rcollier_17's Pregnancy Story

Posted Wednesday, August 19, 2009 4:23 PM

"Derrick surprised me with a crib the weekend we moved in. He had it set up in the baby’s new room, filled with stuffed animals and a balloon tied to the corner. Couldn’t help but cry at that one..."

Love at first sight?

My husband, Derrick, and I met September 30, 2006 at an Iowa vs Ohio State game. I first noticed him at my work’s tailgating tent and decided to introduce myself. I should probably note that I had consumed way too many jell-o shots when I decided to go meet him. I first said hi to his brother (who I worked with) and then shook his hand while attempting to say "Happy Hawk Day", but what really came out was "Hawky Hawk Day". Then I guess I went on to stroke his hand and tell him how soft his hands were (I didn’t remember that until he told me during our first phone conversation).

Once we got into the game I found him and made a point to “make eyes” at him throughout the game. That next week at work Derrick’s brother got my number for him and I got a call a couple days later. We talked for a few hours on the phone and set up our first date. Needless to say, things moved quickly from there. It was like Derrick and I had known each other for years and after 7 months of dating we moved in and Derrick suggested we go look at rings.

Around October of 2007 I found out that Derrick was taking me to Green Bay for a Packers game for my birthday. I was super excited (and wondered if he would propose there). Well 2 nights before we left for Green Bay (November 15) Derrick and I were lying in bed having a deep discussion about where our relationship was going. Suddenly he got up, said he’d be back, and went outside. I immediately started crying thinking I must have pushed him over the edge with my questions. He came back in and lay down in bed with his back towards me.

After a bit he said “I don’t want to be your boyfriend anymore.” My heart absolutely dropped. I had done it. I had pushed him away. Nevertheless, I asked him what he meant and he repeated what he had said before. My mind couldn’t wrap itself around what he was saying and I was speechless. Then he turned over with a little green baggie in his hand and said, “I want to be more." He pulled out the box with my engagement ring in it saying, “You didn’t think you could get rid of me that easily did you? I care for you way too much.” Talk about a rush of emotions! I went from tears of sadness to tears of joy, and man were there a lot of tears! We were married October 11, 2008.

Oh my word, oh my word

It was March 15, 2009 and Derrick and I were picking up some groceries. I was one day late (if you can consider that late) and we had been joking about needing a pregnancy test. I had been off the pill for a month, but I told him I was having menstrual cramps and because I had no symptoms at all I was 90% sure I was not pregnant. Derrick really thought we should pick up a test though so he started to meander back that way by himself. Well I couldn’t let him pick one out by himself so very huffy I went to “that section” with him. We picked up a two-pack of First Response, took it home, popped in a movie, and made some supper (fish I’d have you know).

After we had eaten supper I snuck away into the restroom to take the first test. Two pink lines right away. I just sat there looking at it. Then wandered out of the restroom and asked, “Where are those directions?” I hardly remember what Derrick said, something like “What? Really?” Then I started bawling. I was in complete shock and Derrick just gave me the biggest hug. Then we got out the camera and started recording. If you watch the video now it’s kind of funny. I’m asking Derrick what we just found out and then all the sudden you see the camera drop and hear me saying in the background, “Oh my word, oh my word!” We took the second test that night before bed and got the exact same results. We were going to be parents!


Pregnancy so far

Once the shock wore off Derrick and I became very excited and told our parents just a couple days later (we couldn’t hold it in, we’re terrible with secrets). So far there’s not much I can complain about with this pregnancy. I was extremely tired during the first trimester and had some major food aversions to yogurt and chicken, but never threw up. I’ve loved getting a belly (although I did see a picture of myself pre-pregnancy a couple days ago and it did make me long for my thinner days) and feeling our little man kick around has been awesome. I do feel myself getting slower and lately my arms and legs have been falling asleep a lot, but if that’s the worst of it then I think I have a lot to be grateful for. Oh, and the heartburn I guess, you can’t leave that out. Tums are my new after dinner “mint.”

Preparing for Dominic (I always wanted my first son to be named Dominic. Thank goodness DH likes it) has been exciting and nerve wracking at the same time. We’re planning on having a drug free birth with as little medical intervention as possible. We have hired a doula, who will birth at home with us for as long as possible, and then will move to the hospital later in labor for my midwife to deliver us. It hit me a couple days ago that we have just 3 more months left and for some reason that just does not seem like very much time at all. It makes me incredibly anxious to get the show on the road.

I am very excited to experience labor and delivery. We have plenty to do though before our boy comes. We just moved at the end of July, so we still have an entire nursery to set up, once we finish getting unpacked that is. However, Derrick surprised me with a crib the weekend we moved in. He had it set up in the baby’s new room, filled with stuffed animals and a balloon tied to the corner. Couldn’t help but cry at that one. It was the nicest surprise ever.

Can’t wait for labor

This whole experience has been so incredibly amazing so far. I’ve always felt like life was something to be treasured, but experiencing this miracle has enhanced that a million times over. I’m constantly in awe of the gift we’ve been given and how our little one has developed over the past six months. It’s been a great bonding experience for Derrick and I. Part of the reason I’m so excited for labor and delivery is to share something so intense and so personal with Derrick.

We’re both definitely nervous, but we’ve been through a lot of ups and downs in our three years together and I know, no matter how labor and delivery goes, we will come out stronger and more in love than when we went in. We both know the road that lies ahead will have more than enough bumps, hiccups, and maybe even walls with it, but we knew we wanted to marry each other because we wanted to experience life together and this is just one more wonderful experience.

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