We’re pregnant, and we could not be more thrilled! If you know us well, then you know that we love kids and have both always wanted a big family. We were impatiently waiting and meticulously planning for this baby.

We went on our honeymoon to Thailand in February and had a family vacation to Mexico planned in March. Our Mexico trip was cancelled due to COVID, and the silver lining of the cancellation meant we only had to wait three months after our Thailand trip to start trying to conceive (to be in line with the CDC’s Zika travel recommendations). 

Since we were impatient, I was tracking my ovulation with strips and when it was safe, we conceived the first month of trying. I had also been taking prenatals vitamins for about 4 months leading up to trying.

I was taking tests and getting really faint positives the days leading up to my missed period and waiting for a distinct positive. On the day of my missed period, I went to work discouraged that the First Response which was supposed to be the most reliable early test was showing a negative. 

When I got home our Clear Blue tests had come in the mail. I had secretly purchased an Arsenal onesie and hidden it away. Arsenal is Misha’s favorite soccer team, and I had decided to surprise Misha with it when I got a positive test. When I got home and saw the tests, Misha also told me there was an Arsenal game starting, so I had a feeling this was the time. I took a test and surprised Misha with the test result and the onesie during the game. Even though they lost, he was beaming.

And we have pretty much been beaming ever since, although I’ve been really sick and miserably spending most of my time on the couch. 

In the spirit of being impatient, we chose to get the Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing at ten weeks to show the likelihood of genetic abnormalities and also tell us the gender of the baby. It’s a girl! We were both hoping for a girl, Misha even more than me. I wanted a boy originally, since I loved the dynamic of my family growing up, but as soon as I saw how much Misha wanted a girl I quickly changed my mind. 

I am currently 20 weeks and it hasn’t been the easiest pregnancy. I can’t wait to share my essentials that helped me get through the first trimester!