Is there a baby bump?

Since most of you reading do not see me every week, I'm doing the infamous "belly shot" that Lesley did during her pregnancy. Mine will be called the "baby bump pic", just to give it my own flare!

Here is a picture taken today! We thought a dress showed it a bit better.

The last two days, I've been feeling much better! I think most of the nausea days may be through! I can tell I'm getting hungrier quicker, so I'll be a frequent snacker for sure!

We haven't written much about our pets in awhile and in the last few months, Lilac (aka the crazy cat!) has become very affectionate. She loves to sit on Jason's legs and purposely, bypasses me so she can get to him. Sometimes, Jason says they'll nap together when he gets home from work. Apparently, I've got some competition now! Here's her chilling over the weekend.

She also whines a lot more and interupts Jason and I when we're talking.

Here's a picture of me and the other babies! We're having problems with Molly chewing on Chips collar that has the shock collar on it. They always seem to find some way to give us a new problem to solve! Guess it's good preparation for the kid!

Jason went to the Checkers hockey game last Thursday with Wes and Ryan. I would have loved to have gone, but my stomach told me that I needed to stay home. Friday, we did the last chapter of A Love Worth Giving book. This week, we're having a passover dinner on Good Friday and then will start a book about marriage called Love and War. We're excited!

Saturday, we rested, but did go to Chick-fil-a and Barnes and Noble to get the Love and War book. We also got a pregnancy book that's been helpful to read!

Well, I'm off to have a snack!

Hanging in there!

Brief rewind of happenings since the last post:

Saturday, the 6th, we went to a winery near Elkin with our friends Ryan and Nichole. Don't worry, I didn't participate in the wine tastings, but it was a beautiful day to just sit outside. Ryan and Nichole got married there in September. Then, we were only a few minutes from Gary and Linda, so we ate dinner with them at Cody Creek and then watched "The Proposal".

Sunday, the 7th, we had lunch at Atlanta Bread with some of the TNT friends, then saw "Alice in Wonderland." I wasn't sure if the 3-D would fly with me, but I sat near the back, so it was okay. Jason sat at the front with our friend Taylor.

The next week was alright for both of us at work and it was nice to get all the sweet emails congradulating us on the pregnancy.

Friday, the 12th, I had lunch with my friend Abigail and her baby Lincoln at Atlanta Bread since I really liked the veggie sandwich there! The closest thing to a craving that I've had so far!

I had the rest of the afternoon off so I cleaned since we had life group here later that night. It was on Noah struggling during the time on the boat during the flood and having. We chilled on Saturday and watched the Hurricanes hockey game that night.

This weekend, I went to a women's conference where Anne Graham Lotz spoke (Billy Graham's daughter). I was a bit worried about feeling bad and Friday night was a bit rough, but thankfully Saturday, I felt pretty good! Our lunch was at this cute place in Greenville, SC that had excellent desserts. I got home about 9:00 on Saturday night.

Jason stayed with Lee Friday night and they went fishing Saturday afternoon. We had all thought that Dean's birthday party was next Saturday, the 28th, but there was a miscommunication. Lee got a call while they were fishing and after having dinner with Linda and Gary, they headed to Karen's house for dessert. I hate I missed it, but I wouldn't have been able to go anyways since I was heading back from Greenville.

I still have been feeling a bit up and down with nausea during the day. Wednesday, I didn't even do nursery because I felt so bad, but I think lots of it has to do with allergies. My right ear started hurting this week, which is typical during allergy season. I feel I'm starting to eat a bit better, so hopefully, I'll continue to feeling less sick.

Tonight, we made my grandmother's spagetti! It didn't turn out as good as she made, but it was close! My aunt Anne has been working on a family recipe book since Grandmother died in 2005 and it got finished! Anne dropped it off at our house on Tuesday night, so I read through the whole thing!

Anne wrote family history and included stories of when they were kids. I loved seeing the pictures of my grandmother as a baby and little girl, plus some good pictures of my dad and his sisters in their childhood too.

It honestly made me want to cry a bit seeing pictures of those that are gone: my grandmother's sister Adaleide and husband Van, my grandmother's sister in law Phyllis (aka "Shupie"), and my aunt Jane (dad's older sister).

There's also a picture from 1990 of me, Chris, and our cousin Jake with Grandmother in her kitchen getting ready to bring out "Jesus' birthday cake" to everyone at the dining room table. This cake had pink icing with coconut shavings on it! Classic!

We went over to mom and dad's last night, and she made grandmother's spagetti too! Jason and I had thought it would be funny if she did because mom and I had talked about wanting to make the spagetti recipe! It will be a popular meal at our house from now on!

Announcing a new Holcomb-Starnes

No, we're not going to use both last names for the kid, but it is fully Holcomb and fully Starnes, so it felt appropriate to put both names here!


We're about 13 weeks today! I now can back up and write about what's been going on the last few months! Below is a picture from the February 24th ultrasound.







Just like the last pregnancy, it happened the first go around! Very shocking and totally a God thing! Apparently, my 30 year old pipes are working well! I had the same symptoms of sleepiness and nausea, just like in the fall. I had two positive pregnancy tests again, and wasn't sure if I was ready to face the real challenge: an ultrasound.


I intentionally waited to call the doctor since we were seeing Isaiah for the first time the last week of January. I didn't want to have a disappointing ultrasound before that visit and then feel like my time with him was somewhat tainted.



Mom had pretty much figured out I was pregnancy, especially since one week in January, I was so sick that I couldn't come over for dinner. Just Jason did. He said dad thought I had a stomach virius and mom just smiled.



So, the first ultrasound was on February 2nd. The women at the doctor's office all remembered me, which I found flattering! The ultrasound tech (Wendy) was SO excited when she saw the little thing, she even gave me a hug and said she was so happy for me! They were all so compassionate when I had my miscarriage, so I thanked her for being so kind the last time too.



It was nice to call Jason and give him good news! Later that night, he called his mom and dad to tell them. We decided to just tell parents for now.



We waited to tell my parents until the next Monday (February 8th) which was my dad's birthday. The doctor had given us about 8 ultrasound pictures, so we taped one in his birthday card! He opened it, and smirked/chuckled a bit. I told him, "do you see my stomach virius?" He chuckled some more, than gave the card to mom. She stared at it and then screamed with excitement, saying, "I knew you were pregnant!"



I had another ultrasound on February 24th down in Charlotte to check for abnormalities since they have a high tech one. Mom and Jason went with me that rainy day. I was a bit nervous, hoping everything was still okay!



They had a monitor that we could look at and it immediately came up and I saw the heartbeat! It appeared to just be chillin' on its back on the placenta and the tech had to try to make it move. Eventually, it came up a bit so they could check the spinal fluid. It is a bit below the normal level they like it at, so that's good! (Yeah for folic acid!) The doctor there came in and said everything looked good to him too.

We told the Holcomb side on Saturday at Grandpa's 80th birthday party!

After hearing the heartbeat on Tuesday at my regular doctor's visit, I went around work that afternoon to tell everyone personally and show them ultrasound pictures! I figured since I have been a hormonal monster and snappier than normal, most would think that something was up. Many of them did suspect I was pregnant! Later that evening, I called the Helms to tell them!



Tonight we told our life group and I just sent an email out to our friends! Now, I'm heading to bed, as it's 11:15!