Hi wonderful friends! How have your weekends been? Mine has been fabulously low-key. Things have been so busy lately I needed some time to relax. When constant fatigue and headaches plague you, a weekend with nothing to do is your best friend.

Saturday included no plans besides hitting up the gym in the morning and accomplishing a few of the chores I too easily push aside during the week. Success. I did Power in the morning and felt energetic afterwards for about 2.2 seconds and rounded out the day with some laundry and cleaning all around the house. A crazy thought, though, was that I almost could have been in a bad accident.

I didn’t leave the gym right after Power because I stopped to talk to a friend/instructor who just got engaged. This put me leaving a few minutes later than normal. As I was leaving the gym I heard sirens blaring and when I pulled up to the light for my street there was a bad accident (looked like someone was T-boned) that had JUST happened. I don’t necessarily believe it would have been me if I left like normal, but it still makes you consider how different situations are connected and intermingled all around us. You never know when one moment could end in a completely different outcome than it could have otherwise.

I don’t believe in predestination, but I do think that certain things happen for a reason. I believe we have a choice, but may feel pulled towards choosing a particular path or decision for a purpose. Even meeting a reader like I shared on Friday applies. It was a last minute decision for our playgroup to meet at that Chick Fil A, but I think there was something to it. After the stuff Stacey (the reader) & I shared later that day in email, I can’t help but wonder if there is some reason we met. Or another example is how Emily & I were only connected through the blog even after going to the same high school and living so close to each other. But then we were able to support each other with our trials and then share in our joys together. We found out we were expecting kiddos on the same exact day. There’s gotta be more than chance to that.

Whew. I didn’t mean for that to carry on so much. I guess I’m saying that you just never know. Be open to new things, people, and opportunities. There’s no telling where it will lead you, but if it’s following your heart, gut, or in my mind God, then it will be a great journey. I was not intending to get that heavy. So I 'will shut my mouth here and end with what this post was supposed to be about. My first baby bump picture!

I’m 3 months along now (about 12.5 weeks) and cannot believe how much that bump has popped already. They don’t lie when they say you show quicker with the second one. Or that you show sooner with a short torso. I’m blessed with both so I get to already sport the bump. I know I still have LOTS more growing to do, but just from comparison to the last time it seems like it's popping out so much faster. I love it though. Something about carrying and growing a child makes me feel so beautiful and confident. And exhausted. I have never felt so tired in my life! At least when I was pregnant with Makenzie there was time to rest. Now not so much. She doesn’t allow it. Instead of Chinese water torture it is Makenzie suck the energy from your life torture. So greetings from me, my growing uterus, and the plum that currently inhabits it. Less than 2 months until we find out if “it” is a boy or a girl!

• Do you believe things ever happen for a reason? Or that one moment can change the outcome of other things you wouldn’t have expected?
• What is the most tiring thing you have ever done? I think it is a cruel joke of irony that pregnancy drains you of energy so much, but caffeine is a no-no for pregnancy. Almost as cruel as craving sushi but not being able to eat it. I might have just a little bit of experience with that right now.

Howdy friends! We are almost done with Thursday and then we are one day closer to a three-day weekend. Well for those of us living in the US and working in jobs that give Monday off. And Happy Canada Day to all you Northern friends out there.

I am in such a good mood today. I think not being under house arrest helps out just a teensy bit. Although, I did have to get up earlier to drive Peter to work so I could get around today. Being a one-car family is no fun! I guess it wouldn’t be so bad if we lived in an area where you could actually walk to get anywhere. Sadly, that is not even remotely the case. So I drive. To eat donuts no less. 😀

Thursday is always playgroup day for the Mom’s Group I am in, and after being away almost all of June, I was excited to attend today. Since so many people were attending, the location got moved last minute from my friend’s house to the special local doughnut shop.

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Dutch Monkey Doughnuts has amazing creations and when I found out we were meeting here I knew my resolve would be nonexistent. I indulged in a blueberry lemon poppyseed doughnut. It was a lemon poppyseed donut with a light lemon glaze and topped with fresh blueberries. Yes, it was amazing and yes, I am saddened I did not have my camera to capture the beauty. It was certainly a good start to my day. Even more so when accompanied by great friends and being able to finally share my pregnancy news with them. The support of friends is so heart-warming. 🙂

After noshing lemony goodness, I had to go back to Peter’s work to pick him up so he could be home for an A/C estimate. I will leave that one at OUCH! A/C isn’t so important is it??? After all, I can escape the heat with doctor visits and library runs.

I had to return the three books I finished from vacation. The Yada Yada Prayer Group Book #2 (9/10), They Did It With Love (8/10), and A Hopeless Romantic (6/10).

I was pleased with each of these books. A Hopeless Romantic was a little dragged out, but it was still fun to read. The other two I highly recommend if you are looking for a summer read. I also needed to pick up a book to keep me company during the wait time at the doctor.

I had my last visit of the first trimester today. It was all good news, baby! I heard the heartbeat for the first time, which was amazing. I got a clean bill of health from all my blood work. And I even had a healthy weight “gain”. I was a little frustrated because I asked them not to tell me my weight or how much I gain since I don’t plan on knowing either during my pregnancy. The nurse made sure to not say anything except things were healthy, but then the midwife let it slip that I actually lost a pound when she was reviewing my progress. She just wanted to assure me that it’s fine during the first trimester, but I really don’t care to know. At least it did reaffirm that listening to your body (even on vacation and amidst eating doughnuts), whether preggo or not,  is fine and dandy. Your body is smart and will do what it needs to do.

Now I need to eat and then settle in with my new book and the So You Think You Can Dance results show later. Nighty-night!

• Do you live an area you have to drive everywhere or somewhere that promotes walking/biking? That is one thing I like about cities. The ability to walk to almost anywhere. Small-town suburbia is not designed for that at all.
• What is a treat that you ADORE and have a hard time turning down? Mine would be GOOD doughnuts or freshly baked cookies. Also lately for me is anything lemon flavored. I was a gonner today that’s for sure!