Sometimes things that aren’t the most attractive have a wonderful side to them as well. It’s never good to judge a book by it's cover, after all. Which is why I’m okay with the below unattractive, yet wonderful things.

Numero uno: the bloating I currently am experiencing by the end of each day. I wake up with a fairly flat stomach. Sure it doesn’t start off as lean and defined as I like because of the extra weight I had to put on for conceiving, but I still am happy with it and believe I look good enough. But by 5:00 pm that all changes when my stomach seems to explode. I look like I put on 10 lbs over the course of a day and get even more soft and poochy looking. It’s not attractive, but since it’s part of those crazy pregnancy things that happen early on I will not complain. Oh, I cannot believe I am posting these! This is pure honesty and love for showing you guys everything right here!

Numero dos: food that looks like puppy chow but tastes like heaven. I made the recipe for Almost Meatless Sloppy Joes that Katie posted on her blog the other night. Soooooo good! They taste just like sloppy joes, but have veggies, beans, and other good stuff in them. They are hearty, healthy, and tasty. I enjoyed leftovers for lunch today. Not too easy on the eyes, but very easy on the palate.

Numero tres: our kitchen. Right now it is in disarray and I am not loving it. The house came with this huge block of cabinets that just made the kitchen and dinette area feel extremely small. Peter decided enough was enough and took them down today. We have some cleaning and organizing left to do, but it already feels so much more open and I love it. Now I just have to wait for the hideous tile to leave.

Numero cuatro: begging. Begging and whining are two things I find horribly unattractive…which is why I am hoping you won’t make me do them. I will be heading out of town a lot during the month of June – to Indianapolis June 10-13 and then to Daytona Beach June 18-26. I am hoping that some of you wonderful ladies would be willing to do guest posts for me during that time. I don’t need anything long or fancy, unless you have a more thorough topic you want to discuss here on Faith, Fitness, & Fun. I was thinking guest posts with things like the following:

• a favorite recipe
• a favorite workout
• a quick Q & A about you and your blog (I will send you questions if you want)
• a favorite book
• your music playlist
• any topic you want to discuss (well, that I approve…I won’t have you talking about your granny’s panties on here!)

I was also thinking of putting together a few motivational pieces that just have inspiring quotes, song lyrics, pictures, etc in them. If you don’t want to do an entire post, but have a quote you love or some other inspirational picture/song/etc you want to share shoot me an email with it please! Okay…I’m going to get unattractive now. Please please please please please please please please please please!!!!!!! But see, it’s wonderful too because it is helping a blogger friend out! And I’m even giving you a few weeks to decide and get something to me. How can you say no to that kind of thoughtfulness? 😉 Sooo...drop me an email if you're interested!

I’ll be back tomorrow with the shenanigans from tonight. A wedding, engagement, heck I don’t even know but some kind of shower for my friend. She is having like 10 so I don’t know what this one is called. It should be a good enough time though. Peace!

It’s Friday! And I have checked out for awhile now. I had an extremely busy day that had some good and not so good parts to it. I won’t say bad times, but not the best. I’m going to get this post up quickly so I can vent and then just veg the rest of the night. I need at least some chill time every day.

I started the day with some light cardio at the gym while putting a big dent in the book I am currently reading. I finished Harlan Coben’s Caught a few days ago (GREAT suspense novel!) and now I am reading James Patterson’s new book The 9th Judgment, which is another good suspense. I’ll try to get some reviews of these up eventually…but in case I don’t, I’ll go ahead and say check them out because they will be worth your time.

After my workout, I rushed home and took 30 minutes to shower, get myself ready, get M some food packed up, give her a snack, and get some directions for later in the day. It was a mad dash because I had a doctor’s appointment to confirm the pregnancy at 10:45. Unfortunately, I had my first moment of forgetfulness and didn’t grab a snack in the mad dash. Did not help me out later in the day.

Back to the doctor visit. I did the pee in a cup thing for them to try to confirm the pregnancy. Um, nope! It wasn’t showing up on their tests. I had to have blood drawn so they can test that way and I will get the results on Monday. Then, I went back to a room to be observed by the midwife. She told me not to be nervous because it’s still early and just to keep taking my prenatals and taking care of my health. Then she checked me out, told me my uterus is enlarged already (I TOLD you there would be TMI at times ;)) and that things look good. Then they scheduled me for a visit about 2 weeks from now to redo blood work, get an internal ultrasound, and a general workup.

I would be lying if I said the test not showing up positive right away didn’t freak me a little bit. Increasing levels of the HCG hormone during early pregnancy is important and I did have thoughts of “What if mine isn’t increasing? Is this a bad sign? I KNEW I should have kept it to myself!” I laughed at myself on the last one. My mouth wouldn’t have stayed shut if I glued it. Besides, I wouldn’t have the ability to share here if not for sharing early, but that’s besides the point.

For the most part I know the logistics and have faith everything is just fine. I was shocked they wanted to see me this early (about 4 weeks along) and I know that doctor’s test strips often times aren’t as sensitive as some at home pregnancy tests (since most women in an office visit are further along and don’t need the lower sensitivity), which explains mine not showing up yet. I also know there is no such thing as a false positive and the few at home tests I have taken are distinctly positive.

I know that I am experiencing changes I only experience in pregnancy – easily tired, super sore tatas, BLOATING beyond your wildest imagination, and of course the lack of period. Most importantly though, I also know to trust God. I mean, I just have to think about the past week and all He has done to know that. And I know this isn’t uncommon and was told by the midwife herself not to be concerned. BUT that doesn’t completely get rid of the tiny niggling, fretful feeling that is lurking inside. All I can do is pray and trust, so that is what I’m going to do. Oh, and take another test tomorrow to be sure my tests aren’t changing on me. 😉

Enough about all that. After my doctor appointment I headed out to meet Lindsey for a lunch before she flew out to see her friends in Ohio for a wedding.We were planning to meet at a restaurant close to the airport, but neither of us could find it. We were on the phone with each other both flustered and lost, so we just ended up going to the airport and eating at a restaurant there. We actually had our first meet-up here at Houlihans and it’s sad to think this will be one of our last since she moves back to Ohio soon. This was the most enjoyable part of my day to sit and relax with her. We spent the time talking and eating up the delicious food. Sadly, I had another forgetful moment here and when I went to take pictures of my gorgeous fish tacos I realized I left my memory card at home. 🙁 I guess this Google Image search photo will just have to do.

Although mine had broccoli and it tasted as delicious as it looks. I ate it all. Remember my missed snack? I was h-u-n-g-r-y. Yum! Nothing much has happened since then. I headed home, got stuck in traffic, got M down for a nap, and crashed on the couch, which is where I am now. I guess I need to get into gear to make dinner, get M to bed, and enjoy a movie night with Peter. Thank goodness this weekend isn’t busy!

• What are your weekend plans?
• What’s something you have forgotten or fretted about recently? Let’s help each other forget the fretful and not fret over the forgetful. Oh, I’m so wise with my words. 😉 HA!