17

17 Isn't really a milestone for anything per-say, however, 17 is really only 3 weeks shy of 1/2 way point...and that's kind of a big deal. 17 is the 10 day marker for when I get to find out if little Stella is a boy or a girl! 17 Means roughly 23 more weeks to go or 161 more days...oye...let's stick to weeks. 17 Weeks makes my baby roughly the size of an onion, it's skeleton is hardening and changing from rubbery cartilage to actual bone, and the tiny little fingers and toes actually have their own one-of-a-kind prints!

We didn't even find out we were having a baby until a few days before Christmas. I was late, and I took a test and it was blank. Weird. It was a few days later that we got to the store and bought another and again I took the test...and again it came up blank. I was starting to get annoyed after two faulty tests, so I got impatient and took another one right before I left for work, and Chad had already left by that point. I found out on my own and for about 10 hours I was the only one on the planet who knew. I couldn't tell Chad over the phone! It's too big of news not to share in person. So...I waited. Chad called later that day to tell me he was going to work some overtime that night. So...I waited even longer. And then when he finally got home...we had company. So I waited some more. Finally I was able to tell him..."Hey...guess what I found out today? You're going to be a Dad!" He got this little grin on his face and said "I am?" Chad was pretty thrilled with the news. Which made me even more so.

Pregnancy has been fairly kind to me. I was definitely tired, and I had the queasiness to be sure, but I was spared the vomiting. Week 7 when I was making brains...that was a rough week...making brains is hard. But 3 days after week 12 hit...I was good. Sure, I had a tooth break off, and my high school acne has returned with full force, -oh and lets not forget the never ending heartburn (Tums have become one of my new best friends)- but aside from these very trivial repercussions of pregnancy I really don't have anything to complain about.

Mostly, at week 17, I find myself anxiously excited. I can't wait to find out what we're having! I can't wait to see what our baby will look like, and what kind of personality it will have! I'm excited for the day when I will feel our little one inside of me. I'm nervous for the changes my body is going to make and curious to see if it will ever go back to what it once was. I'm a little apprehensive to get on the scale and see a number I have NEVER wanted to see. But I can't help but feel undeniably blessed to be able to BE pregnant and to carry my baby as it grows inside of me. It's the most bizarre and awesome experience, and I thank my Heavenly Father everyday for this adventure.