SubscribeAnd baby makes 3
I hate keeping secrets. I toss them over in my head over and over waiting till the appropriate time to spill it out. And now, finally, is that time.
I am so excited to tell you that we are a little over 12 weeks pregnant! A baby bean is coming our way in February! Yeeee!
I still can’t believe this is real… We’d been trying for about a year and a half and wanted this little soul to come into our lives so badly. And it finally happened in the month of May that I took off for some intense healing and personal space (remember?). (I wanted to tell you then, but of course could not…)
Colin and I were unknowingly practicing conscious conception (my yoga instructor informed me that everything we were doing was on this path: yoga together, clearing up old personal wounds, detoxing our space, becoming veg, etc) and that paired with some good western docs steering us in the right direction finally did the trick I think. And now we are just on cloud nine!
And this probably explains why my creativity has fallen to record lows in the last 3 months. Colin says that I’ve just been busy creating something completely different. (Isn’t he sweet?) And that paired with the fact that I have pretty much felt nauseous 24/7 and that I could barely keep my eyes open for more than 2 hours at a time explains why I’ve been quiet and down for the count here. I had to fit what I could into the few moments that I was awake!
I really couldn’t believe that the first trimester took me out like that. My sister had just been through it and said it knocked her out, and I secretly thought she was just being a wuss. (sorry Laur! hee!) I couldn’t imagine being that tired because of a few cells spinning around in my belly. And I truly thought that I’d be able to plow through it like my normal self. That tiredness and nausea was something I could conquer with hard work and determination.
Um, not so much.
My body was completely commandeered and I had no choice but to honor that. It suddenly put things into perspective. Work could wait. I could fit in in the cracks if I cut back on the amount of assignments I was taking. Social events had to be put on hold because I never felt good enough to go. And I had to focus on self-care only… Sleeping. Eating healthy food. Relaxing.
But I have to say that it has been VERY difficult through the move and house hunt and caring for Alison while Tom was away. I had to learn to let other people do things for me. Something I’m just not good at. (I tend to think that my way of doing things is better… Arrogant, I know…)
So, this has all just been a huge learning time for me so far. And I’m sure it’s just going to continue to teach me and mold me as it progresses… the pregnancy as well as the sweet little one on its way.
But I’m looking forward to it all. It’s a reprogramming that I welcome with open arms. I am so looking forward to kissing little baby toes, sniffing a tiny baby head, and having my world rocked so hard it’s unrecognizable. Can’t wait!
!!!
Congratulations! Best wishes to you and Colin!
Oh congratulations! Having a little person inside definitely channels all of the creative energy inward from my experience. This is your biggest creative project ever! So sweet.
I could be wrong, but I suspect you are usually a bit of a “floaty, lost in thought” person like me. Pregnancy is so grounding, in a slam down to earth, primal, “give me food and sleep” kind of way. Feeling that way always takes me by suprise when I am pregnant. Definitely give yourself permission to do as little as possible. Enjoy!
*hugs*
Betsy
happy for you, guys. Kid makes life harder, but much bigger!
How wonderful! Congratulations!!!
Penelope! Congratulations!!! That’s awesome!! You are super hero for moving across the country during your first tri.
I’m pregnant too, a day shy of 15 weeks and I mostly barf, whine, and lay in bed.
I haven’t done an illustration in more than a month. I can relate to that.
Congratulations, Penelope! I think I’d have a hard time not spilling the beans too about such wonderful news :)
Wishing you and Colin all the best!
Congratulations! And thank you to you (and all the commenters, too) for mentioning your subsequent lack of creativity during this time – I am 15 weeks along and have had zero creativity for the past three months. It feels like that part of my brain/being just isn’t there – but I hadn’t considered it as a side effect to being pregnant. I think it’ll be a lot easier to just accept it for the time being and go with the flow – and to remember that we’re into a whole new kind of creating right now! Best wishes!
Congratulations, you guys! Here’s to another beautiful collaboration.
Yay! My son is just over 4 months old and I haven’t been happier in my life! CONGRATS!
Congratulations! That is wonderful news!!!
Congratulations to you both! Best wishes of health on your wonderful journey.
