Being pregnant has been the biggest blessing BUT that doesn't mean it's been a rose-colored, paradise the whole way, at least not for me.  Each pregnancy is different SO there may be women out there who had a glorious time every single day of their 9-month pregnancy.  (If that's you, LUCKY YOU!) As for me, here's how my first trimester went down.  

THE BAD & THE UGLY

Nausea felt like never-ending food poisoning.  I did a lot of research the first day nausea hit me and came across articles alleging that cutting out all sugars and fried food prevented nausea. Other fellow mommies swore by crackers and ginger.  But as for me, nothing worked except waffles and carbonated water.  Not exactly a balanced diet, but it was all I could keep down so I made sure the waffles with maple syrup I ate were as healthy as could be (gluten-free, organic, etc...) 

My sense of smell was my worst enemy.  My sense of smell was so intense, I swear I could smell rotisserie chicken (my biggest food aversion) from the store's parking lot.  Other days, I woke up detesting my husband's cologne, and every scented lotion I had went straight to the trash because I couldn't stand the smell of anything from Bath & Body Works.  

Food aversions.  Chicken has been the biggest one!  One day I bought my husband a rotisserie chicken for dinner and although I stowed it in the trunk on the drive home, the smell was so overwhelming, I barely made it to the house.  Other food aversions include: turkey, salmon and macaroni & cheese.  (Oddly enough, those used to be my favorite foods pre-pregnancy.)

THE GOOD

Experiencing the first ultrasound.  A-MA-ZING is the only way to describe the moment when you get to see your little bundle of joy and hear his/her heartbeat.

Our 1st doctor's appointment to confirm our pregnancy!

Brainstorming how to share the news.

We decided to wait until Christmas time to share the news. We told my parents first with a framed photo of the ultrasound and a letter their unborn grandchild in the back.

As for Paul's mom, we gave her a photo book of our relationship, from dating to engagement to our wedding, and the final page was the following...

Christmas Eve 2014

For Paul's dad, we also framed the ultrasound along with a decal for Paul's favorite college football team (CU Buffaloes) which said 'Little CU Fan on Board'.

Still being able to wear your clothes.

Pregnant but not showing yet so getting dressed every morning was nothing out of the ordinary.  I enjoyed this phase as much as possible because things surely changed when I entered the 2nd trimester.

14 weeks pregnant