Our Baby Story

in sams words

I knew I was pregnant immediately.  I went and bought diapers, baby shoes, a card for Kyle and came up with a plan on how I'd surprise him before even taking a pregnancy test. I also called my OBGYN and made an appointment without actually having any sort of confirmation of the situation.  I'm aware of how bizarre that sounds but the truth is I've always been incredibly in tune with my body. As soon as I became pregnant my Latina intuition kicked in and much like when Kyle and I started communicating, I just KNEW what was happening. 

I took the test on my birthday, December 12th, while Kyle was at the gym. I know there are mixed theories on how couples approach taking home pregnancy tests but after nearly six years of knowing one another and a little over a year of marriage, we are proud to keep the mystery alive and well in our relationship. While I waited for the results of the test I tore apart my closet searching for my mini tripod so I could put my camera in the oven. I knew it would be a positive result and I didn't want Kyle to see me going through multiple boxes and think that I was going to turn my birthday into a home renovation day. No way. Earlier in the week Kyle noticed that the brand new jar of cookie butter I randomly bought was almost empty, so to throw off his suspicions entirely, I told him I just wasn't feeling very well in general and figured that I must be having strange transitional cravings leftover from our trip to Spain. This prompted him to suggest staying in and cooking me a birthday dinner, rather than making a big production of going out, especially if I was having a hard time deciding what I felt like eating. I thought that was a great idea, but also feeling a little restless, I wanted to go furniture shopping because I knew our family was about to expand!

In the beginning of the pregnancy I underestimated just how tired little things would make me so when we were driving back home from shopping I admitted I was exhausted...and basically needed to eat immediately.  Kyle was fine with switching things up to celebrate my day so we made reservations at our favorite restaurant, the Melting Pot. This change of plans initially threw off my big reveal because I had already set up everything for my surprise. As we were getting ready to leave for dinner I conveniently remembered that I had forgotten to take something out of the oven so I asked Kyle if he could get it for me.  

Kyle and I thought it would be fun to tell our parents and our sisters on Christmas. It was tricky, of course, because we both felt like it was completely obvious that I was pregnant. We spent the holiday in Flagstaff with Kyle's parents and we Skyped with my parents in Florida. We primed both sets of parents by telling them we were giving them something they had been asking about and we knew they really wanted...something that we were dodging questions about every time they brought it up. Both sets of dads actually guessed what it was before our moms fully opened up the gifts. Surprise! We got them each a WEDDING PHOTO ALBUM! 

Then we instructed our parents to open up the smaller boxes, suggesting that they were practically stocking stuffers we had forgotten about. Inside each box was a onesie that Kyle had handmade. He constantly amazes me because he is truly a crafty lefty. We also had custom bottles of Cava made for our parents and I made a special bottle for my sister. For the record, yes, I was drinking sparkling cider during our family toast!

Kyle and I feel incredibly blessed to be expecting right now because we were able to line it up with the hypothetical timeline we created for ourselves after we got engaged. Although it may have sounded like we were trying like crazy, we knew we wanted to go to Spain, drink wine, go hiking in Iceland, and enjoy an extremely low maintenance baseball season together prior to starting a family. As soon as I said Yes to My Dress I knew that it was also time to prime my body to have children. I gave up all of my normal protein bars and shakes, trying only to eat food that was safe for a pregnant woman to have.  I even bought the book "What to Expect BEFORE You are Expecting" to make sure I was giving myself the best chance at conception.  I was constantly asking the Pirates Wives questions to the point where whenever Kyle was moved around between AAA and the MLB, the mamas would jokingly ask if we were pregnant yet. I will always be so grateful for the support I received from the women of our 2016 season.  I still laugh out loud thinking about our 'low maintenance' season...we're so glad to have spent some time in such a great baseball city, but boy was it tricky!  

1st

I went into the pregnancy being extremely overconfident.

I have been in shape my entire life, I don't overindulge in anything, and I have always been able to bench press more than I weigh. I thought for sure that I would be one of those glowing pregnant women that was also able to renovate a house, be a reliable friend, and still be well put together whenever I had to go somewhere to run an errand. Unfortunately, as soon as I hit that 6 week mark I was a MESS. 

