Surprise! Baby Williams #2 is on the way!

Hardest secret to keep from y’all but n0w it’s out so let’s TALK ABOUT IT!

I figured a timeline may help break it all down and help keep me on track. (I’m prone to ramble, ha!)

But whatever you do, please read until the end. I have something important to share down there.*

June 2021

My last blog post/mini-newsletter was sent out early June.

Josiah’s birthday/dinosaur birthday party was mid June.

We left for a family trip to Colorado late June.

(I was pregnant this whole time. . . and had no clue!)

July 2021 - (weeks 4-8)

Friday, July 2nd I realized I was a day late and took a pregnancy test early that morning.

YES

^ what the pregnancy test read right at the 3 minute mark after taking it. Clear as day, baby numero dos had been conceived!

I re-uploaded all my pregnancy apps and according to my cycle, at that exact moment, I was 4 weeks pregnant.

No hidden camera when telling Calvin this time (see How I Told My Husband I Was Pregnant blog post from two years ago). I just walked back into our room holding the test up as he was still rubbing his eyes open. Talk about a heck of a wake up call. LOL! However, may it be known here and now, the pregnancy was not at all a surprise as we had decided to start trying to give Josiah a sibling at the beginning of this year.

Because I was just 4 weeks at the time of finding out, we kept it a secret from everyone and went about our lives. I scheduled an appointment with my new OB in The Woodlands (whom I LOVE - 100% better experience with this dr. than my previous one, sorry but its true) and pulled out all my pregnancy books. Week 5 I felt just fine but come week 6 the nausea came full force, as did the exhaustion.

Early symptoms this time around were frequent urination, fatigue, mood swings, nausea, and vomiting. Another pretty clear sign that I was pregnant was my immediate aversion to COFFEE. AGAIN. With Josiah I couldn’t drink or smell coffee (which if you know me, I LOVE COFFEE) and this time, SAME THING! However, this time the food aversions are many and I’m extremely sensitive to smells as well.

The month ended with my first prenatal check-up and a confirmed pregnancy. I got to see the yolk sac and baby. My doctor assured me everything looked good, confirmed March 8, 2022 as the due date and I left with a ton of ultrasound pictures.

We also ended up telling our families by 8 weeks. Calvin’s family found out first since we’d be going on our big family vacation at the end of July. I was throwing up so much and we were all rooming down the same hall of the resort, I was certain someone would hear me at some point, so we put Josiah in a “Big Brothersaurus” shirt down to breakfast our first day together and that’s how we surprised everyone with the news.

August 2021 - (weeks 9-12)

Early August I had a college roommate reunion trip in Dallas and I had to pull over a few time because of the extreme nausea and (new to me) motion sickness. For about two weeks prior to this I would be driving alone or with Josiah somewhere around The Woodlands and would have to pull over even then. Since then, I keep Target bags in my car, just in case. I’m telling y’all, EXTREME nausea.

While there I got to tell some of my closest girlfriends in person and I texted or called more close friends to slowly begin sharing the news. At 12 weeks, nearing the end of my first trimester I returned to the doctor for my next check up and Calvin, Josiah and I all got to see baby together for the first time. Baby Williams #2 was up and active, moving around for us and it was the sweetest thing. We even got what looked like a small hand raise as if acknowledging us from the womb.

I also had blood drawn at this check up and up to this point had not gained any weight yet as I had been so sick and barely kept some meals down. However, bloodwork came back all clear and my doctor did prescribe medicine for the nausea but after trying it for a week, I decided to refrain from taking it. The side effects I experienced weren’t worth it for me. I decided I rather ride it out naturally for as long as I need to.

August also meant celebrating our 7 year anniversary and my 31st birthday. While our anniversary went well despite my major food aversions, constant nausea and fatigue, my birthday did not. I cancelled plans left and right and struggled to even identify what sounded good to eat or what would be fun to do. I was at the peak of the morning sickness and fatigue.

September 2021 - (weeks 13-16)

Out of first trimester and into the second! Nausea be gone, right? FALSE. Still very nauseous and vomiting. The newer symptoms around this time were congestion and nose bleeds! Something I never experienced with Josiah.

I also felt the baby move for the first time around 15 or 16 weeks. I don’t remember now but I do know it was around that time. It was so sweet and so reassuring. During my next prenatal appointment at 16 weeks I got to hear the baby’s heart beat and as we were listening, baby gave us a big kick and that proved to me that what I had been feeling were indeed baby’s kicks. Baby’s heart rate at this appointment was 145 (for those of you trying to predict the gender as you read this… wink, wink).

Other than the fact that Josiah started a 2 days/week preschool program early September, the month was pretty normal for us. I slowly began to get some of my energy back, which was fantastic. I learned to pace myself during these weeks because while I wanted to hit the ground running the second I felt some energy again, I realized I still needed to listen to my body, take breaks - sometimes even full on naps - during the day and remind myself how my body was hard at work on the inside.

Oh and I finally gained 2 pounds this month! Yay!

October 2021

At the publish date of this blog post, I am 18 weeks and 6 days. 19 weeks is just around the corner and I’m almost halfway through this pregnancy! At times I feel like it’s flown by, yet other times it feels like it’s just begun since I’m barely getting my energy back and can actually keep down most meals.

One thing I’m loving is feeling baby move a lot more. Still going strong with the congestion and nose bleeds. Allergies are flaring up like crazy, which has resulted in more gagging and of course, continued vomiting. While the morning sickness and fatigue are no longer a daily occurrence, they still spring up on me from time to time. I wonder if it will be this way until the end because with Josiah it ended a week or two into my second trimester and here I am now, halfway through my second trimester.

huge shoutout and a big thank you to Madeline Rowe in the woodlands for these pictures!

So now here we are! Sharing the news with everyone else that hadn’t heard yet or did not know. We ask for prayers for our growing family and thank you for celebrating with us this little life growing inside of me. We are overjoyed and praise God for this sweet miracle. We do not take it for granted (read Our Journey To Pregnancy here) as we know many longing to have a child of their own as well those who have lost a child. Which leads to my important message:

*October is National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. During the entire month, we take time to honor and remember those who have lost a child during pregnancy or lost a child in infancy. I know that there will be eyes on our announcement, the newsletter, and this blog post of those who have lost a child. I know because, some are family that we love, and others dear friends - whether in real life or virtually through this blog/social media - and I want you each to know I am praying for you and holding you so dear to my heart right now. I want to take the time in this post to say I am so sorry for your loss. Your pain and grief is valid. Your child was dearly loved and mattered and will never be forgotten. YOU are strong, brave, loved, and worthy.

Friday, October 15 is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. Dear reader, join me in praying for those we know who have lost a child and make it a point to reach out to them and love on them.

Thank you all for reading! I’m may be doing bump dates again as I did with Josiah starting at 20 weeks. You all have any questions you’d like me to answer? Drop it in a comment below or find me on social media!

LOVE y’all and thank you for all the love, support, and prayers!