The day before Christmas Eve, we headed to Sun Valley!
Thank you, Brodie, for this lovely picture :)
Christmas Eve
It was fun to be all together as a Fish Family! Per tradition, we opened pajamas the night before Christmas.
I am not very good at taking pictures, so these are the only ones that I have from Christmas day. I had to twist Brodie's arm to let me take a picture with his stocking.
Christmas dinner
The day after Christmas we went out for a wintry hike. Although there was not as much snow as we were expecting! The hills were bare and only a few inches at snow in the valley.
Brodie and Durant showing off their "Karate Kid" moves
Other activities included sledding, ice skating, and shopping downtown for my birthday.
It was a squeeze, but I was able to still fit my snow pants and coat over baby!
I was under strict orders to play it safe while skating, so I skated around using a chair as a walker. It was easy until Brodie decided he wanted a free ride! This skating rink was outside of an elementary school and was totally free - including skates and hockey sticks/pucks! The sun was shining, and I actually got hot and had to take off my sweater. Half the time I spent just soaking up the sun :)
For my birthday, we spent the afternoon shopping! We looked up all the of the thrift stores and traveled around town to check out each one. We ate dinner at an Italian restaurant called Rico's, and then we ended the day at the movies to see The Greatest Showman. It was a great 27th birthday!
Near the end of the school year in June, I felt so exhausted. An exhaustion that I have never felt before. I was so tired during the day, that I think I could have fallen asleep while teaching if I let myself. I didn't think too much of it because I always feel tired near the end of the year. June is filled with class parties, field trips, end-of-year testing, and 5th grade graduation.
I kept waiting for the feeling to disappear, but it didn't. That's when I first thought, "Am I pregnant?" Brodie and I had been planning and hoping for a baby, but the timing was a little slower than we thought, so I was trying not to get my hopes up. I took a pregnancy test without telling Brodie and it was negative. "Must just be the regular end of year exhaustion," I told myself.
Days later, even after lots of naps and going to bed early, I still felt the same. The day before Father's Day, I decided to take another test. Honestly, I was expecting nothing. Otherwise I may have planned a Father's Day surprise for Brodie. Instead it was just Brodie and I in the bathroom looking at the test. "See I told you. There's nothing there. Maybe a really faint line, but I don't think that counts."
I handed the test over to Brodie for him to look. "Babe, there are two lines there. That means you're pregnant."
"Let me see." After looking at it, the second test line was getting darker, which means pregnant. But I still didn't believe. After all, I had taken a test just 3 days earlier and it was negative. "So what does it mean?"
"It means you're pregnant."
"I'm pregnant?? How do we know for sure?"
"Wait and see if your stomach gets any bigger." Leave it up to Brodie to tell a joke during a life-changing moment :)
We were both in shock, and honestly I don't think it really hit us for a few days. Just to double check, I waited a few more days and took another test to confirm. Yep! It was true - we were expecting a little baby!
1st Trimester Summary
extremely tired - once school was out, I was sleeping in and taking a nap every day
poor appetite - I didn't want to eat anything! But I knew that I needed to. So I forced myself to eat the few foods I thought I could handle. I think I lived off applesauce, fruits & veggies, cup of noodles, and boxed macaroni.
nauseated - I felt nauseated, but only actually threw up once! And I think it could have been avoided. It was a Sunday when we left for church in a hurry and we forgot to eat lunch. By the time we got home, I was feeling really sick and threw up for the first time. Thank goodness it was the only time!
Even though I was only 5 or 6 weeks along, we told my parents the next day on Father's Day. It was a perfect day to share the news!
Tek and Kim were coming into town the following week, so Brodie and I waited until they came to tell the Fish Fam.
reading the test after the instructed 2 minutes - only the faintest line could be seen
after waiting a little longer, the second test line became darker
I told Brodie to take a picture of me to "preserve the moment". I definitely don't look glamorous wearing my Harry Potter t-shirt and pink striped PJ pants, but that was the reality!
This is a onesie that Brodie and I bought in Norway 3 years ago. We used this to tell my family on Father's Day when we video chatted.
First doctor's appointment!
Baby Fish at 8 weeks
first sign of a bump at 12 weeks
2nd Trimester
more energy
no more food aversions
heartburn
neck & back pain
muscle cramps
up at night to go to the bathroom
felt first flutters at 17 weeks
gender ultrasound at 20 weeks
We announced to everybody else at 16 weeks
"Adding a new pair of fins to the Fish Fam 2018!"
ultra sound at 20 weeks
It's a boy!
Revealing the gender to the Fish Fam!
21 weeks
22 weeks
23 weeks
26 weeks
27 weeks
3rd Trimester
now wearing maternity tops
still fitting in my jeans, but have to use a rubber band to close the button of my pants
feeling lots of kicks - baby is especially active at night and during church
needing more sleep
first baby shower!
29 weeks
30 weeks
baby shower in Seattle - I am sad this is the only picture we got! (and it's really high quality too :))
Christmas is my favorite season! I love putting up decorations, setting up the tree, and getting together with family and friends to celebrate. Earlier this month we decorated our tree, dipped chocolates, attended the Camas Tree Lighting Festival, and went to Tuba Christmas in downtown Portland.
We transported our Christmas tree from Baker City, OR after celebrating Thanksgiving at Amy and Jeremy's. We had to wrap it very tightly in order to fit inside the car. This is what is looked like when we brought it inside.
after removing the garbage bags. . .
all lit and decorated!
For the last three years, we have attended the Camas Tree Lighting Festival. We live only 2 blocks away from the main downtown strip, which makes it really easy and convenient when attending city events. Loads of people come and parking can be insane, but we are lucky enough to just step right outside our door!
The lighting of the 40 foot tree is accompanied by some pretty impressive fireworks
After the lighting, fake snow (soap bubbles) comes pouring out
Brodie and Camden
On the first Saturday of December, we gathered at Brodie's parents for the annual chocolate making event. Typically all of the Heppler women (Brodie's grandma, mom, aunts, and cousins) get together for the day and spend hours dipping handmade fondant melted chocolate. This year we were low on numbers and Brodie jumped in to save the day!
What a cute chocolate maker :)
Another annual tradition is to go to downtown Portland for Tuba Christmas. Loads of tuba players from the area come together to play Christmas music in Pioneer Square. Cohan, Brodie's brother, has played the last few years, and we love coming to listen and support. This was the first year it wasn't raining. Hallelujah!
