I’ve been pretty delayed in writing this post and sharing this part of my life on the blog. To be honest, I’m not quite sure why. Perhaps it’s because I’ve been enjoying this season of our life, keeping busy with new delicious recipes and house projects.
Regardless, we’re SO freaking excited. (!!!!!!) As of now, I’m almost 20 weeks along — HALFWAY!
We’ve wanted to become parents for quite sometime and are thrilled to be on this journey together.
Our story
We starting trying to get pregnant summer of 2018. After almost 10 months, we found ourselves discouraged that it wasn’t happening as quickly as we had expected. I have a history of PCOS, and we thought that could be a factor as to why I wasn’t getting pregnant. After chatting with my OB/GYN, we decided to make an appointment get some tests done as fertility clinic during my next period and then decide next steps.
Well, my next period never came. But you know what did? A positive pregnancy test.
Before we get into details, I wanted to share that we didn’t tell a lot of people that we were actively trying to get pregnant and I think somehow it helped to alleviate some of the pressure that trying can put on you. We didn’t have anyone constantly asking us how it was going, or if we were still trying, etc. We just lived our lives and hoped for the best. I also tracked my period and when I was ovulating though the Flo app, but per our doctor’s recommendation, we just tried to get busy as much as possible.
During the last 2-3 months before I got pregnant, I resorted to changing my diet and exercise habits, reducing my caffeine intake and taking a daily prenatal. Personally, I thought that my diet and exercise routine were perfectly healthy, but turns out my version of healthy wasn’t exactly what my body may have needed to become pregnant.
While I think there’s something to be said about timing, but I also believe that nutrition is incredibly important when a woman’s body is preparing to carry a baby. I’ll share more about my philosophy on this in next week’s blog post — for now, we’ll stick to the exciting stuff!
How we found out
My best friend had been in town all week and I was feeling ridiculously tired, which normally happens around the time my period is due. I remember having to peel myself out of my desk chair to try and make it to yoga class, and just constantly wanting to get into bed early. I had expected my period on a Thursday and am fairly regular, give or take a few days. When it didn’t come, I decided to take a pregnancy test; it came back negative right away.
Feeling a bit down, but not surprised, I carried on. There had been other months where I was convinced I was pregnant, but eventually my period came, so this wasn’t anything new.
By Saturday, I was still exhausted and crampy and figured my period would show up any moment. It didn’t.
On Sunday, we decided we wanted to go get some lunch and a late afternoon glass of wine. I thought to myself that I better test one more time before having a drink. Or two.
IMMEDIATELY the test had two pink lines…. which meant that I WAS PREGNANT.
Quite frankly, I was in shock! I wasn’t expecting it to be positive due to all the times we had been let down before. I started screaming and told Tony that we were going to have a baby! All I remember is feeling ridiculously happy and giddy, but also a little shocked. Again, I really didn’t think it was right due to the fact that I had just tested negative a few days before. So I took two more tests… and they were all positive.
First we played two games of Yahtzee, where we both got Yahtzees (that never happens!), then we called my mom because we HAD to tell someone, and then proceeded to drive directly to Tony’s parents to tell them.
It was so, so special and I’ll remember that day for the rest of my life.
We’re having a… BOY!
We found out we were having a boy around week 11 thanks to something called cell-free DNA testing. It’s basically a blood test that can not only test for the sex of your baby, but also for any chromosomal abnormalities.
To be completely honest, I always just knew it was a boy. I had the feeling from about 7 weeks on and started calling him my little stinky boy — because I know he’s just SO stinkin’ cute and loved in there.
And yes, we have a name already picked out but won’t be sharing until he’s here.
Since my sister-in-law is getting married today, I don’t have too much time to update you all on further details, however I plan on writing an in-depth post on my first trimester for next week’s weekend updates + answering any questions and sharing my recommendations so far.
I’m curious, what do you wanna know? Any specific-related questions related to pregnancy?! Can’t wait to hear from you! xo.
