And Then Came the Fall, but it Took FOREVER.....

The fall was finally approaching, and though we knew we were having a boy, the anatomy ultrasound at 20 weeks (on September 20th) was still really fun! I hope James thinks it's cool that this is documented.  Hee hee!  So basically this is what my inside looked like...

 

And what I looked like on the outside at 20 weeks.  I was thinking, "Half way, it's about time I have something to show for all this discomfort!"  Ha! What's really funny to me is now I see what everyone else did- I was barely showing at all.  But if sure feels different, even if no one else notices.

 

Late September came, and with it my cousin Kelly!  It's always so fun when she comes to DC on business, and it gives us the chance to go do something fun that we have been wanting to do.  So we went to Harper's Ferry in W. Virginia.  It was a perfect day, really.  Harper's Ferry is where the Potomac and Susquehanna Rivers intersect.  And it is amazing.  We went on a fantastic hike, ate some yummy food, and enjoyed the views and weather. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In October Danny and I went with our friends Ashley and Leon up to Amish country.  Honestly, we were hoping the weather was going to be much more fall-like, with the leaves turning and colder weather.  Instead it was still very green, warm, and a little rainy, but still beautiful.  We ate lots of yummy Pennsylvania Dutch food (allll of the baked good and carbs) and had the best donuts of our lives at the Lancaster Market. We explored the area and found some beautiful covered bridges and just enjoyed the countryside. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The end of October was a little bit of crazy weekend, with the Primary program (I was in the Presidency) and an apple-picking excursion, a Halloween party, and overall pregnancy fatigue.  Danny took great care of me that weekend, including making me a delicious Sunday dinner.  He is an amazing partner, and so solicitous of my well-being in general.  But when I was pregnant, he was an absolute champion. I'm so lucky. 

Of course, we had to throw another hike in there before it got too cold. It was a gorgeous day at the end of October on the Potomac. 

 

25 weeks!

Aaaannndddd- about the nicest, most sincere tribute I can give to Danny during the fall season.  You're welcome, Babe.

So, the Summer Happened and We Got Pregnant!

I don't actually remember taking this- but it's beautiful so I'm including it!

Let's be honest- the biggest news of the summer of 2017 was I found out I was pregnant!  Yahoo!!!!!! I remember it was right after Memorial Day, and I felt fine, and wasn't really expecting to be pregnant, but I just woke up one morning and decided to take a test. Danny told me not to, because he didn't want me to be disappointed, and it was too early in my cycle to tell.  But I took one anyway, and lo and behold, it was positive.  We were both pretty surprised!  It was still so early that I had to have my blood drawn a couple of times at the doctor to make sure.  Well, it was all positive, so we started to look at February, 2018, as a potential time when we would become parents.  I say "potential," because I was so nervous about another miscarriage that I didn't want to get my hopes up.  I didn't really want to make plans, I didn't want to put too much stock in having a baby.  I was scared, but Danny wasn't.  He actually felt more positive this time around, and was more excited than I let myself be for a while. But of course, we still talked about it all the time anyway.  How could we not?  It was life-changing.   The check-ups kept being normal and good, heart beat good, major growth milestone in utero passed, all good things until by the end of the summer I was finally much more at ease.  We announced to family on July 16th, Danny's birthday (although he can't keep a secret, so his family already knew), and announced via social media on August 27th, when I was about 16 weeks. 

 

 

I just wasn't ready before then. I was starting to feel him grow (we found out he was a boy at about 12 weeks, and I told Danny by giving him a little blue stuffed elephant.  It's now one of James' favorite toys) and so I was feeling more confident that we were out of the woods. 

 

My first trimester was mostly uneventful, with your typical morning sickness, but no throwing up.  So that was nice. And I kind of was averse to sweets, which was so weird.  But that sweet tooth came back, not to worry. ;-)

This was around the start of my second trimester, about 16 weeks.

With a pregnancy underscoring everything we did that summer, here are a few of our other adventures:

Walks around the monuments

 

 

 

Kelly came to visit for the weekend, and we went to a Bernadette Peters concert.  It was so fun, and BP was magnificent! 

I had found out I was pregnant just a few days before this.

Celebrating the Fourth by watching fireworks by the Iwo Jima Memorial

 

 

Ally came for the weekend, and it was so fun! 

Trip to Virginia Beach for an early anniversary celebration- hotel on the beach, and bikes, of course. 1 year!! 

 

 

 

My Favorite Person celebrated another birthday.  I sure love him. 

Quick weekend trip to New York City.  I still hadn't told many people yet, though I could feel #lilboystoker starting to grow.  I just wore loose shirts!

 

 

Washington National's game

An eclipse!

An old friend came through DC with the King and I tour, and it was so fun to see Joan!

 

Labor Day- we visited the Thomas Jefferson home.  Gorgeous day trip.

We celebrated one year of marriage!  It was an incredible year with Danny by my side.  He's the best.