Pregnancy is not always beautiful

WARNING: A LITTLE TMI ABOUT THE FIRST TRIMESTER BUMMERS OF PREGNANCY. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK. YOU ARE ABOUT TO GET TO KNOW ME MORE THAN YOU EVER WANTED TO.

I am so excited about the little miracle growing inside of me. Although, I have cried once or twice lately saying I don't know if I can do this anymore. Being pregnant not only changes how you look on the outside, but it takes a toll on your insides too.

I have had 3 weeks of incredible lack of sleep due to my stomach pains and my boobs aching like no other. I wake up about every 2 hours because I can never get comfortable and I have to pee so bad it hurts. I pass out on the way home from work everyday, which seems best now that my motion sickness has returned with a vengeance. I have to take a bath everyday to get somewhat comfortable enough to take a little nap.

I feel like I haven't seen anyone in ages. I have been the victim of "morning sickness" (aka all day, make you want to lie in a fetal position with your head in the toilet- sickness). I luckily only had to miss one day of work, but I tell you that throwing up at work and trying to not make it obvious is no easy task. My whole entire stomach feels like its trying to lurch out my throat, and gives me no advanced warning.

I can't even think about eating. NOTHING sounds good to me, not even water! I am starving, yet any type of food repulses me to no end and I would rather throw up the nothingness left inside of me then let anything get near my mouth. I can't even brush my tongue in the morning without gagging 3 times.

Now I have tried every trick in the book. Ginger and peppermint tea, crackers non stop, even before I take my head off my pillow when I wake up in the morning. I wear the motion sickness bracelets like they are now a part of my skin. It's kind of ridiculous the remedies I go through.

We haven't made any plans because I always seem to have to cancel at the last minute due to my uncontrollable nausea.

Other than morning sickness, I have some really gnarly gas. I mean, I can out burp James and my sister's frog-like belches with not even a hint of trying. And those gas bubbles and rumbles just don't stop. It feels like I am boiling water inside my tummy. Speaking of gas, as much I can pass gas, you think I would be able to have a good bowel movement every now and then. Nope... NADA. I mean, I can only poop about every 3 days and even then it is extremely tiresome and nothing to feel proud of.

I feel like I am going crazy. I have been crying a lot lately, finding some things terribly sad or incredibly frustrating and I am forgetting things much too easily for my own good.

I cling onto only two positive thoughts right now: If I am this sick, that means the baby is here to stay and there is a very good chance there will be no miscarriage. This is the most comforting news! And that most women wake up feeling absolutely in the best shape of there entire life on the morning of the first day of there second trimester. That means only 2.5 weeks left of this sluggish moving, sloshing belly, about to faint at any given minute feeling!

btw... much to Rachel's dismay, I am 90% positive we are having a little baby boy, I just feel it in my bones, or, belly? Not only is it just a feeling, but Crystal has predicted the sex of many of the babies in our family and she has been correct so far and she thinks it's a mini James too. AND Kara told us about how the fun and mythical ways the doctors in Costa Rica figure out the sex, the whole needle of the wrist thing, which also confirmed it was a boy. So to me, the votes are unanimous. We will have a baby boy and Danger will be his middle name. Although if we have our little Chloe, we will love her just as much and she will be just as welcomed.

My wonderful husband stands by me through it all, getting anything and everything I need. He won't let me do any house chores lately and has really shown me that he is here for me, no matter how much I complain and whine. I feel like a disgusting slob because I can't even bring myself to care about what I look like when I feel this bad, but James still tells me how beautiful he thinks I am everyday. He tells me that I am being so strong and courageous, even though I was just a puddle on the floor crying 2 minutes earlier. I tell you he is one amazing man and will be the father I always wished I had. I am so excited to have someone as wonderful as him to go through this with.

I can't wait to get to the next trimester. I want to see the baby's heart beat again and I can't wait until I get to see him once more on that little screen, this time looking even more like a little human. I want that baby glow in my cheeks and have a big, round, beautiful belly!

♥ Momma Michelle

1st Picture of Baby Schmitz!

Here is the very first official picture of our baby.

Enjoy!

♥ James & Michelle

New Obsessions

There are MANY things I have been obsessing about lately.