37 comments
Congratulations! So happy for you, Im thinking about 3-rd one but honestly I am scared…that something might go wrong due to my age…and baby health is most important thing. Cherrish this presious time, you will miss that once baby will be here with you. Once more Congratulations Monique! 😊
How are you dealing with the information overload (and accompanying judgment) that comes with pregnancy? I am in my third trimester and have really tried to stay away from googling most things and just listening to and honoring my body and experience (and also relying on 2-3 close family members/friends for support and advice). I feel like so much of what I have seen when it comes to pregnancy advice online and in books is full of judgment and comparison, and having previously had a disordered relationship with food and exercise where judgment and comparison were so prevalent, I knew I needed to intentionally set boundaries during this season of pregnancy. Have you experienced this and if so, how did you navigate it?
Congratulations!! That’s great news. We are expecting our 1st grandchild around 12/27. Fun times for all. Be well and enjoy this time.
Congratulations Monique!! I’m a mom of 3 sons and grandma to 5, and enjoy making your recipes and reading your blog. Relax and enjoy this special time!
Congratulations! What an exciting time! I can relate to your post. It took 4 years before I conceived and after a year of trying found out I had hypothyroidism. Nothing else after that — my husband and I know it was all Gods timing when I became pregnant because we didn’t change anything we had been doing. And then surprisingly when my son was 5 months old, still nursing- I got pregnant with my only daughter. Overall I’ve had 5 pregnancies and I have 4 children. 3 boys, 1 girl. I remember the nurse telling me when I found out so soon I was pregnant again that it was probably a good thing since my body still had pregnancy hormones and I had trouble conceiving. I wish I had known more back then how important nutrition is just like you mentioned. My oldest is 20 years old now and youngest is 14. When they were little I did try to make things from scratch but was still using refined sugar and whole wheat. I even ground my wheat. But now I have Hashimotos and for 5 years have been gluten free and slowly healing as well as healing leaky gut. I’m thankful for all the recipes, testimonies and blogs/articles (like yours) that have helped me to know how important it is to eat right and helped when you can’t have gluten anymore. And one blessing- my daughter loves baking and inventing recipes and has made me plenty of GF, DF things that are absolutely delicious. So I’m blessed. I look forward to hearing the news of your son’s birth and wish you all the best. You look radiant and I know are happy. Motherhood is a blessing. 😊
Congratulations!! I would love to know what nutrition changes you made that helped give your body that extra push.
me too!
And me too!
Me four!
Congrats! So very happy for you. Thank you for sharing some of your intimate pregancy details. My very best wishes to and your future little boy! 😁
Congratulations!! Being a parent is so, so hard but it is seriously the BEST!
I LOVE your outfit in the Spain pic!! I took a look on your Insta to see if you had tagged where it was from – would you mind sharing?
Congratulations!!! I just had a little stinky boy in April 🙂 I have been making your recipes for a while now and love in Chicago as well! If there is anything you need to know about hospitals or birthing classes here in Chicago I would be happy to let you know what I did. It can be overwhelming, I switched from Northwestern to Swedish when I was 28 weeks. Most important thing I learned while pregnant is if you feel uncomfortable with your Doctor don’t feel bad about changing! Anyways so happy for you and your family.
Ambitious Baby — so cute! Congratulation! This is so exiciting.
Thank you for sharing your story! I’d love to hear more about how you changed up your diet and exercise routine when y’all were trying to get pregnant!
Congrats on your baby boy!
me too!
Same!! I am currently trying (unsuccessfully so far) and have always been very active and workout pretty intensely – weights/cardio on BeachBody programs. Wondering how this compares to your journey and any advice. But most importantly, congratulations!!!
Congratulations! I have a 16-month-old little guy. He’s just the best thing ever. Did you have any morning sickness, and also did you have any food aversions that made recipe testing more challenging?
So happy for you both!!!😁😁 Your story reminds me of my story to become pregnant. I also have PCOS. I changed my whole diet, no sugar, dairy, gluten.. it was hard first but I got used to it after a while. and in my opinion I think food is medicine. It’s going to be so much fun to follow you on your journey. Take care😊
Congratulations! Carrying, delivering, & nursing a baby is so amazing – such a miracle & a beautiful design. Mom of 3 here and have some unsolicited favorite baby product suggestions: Babywise book (get a plan on baby sleep but stay flexible), Nosefrida boogie sucker (must have. seems nasty but isn’t. welcome to parenting this is tour life now haha), Halo sleep sacks, the BOB stroller (genius folding design easy to use super durable built to last), Muslin swaddle blankets, boogie wipes unscented, boobease all natural nipple cream, butt paste rash cream (the best). Take some coconut oil with you to your delivery- it soothes ya down there post partum & take an eye mask so you can sleep. Those are the must haves! Hope you have some girlfriends who can rally around you during this next season. It takes a tribe. Ain’t no hood like motherhood. God bless you.