My petite frame and casually calm demeanor was working against me. I had freakishly low blood pressure which was causing me to become extremely dizzy.  I couldn't even lift my head without seeing the room spinning circles around me. I had to crawl around the house so I wouldn't fall from 5 feet up. I became distant with friends for the next 6 weeks because I would get dizzy looking at my phone, the computer, and I sounded like I had just woken up every time I talked. I didn't want to jinx the pregnancy by telling people.  It was not the pretty picture of pregnancy I had imagined for myself. Kyle was wonderful but I know it was hard on him. He would wake up early to make breakfast then go to the gym when he came home he would help me eat lunch, sit with me for a while as I laid on the couch or in bed.  Later he would work on something for the house, go to the supermarket for some pregnant lady food, cook dinner, and then work on the house again until he got tired and did it all over the next day. He was already a dad and a mom. I felt so bad but was also so grateful I had a partner that would be so selfless without ever making me feel guilty. 

Yes, "every pregnancy is different" but in this day and age of pretty filters and perfection on social media, I felt the need to share how things were actually going down.

2nd

I felt like I became a contributing member to society again in my second trimester.

I was feeling strong again and I was able to go to the gym just about every day. I felt stable enough to visit Kyle while he was in Florida for Extended Spring Training. Although my workouts were a joke compared to anything I did prior to growing a baby, it's amazing how every little bit helps.  Even though my body was getting used to carrying around extra weight, my brain wasn't. I was bumping into things a lot with my belly and I often look down after eating and see a pile of crumbs resting on top of my stomach. Sometimes I felt sloppy and other times I feel like it was endearing. 

I ended up visiting Florida for about 4 weeks and as a result, I was able see my parents quite a bit. A friend of my mothers told her about an Old Wives Tale called The Needle Test and we had no idea what it was!  After educating ourselves via youtube, I decided to test the theory out. Basically, if the needle swirls in a circle around the palm of your hand you are having a girl and if the needle straightens out and slightly shifts back and forth then you are having a boy. Obviously this is completely science based. 

3rd

I celebrated the start of my third trimester with a trip to Colorado Springs to see Kyle play baseball.

I hadn't seen him pitch in person since August of 2016 so it was really great to see him back out there on the mound. It's pretty amazing that we were able to be in a long distance relationship for 5 years and now a few weeks without seeing one another feels like a lifetime.  I'm pretty sure Kyle was shocked with how much I've grown since April! 

When I got back from my quick trip I was definitely looking for a distraction. My doctor saw something on our ultrasound that required me to see a specialist. I felt scared and totally helpless but as my OB put it, it was either going to be something or nothing. Kyle and I prayed a lot and are blessed to say that everything seems to be okay! Once again, to celebrate, I booked a trip to New Orleans to see what life as a Baby Cake was all about. I was able to see Kyle make his longest appearance of the season and to add a little excitement to the trip New Orleans was hit with a tropical storm during the few days I was there. 

Baby Shower

My sister Tamara planned the whole thing from North Carolina. I’ve only been to two other baby showers in my life so I really didn't know what to expect.

Truthfully, it was a little tricky to figure out the initial logistics of having a baby shower in Arizona.  I knew I wanted my parents to be involved and long before I became pregnant, my parents had plans to spend their 40th wedding anniversary in Spain for two weeks...but because July 22nd was "so close" to my due date, we decided to have the baby shower on their date to mark the celebration. Even though it was only for a few days, it was great having Tammy, my parents and I back together under one roof.  Every day Tammy worked from home and every night she transformed our fixer upper into a mini safari. Kyle and I have a long way to go to make our home the way we want it but it was so nice to have friends and family over for the first time. It still feels a bit surreal knowing that THIS is the place where Kyle and I will be raising our children...for a few months out of the year! 

We are so grateful to have a such strong support system and we know that our baby is already loved by so many. We can't wait to introduce our little friend to all of our friends and family. A few days after my shower I had my 36th week ultrasound and everything looks good! The baby turned itself around and was apparently already pretty big! At both ultrasound appointments our little one was almost 2lbs bigger than what was considered standard weight. 

