One Year

This blog was meant to be written on the one year mark of my first doctors appointment, the one where we officially discovered we were going to be parents.  I thought that was March 6, it was March 3.  My bad.  But here I am anyways.

We knew before the doctors appointment that I was pregnant. In fact, we knew about 2 1/2 weeks before the appointment, but it's still exciting and nerve-wracking going in and getting that first sonogram.  The morning of the appointment we actually closed on our house in Greensboro.  Talk about a life changing day. 

I'll never forget seeing that little bean on the screen though.  My heart filled with so much love the instant the nurse turned the screen to me.  Luckily for us at our OBGYN they attempt to listen to the baby's heartbeat in the first visit.  I wasn't prepared for that, but once I heard it I knew it was a sound I could listen to everyday.  The heartbeat really made it official for me.  I could finally believe that my pregnancy was real and I was going to be a Mommy.  It was like all of a sudden, nothing was about me anymore, and I was perfectly fine with that.  Now here we are, one year later and definitely nothing is about me anymore and I'm still perfectly fine with that.  As weird as it may sound, I really feel like we had our own 39 weeks of special bonding, a bond that no one else will get to have with her.  Some days I really miss having her in my belly, so close and so safe all the time.  But most days, I'm just so happy that she is here.  And she is perfect : )

What better way to reminisce about this amazing journey than with the pictures that documented to whole thing.  The pictures that I hope one day Ryleigh will really appreciate.  Enjoy.

The Belly Expansion

The Ultrasounds

6 Weeks & 6 Days...the very first glimpse

11 Weeks

13 Weeks

16 Weeks

18 Weeks...we found out it's a GIRL!!

23 Weeks

29 Weeks...the 4-D Ultrasound

29 Weeks...this is such a Ryleigh face!

29 Weeks...now we know why she always has her hands by her face when she sleeps

The Baby Shower

The Wedding

Jason & Bekah's Wedding in Buffalo, NY on October 1, 2010

Funny Pictures

My first (and only) Odouls before going to the Rascal Flatts concert. In Charlotte. Outside. In July. 24 week pregnant.

Barefoot & in the kitchen...for my wonderful sister-in-laws bridal shower

Bekah and I at her bridal shower...the only picture of the two of us from it

My giant swollen feet!  The sad thing is, they got even worse than this!

The hubby in the Empathy Belly during our birthing class

My belly mold.  This was done September 27, 2010.  I was 36 1/2 weeks.

Lucy protecting her pregnant Mommy...or just using her belly as a pillow.

Visiting Niagra Falls while in Buffalo, NY.  We walked around & tried to induce labor.  It didn't work.

The journey ends...but a new one begins : )