yes that's common in pregnancy."
If you are a fellow allergy sufferer you will understand the common symptoms; watery eyes, stuffy nose, scratchy throat.  While I do eventually experience those symptoms, it is often my ears that are affected first - which throws off my perception and I walk straight into walls.  Yep, thats how I know my allergies are bad - I smack into walls.  Picture my parents watching their toddler repeatedly hitting a wall while trying to exit the room, or their teenage daughter open the door to leave the house and then run into the edge of the door.  Its a wonder they ever let me drive.
I have gotten used to this odd quirk, and even learned to find it humorous.  However, after smacking into a wall yesterday I realized this could potentially be bad the further I get along in my pregnancy.  Currently it is still my nose that is going to hit the wall first, but in a month or so - it will be baby belly that first reaches the wall.  So I have devised a plan!  Baby bumpers.  Yes, I will look strange walking around for the next 5 months with my hands sticking straight out.  So I am letting you all know now - no, I am not practicing a zombie pose.  (Dave and Milton, I am not reenacting scenes from Zombieland.)
Baby bumpers....it is all about keeping baby safe!

So thankful

As I lay in bed this morning, rubbing my tiny baby bump, I was overwhelmed with gratitude.  Our infertility journey was so long, and there were times we were not even sure I would be able to carry a baby.  We researched options, like adoption and weighed out what each option would mean for our family.  While there are many wonderful options out there to create families, to have the ability to nurture, care for and love this child from the very beginning is such a precious gift.  I get to control the prenatal care.  Dave and I daily get to speak to my little baby bump and tell this child how love and wanted they are.  Nana and Papa, auntie's and other dear friends from the beginning are on this journey with us - getting to speak love over this child while in the womb.  Thank you Lord that we get to experience this!

Prego & camping

Ahh the joys of camping while pregnant.  Why did I not think this one through?  I absolutely love camping.  It is one of the highlights of my summer.  So I didn't think it would be any different than the summers before when we finally got to go last week to our favorite campground - Ohanapecosh, at the base of Mt Rainer.
Pregnant women don't sleep well.  Even on cots...no matter how comfortable they were last summer.  Pregnant women feel every slope - especially if the cot is going down hill.  The smell of the woods and camp food - are not as pleasant when you are still experiencing some morning sickness!   Morning bacon....yuck!
And then......there is the camp bathroom.  I don't remember it being such a walk.  Camping and pregnancy 101 - wear pads!!!  camping and pregnancy 102 - sleep with tissue paper, hand sanitizer and the flashlight because you are not going to make it to the camp bathroom all 3 times you wake up in the middle of the night.  You tighten those muscles the best you can, un-zip the tent and run to the nearest bush!  (Remember to check and make sure your dog is still in the tent when you return, as you did not have time to zip the tent shut while running to pee and he may have escaped!!)
So funny story -  The second night, sometime early in the morning, Dave awoke to pee.  Desperate myself, I was excited to get to pee in the woods with my husband.  I love unique bonding experiences!  It was lighter outside then I expected, and Dave was going a little farther into the brush and trees.  I wanted to follow and have that bonding experience, but I was not going to make it any further.   So I ran to the nearest bush, a few feet from the tent and let go!  Ahhh....Instant relief!  It was then i heard a car door slam and realized our neighbors at the camp next door were already up, and I was in plain sight!
Normally i would be embarrassed that I had just exposed myself, but I could only laugh.  Hey - I was glad I made it out of the tent!