I've learned that pregnancy evokes different types of emotion in different people. I've also learned that I really despise unsolicited advice. 

I've had people come up to me and say very happy things and I've had people come up to me and tell me absolutely heartbreaking, horrifying stories. 

Although it has been awkward at times, I completely understand. For the majority of my life people have approached me with whatever is on their mind. I've been conditioned to take time to reflect without totally taking potentially rude comments personal. I know that it is a privilege to become pregnant. My parents struggled for seven years before finally having my sister. I came shortly after but because of their situation, I was worried that it might take a long time, if at all, for Kyle and I to conceive. Looking back on the history of Kyle's and my relationship, I actually remember telling him (before we were even officially dating) that I was not sure if I'd be able to carry a baby. I always pictured myself with a family, but with severe scoliosis, a tilted uterus, and a family history of fertility issues...I just wanted to be honest. I don't recall what he said exactly but I know that Kyle's faith and quiet confidence helped us get to this point. 

This is the book my parents sent me a little after Kyle left for Spring Training. It has really helped put everything in perspective and I definitely recommend it to other pregnant women.

I realize that our little one will be here soon. It's equally intimidating as it is exciting and I really appreciate everyone who has reached out to us over these last few months. 

Frequently Asked Questions:

• Do you know what you are having? A little munster? A sea creature? Kyle and I decided that we want to be surprised and not find out the gender...but the best plans often go awry, right? Truth be told, at my 7 month appointment, my doctor accidentally let it slip! 
• Did you have names picked out for both genders? Yep! We picked out a unisex name and have been set on it for the last 2 months.
• Is your nursery ready? Nope. We bought a fixer upper! It is close to being set up but...we've got time, right?
• Where are you having the baby? In Scottsdale, Arizona.
• When are you due? August 17th. 
• Will Kyle be able to be there for the delivery of the baby? I hope so, but we understand that because we are so blessed to have Kyle play baseball for a living, that he might not be able to make it on time. 
• Why would your husband not be able to be there?! Baseball paternity leave is only 72 hours from the moment he leaves the field to the moment he needs to be back with the team. He is currently playing on the other side of the country and because I have no idea what my labor situation will be like, there is no telling how two last minute cross country flights will factor into our equation.
• Who is going to drive you to the hospital?  Thank goodness my parents have been with me in Arizona since the baby shower. We have done our practice hospital runs, the carseat is in the car, my bag is packed and we are ready to make the 5 mile trip to the birthing center! 
• What are you going to do after the baby is born? Of course I want to be the best mom I can be! My parents are going to stay with me until Kyle gets home and we've mastered a routine for the offseason. We'll celebrate the holidays in Arizona and look forward to whatever job opportunities come our way for the future! Kyle and I are really excited to have a little friend along for our wild, absolutely unpredictable ride. I do really enjoy being involved in media and making cool videos so as crazy it might sound,  I will be actively searching for freelance jobs that would allow me to work from home, the road, and wherever Kyle is playing in 2018. 
• Are you sure you're not having twins? Yes, despite my large size and the fact that I fainted during my first trip to the doctor when the ultrasound nurse mentioned it at first glance, at this stage in the game, I'm sure. 
• Have you had any weird cravings? I've survived on walnuts and eggs. I still have a hard time eating meat but in order to get enough protein I've eaten about a bag of 1 pound Diamond walnuts a week and between 6-8 eggs a day. Every morning I make a "breakfast smoothie" which consists of oatmeal, frozen fruit, greek yogurt, organic plant based protein powder, and powdered peanut butter. I snack on avocados, BLT's, popcorn, cereal with cashew milk, string cheese, spoonfuls of almond butter, and I drink a TON of water.  I keep thinking I should 'eat like a pregnant chick' but whenever I try to have something really unhealthy I end up feeling totally gross. 
• Have you gotten sick a lot? No. I can count the number of times I've vomitted on one hand ....which is why my doctor is really happy with my weight gain! 
• How much weight have you gained? Kyle and I started out with a 120lb weight difference between us...and that gap is closing.