Congratulations! Was there anything in particular that you changed in your diet that you think may have helped? We’re trying for our first and I like to think I’m eating healthy and staying active but would love to hear what changes subtle or not that worked for you. Meal suggestions?
congratulations. pat marino
Congratulations!
I would love to know how you changed your exercise and diet when you were trying to get pregnant and now that you’re halfway there!
Congrats and all happiness to you, Tony & Lil’ Stinker!
I’m looking for a prenatal and wondering what one you took? Just to start some research, thanks!
Congratulations! I’m so happy for you both!
How lovely and exciting! I had trouble trying to get pregnant as well. Started fertility medications, and injections and after 3 tries and so much sadness, I took a break and really tried to decide if I wanted this or not. While I was “deciding “, I became pregnant..lol..I can pretty much say, for many women that if you stop trying so hard, it will just happen. My DIL..the same thing. After several miscarriages, went to the fertility clinic. I think when she relaxed and decided that she didn’t have to try so hard and worry about miscarrying , and that fertility drugs would help her, she became pregnant (without any drugs whatsoever!) Anyways..my “twins” are 30 years old now and how nice it would be if I could just do it all over again. I felt so good when I was pregnant. Anyways..happy days are ahead for You! Enjoy being pregnant!
Congratulations to both of you♥️
What a beautiful news…..
I just got a positive pregnancy test but, given the statistics in the first 8 weeks (less than 70 percent of pregnancies are viable), I’m convinced, given the math, it will likely not be viable. How do you handle the stress and anxiety of waiting for ultrasounds and progress, and not checking every five seconds you are not, in fact, bleeding)? I’m also curious if you had any chemical pregnancies, or if any of your friends did. Nearly all my friends have had a miscarriage and we don’t talk about it enough! I’m also curious how you decide what products are ok during your pregnancy. Also curious if you’ve taken sips of alcohol (there isn’t any evidence that a small amou t is risky), as well as things like kombucha? Finally, when did you start having food aversion? Was it during week five? Thanks for sharing so much! It’s important to have these conversations with both men and women!
Oh yay for you both..or three I should say! I’ve followed your blog for quite some time now…great wedding photos by the way. So just wanted to send my congrats! Well done you!
forgot to mention… really cute dress by the way!
I’m not crying, your crying! But seriously, so many congrats to you! I can’t wait to follow along on your journey. You are gonna have one seriously stylish little boy. Speaking of, I MUST know where that white dress in the first picture is from please!!
Congratulations! I just had my first baby, a boy, in February! He is absolutely the best. The love you will feel for your son is so incredible. Unfortunately we had to go through 7 IUIs and 1 round of IVF to become pregnant but I’d do it all again for my little guy. During pregnancy I was so afraid of everything. I’m hoping that if and when I do become pregnant again I can be more relaxed and have things like my favorite kombucha, coffee, chocolate etc.
Woah, Ashley, I think you got your statistics backwards! 30% of pregnancies end in miscarriage, not 70%. And by the time you get a positive pregnancy test, the chance of miscarriage has already gone down to 25%. I agree with you that it is good for conversations about miscarriage to be out in the open, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t celebrate at a positive test and be reasonably hopeful that the outcome will be a happy, healthy baby.
I found this chart to be reassuring (warning that it simply lays out the risks of miscarriage by day of pregnancy, which might not be reassuring to everyone): https://datayze.com/miscarriage-chart.php
Congratulations 🎉🎈🎊 Get ready for those sleepless nights 😂 It’s all worth it!!!!
May I ask where your dress is from?? Congratulations!!
Thank you! It was from Revolve 🙂
Hi Monique,
It’s been nice to read this news – I actually searched for it belatedly (I’ve followed you on Instagram for ages), and something in the back of my mind remembered it took awhile for you. I also have PCOs and have a tad discouraged with TTC. I’m hoping you’d be willing to go into diet/exercises changes you went through, and I thought mine were great, but now I think, at least on the exercise front, I may need to dial it back …