Telling Rob in The REAL Baby Journey!

First off, thank you over and over for your excited and !!! filled notes on the last entry. It's still extremely surreal but based on my symptoms, I think it's still happening. I went in for a HCG blood draw yesterday and will go back tomorrow (on our wedding anniversary!) for the second one to make sure the numbers are doubling as they are supposed to. Fingers crossed that everything goes as it is supposed to.

My symptoms so far are not severe, I mostly feel like myself but there are a few things that are definitely different. First off: I've never noticed my boobs before but lately it's been like they're full of little scalpels! Sharply painful and tender. I keep poking them to make sure they're still sore and hoping that is a good sign. They also, I swear, have gotten bigger. I'm a 36B and that's generous. I don't often fill out my B bras but my ego can't handle being an A. However, I'm now actually nearly filling out bras and even had gasp cleavage yesterday. I know it's SO early but even my sister commented on it! I've also been extra sensitive to smells - especially anything out in nature...manure spread on fields, skunks that have been run over, dog farts, fresh rain but also foods smelling SO much more intensely. I've found myself getting short of breath a lot easier and being winded just walking up stairs. I know, again, it's super early and maybe it's just that I'm aware of it because I tested so early but it's definitely a thing. I played volleyball for the first time last night in a little while and was lightheaded after a long rally with many block attempts and spikes on my part. That hasn't happened to me since I weighed a lot more back in college! Something is definitely happening...

I'm also dropping things constantly and forgetting almost everything. These are not particularly new traits but they're obnoxious nevertheless. They seem like they're magnified lately and that things slip through my hands like water and I am forever not even realizing I'm forgetting things so much as being called out on it or coming back later and figuring out something wasn't done all the way. Like I let Claire outside and then just completely forget to let her back in. I put laundry in the washing machine and just never go back. I leave the car lights on or the keys IN the ignition or the garage door open - all things that I would easily have not done before but that now just slip my mind without a second thought. So so weird!

As for telling me, I've now told Rob, my sister and my parents.

Rob was gone for the weekend so when I tested on Sunday morning before work, I had to hang onto that information by myself for over 14 hours! It was excruciating! I even had Happy Hour plans after work that I had committed to previously in the weekend so I went out for that (inconspicuously ordering a 'rum and coke with the rum' ;)) and bolted as soon as it was socially appropriate. I stopped off at the grocery to buy three more tests, wanting to be VERY sure before I told him.

Came home, kissed him, told him I was going upstairs to change and then took all the tests. All immediately came back POSITIVE. I did another little happy dance, rubbed my belly and headed back downstairs. I asked about his weekend, his plans, found out his cousin just announced their pregnancy at his grandma's birthday party (making us the last cousins not to be pregnant... ;)) and told him about my work weekend and the Happy Hour. Sunday was also my sister's birthday so I wove that in there, saying I was going to go see her on Monday and bring her gifts.

I then said "Buying all of her presents really got me thinking. Made me think about our anniversary and Christmas and I think I decided what I want to get you this year." "Oh yeah?" he asked. "Yeah, I think I'm going to get you THIS for Christmas this year." And I pulled out the handful of pregnancy tests and handed them to him, beaming. He took them, shocked, read them, read them again, looked at me, mouth agap, "Are these yours?!!" I happily screamed "Yes!!" and he hugged me so tight and kept going "It worked!! It really worked! I'm going to be a daddy! Hey, Claire! You're going to be a big sister!!" He pulled the dog up on the couch and we all hugged and it was great. He asked a million questions about how I found out and how I was feeling and when I'm due and what happens next, etc. He is extremely interested in the whole process and so excited to be a part of everything. It was adorable and he immediately started rubbing my belly and telling it "Please stick! We want to meet you!" That night he slept spooning me, wrapped snugly around me, even rubbing our feet together. Normally we sleep back to back or not touching more than an elbow or an errant foot...but not that night. He was so, so excited and obviously so proud and happy. It was great. :)

I'll come back later and update on how I told my sister and my parents. Their reactions were just as priceless and I want them to get their own space. Definitely feel free to unfollow this book if hearing about this stuff isn't your cup of tea but I just wanted to share a few thoughts and try to keep stuff written down as I'm sure (obviously!) I'll forget it otherwise.

Thanks again for the support - I appreciate it so SO much, especially since you guys are the only ones who know who aren't family!! :)