The first is food. haha, it's so cliche for a pregnant woman, I know. I have been thinking about yogurt EVERYDAY. Especially with fresh fruit (bananas & blueberries particularly) and granola mixed in. mmmmm. Seriously, that's all I can think about. I also crave a fresh spinach salad from time to time. At least I am craving healthy things!

The second is home decor (obviously). I looooove This designer I have recently heard about, Michael Penney. He is Canadian, he is AWESOME. And his designs are so cute and colorful and makes me want to re-think my whole house. Plus, he does a lot of designs on a low budget. You know how much I love doing things on the cheap.

The third is Photography! I LOVE LOVE LOVE looking at all the talented photographers out there. Here are a couple links I have been looking at lately.
Heather Pepin Photography - www.heatherpepin.com
Tec Petaja Photography - www.TecPetajaPhoto.com
the Maternal Lens - http://thematernallens.blogspot.com

The last is another obvious, BABY STUFF! I am looking at EVERYTHING from core blood research to nursery to maternity pants that I will be needing probably sooner than later. I found some really cute baby blogs lately:
I heart Baby - www.iheartbaby.com
Spearmint Baby - www.spearmintbaby.com
the bump - www.the bump.com


With so much down time from schools being closed for Spring break, I have had a ton of time to check out these blogs/websites. You should really check them out. They may make your heart pitter patter too.

♥ Michelle

Important announcement

Notice a theme in the last three post titles?

Our Newest Addition....

BEACH CRUISERS!!!!
Our spur of the moment,we gotta have them bicycles. We love them. And peanut loves the basket he rides in. :)







♥ Michelle

Baby-palooza

Many family members are having or have had a baby. Yesterday, Missy and Joey welcomed Dorian. John and Molly recently had a baby boy. Melissa and Jason recently had baby Sydnee, my cousin Hannah had baby Dylan about 6 months ago and very soon the Marca's will have a baby boy. That's a lot for only half a year.

Seeing the different families blessed with a child is great. I am very happy for each family and so excited to see the all the little ones.

Crystal let us in on a little secret God told her: we will be having a baby boy! God had told her about the other babies expected in the family a while ago, and she was right on all of them so far. That makes me even more excited, I have not only been praying for a baby, but specifically a baby boy.

I know God has a plan for us and our family and He is just taking extra time to send him to us because He is making him extra special. :)

♥
Michelle

The Knitted Viking Beard Cap

Loretta is the master of all things knitting. When we announced our "WEGE '09" (white elephant gift exchange '09) party, Loretta knew exactly what would melt my heart. A full-on viking beard cap. Lucky for me, through all the chaos and fist fights, I walked away as the winner of this marvelous gift. Before keeping it for myself, I let everybody take a picture with it once (and only once) because I am such a nice guy. Here are the pictures of the cap in all its glory.

- James

Salvation Mountain!!!

We finally went to Salvation Mountain. We have been talking about going for like a year now. Peanut, Donna, Aaron and my sister Virginia went with us. I can't wait to take Crystal when she comes out this summer. :)

The mountain was spectacular. These pictures really don't do it justice. Isn't it great to be able to use the gift God gave you to spread His word?

Click on the pictures and they will enlarge for your viewing pleasure.

♥ Michelle

We changed our link!

our NEW link to our blog is

James-Michelle.blogspot.com

I don't know if if matters if you subscribe to our blog via blogger, if it does, make sure you change it :)

We Almost Died

I know that the "We almost died" phrase is used quite often and not always to be taken literally. But this time it totally is. We really did, literally, almost die!

We were driving on our way to work. James driving, crossing the trolly tracks on Petree and Marshall. It was a green means go light. As we were driving through the interesection, a white van that was driving perpendicular to us ran a red light. I look up and see the van coming straight toward me. It's not like the van was stopped at the light and decided to go, he was coming from a distance and gunned it, acting as if we were not there and his light was green instead of ours.

Thank goodness God decided it was not our time to go. The van missed us by a couple inches. I thought for sure he was going to t-bone us. The thing is, he didn't even touch his brakes, not even after he almost hit us. It all seemed to go in slow motion.

We were so shocked and startled that we pulled over immediately to calm down and thank God for watching over us.



Things like this really make you appreciate life. And make me not want to drive.