Oh my goodness!! Congratulations!!!! Sending you both the best wishes…
Penny – I’m so glad you finally shared this news with the rest of your “circle.” I can’t wait to be an aunt!!!!! Your child will be so loved, SO creative, and so lucky to have you and Colin as parents. Congratulations for the umpteenth time!
Love,
YSIL
I’m delurking to say a big Congratulations to you! I’ve been reading your blog for a while and have really enjoyed your writing style and your art. I just went through what you’re about to go through (our first son is nine months old now) and it is the most amazing experience I’ve ever been through. I look forward to reading your account of it. Congrats again! Now go get some rest!
Congratulations Penny, i am so excited for you! You are going to be a wonderful mother!
i was just squealing with delight at your happy news and then clicked over to your brother’s blog. oh, penelope – i am so very, very sorry. i’ve been so touched by tom’s utter devotion to alison. i’m sending love to you both through the blogosphere.
Hello! I’m Michelle-I was Alison’s Chemo Angel for over a year.
I’m devastated to hear of Ali’s passing earlier today, but I am so thankful she is no longer suffering.
Someone just last week told me that she’d always been told that when one angel leaves this earth, God sends another one in his/her place. Ali would have been over the moon to know you were expecting (maybe she already knew, not sure).
My hubby & I have been through almost 15 years of infertility heartache. We just adopted a newborn baby girl on July 1. We have a baby blog where you can read all about our miracle, if you’d like.
I’m keeping you in my thoughts and prayers. Blessings!
That’s fantastic! Congratulations! Weren’t you talking about a secret a while back, I was sure you meant pregnancy!:o)
I write this after reading of Alison, sadness and joy together but so much joy here, my best to you and indeed congratulations!
Wow, life takes us to high heights and low depths all at once sometimes. I’m so sad to hear about Alison. I really wanted her to survive, she was so strong! Your baby can be sure of the best guardian angel there possibly is. Lots of love and strength to you all.
I had a feeling something like this was going on. :) Maybe you mentioned thinking about it a while ago? I’ve had you on my prayer list of expectant mamas for a while now.
♥ CONGRATULATIONS! ♥
congratulations!
Congratulations on your pregnancy. I just became a new mom two weeks ago and it has been an amazing journey to this point. May this little being help bring joy to your lives during such a sad time as you mourn the loss of Alison.
CONGRATS!!! It is the strangest thing to have a child take over your body like that. It’s just not yours for 9 months and you have no clue what to expect.
congrats to you!
we’re actually due at around the same time (i’m feb 11th)- and i’m taking a class with you at squam in september! very excited to finally be in the 2nd trimester…the sickness and nausea is finally beginning to give me a break- hope your break is on its way, too!
Congratulations! I just gave birth July 2 and didn’t feel creative until the third trimester, but it was hard to move around well. Now the sleep deprivation as sucked it away totally, but I hear it returns again…someday.
get your rest.
And I’m so sorry to read about Allison. I’ve been lurking and following her story. I didn’t know her, but her passing has affected me. I’ve been thinking about it a lot and it has taught me to not take life for granted.
Oh WOW! That’s so exciting, Penelope. You and your husband are going to be the best parents. Imagine playing arts and crafts with your little one! Or decorating for the holidays! It’ll be interesting to see where your artwork will go once you have this child in your lives. Congratulations!
OMG!!!! That is SO exciting. Congratulations!
I have two now and felt exactly the same way you did the first time, it is such a special time, traesure every moment. congratulations!!!!
Congratulations! You will be a great mom. But… the pregnancy is all about you right now. Good luck, take good care of yourself, it’s really a cool, amazing and wonderful experience, with all of it’s strangeness and beauty. Please check out my illustrated pregnancy blog for some chuckles and empathy.
http://40drawnweeks.blogspot.com/
start at the beginning….
Oh wow!! congrats!!!!
Well — I’m obviously a couple weeks behind on this huge news, so BELATED CONGRATULATIONS!!! I’m expecting my first as well (in December) and can totally identify with your first trimester feelings! Many, many congrats on your little one!
just re-reading this… it’s almost exactly a year later… and i just wanna say… ochhhh i hear you mama. holy nauseus+exhaustion = leonie in a little bear cave. thank you so much for sharing your story, sweetie. i adore you!