Let the Baby Bump Pictures Begin

Well, it's official... I've made it to the end* of my first trimester with my first baby.  I think I already mentioned it, but I've been real nervous and anxious for some reason.  I've had no indications that anything is wrong, but I am a worrier and growing a baby gives a girl plenty to worry about.  Alas, we had a doctor's appointment this morning and got to see our little bean - who happens to be looking a lot more like a human being now - again and hear its sweet little heartbeat.  Best sound.

I celebrated by going back to work for the first time in over two weeks.  (Ok, this wasn't really by choice; and, I kind-of went kicking and screaming --- But, it did feel good to be back.)

Apparently, between Facebook and my blog many of my students had already heard my news... It is weird when teenage girls smile and look directly at your belly.  :)  I tried to think of some creative way for telling them why I've been lazy/eating during class ALL the time for the last two months; but the best I could come up with was to project an ultrasound photo on my whiteboard and, well, the inside my uterus just might have been too much for some of them to handle.  Haha!  So... I just blurted out like a goob: "Happy New Year.  I'm going to be a mom!"  They clapped for me.  (Awkward, but cute.)

Anyways, speaking of my belly... I figure it's time I just put it out there.  (Oh, it's out there alright.)  So... here you go:

Perhaps I should have considered using a photo NOT taken after a full day at work.  Or, at the very least, run a comb through my hair first.  Oh well.  This is me, my hips don't lie.

If I'm honest, I've been a little embarrassed about how fast I am growing.  I'm fairly certain this isn't normal for three months into your first pregnancy, but people are being nice and telling me it is.    (P.S. When I told one woman at work today she said, "well, duh" and looked right at my stomach.  I wonder what people thought of me before I got pregnant.)

And, while I'm in full-disclosure mode... Here's the inside of my uterus Baby Chapman:

Jeff just reminded me that I said I would never do this (post photos of my ultrasounds for all the world the see).  Oh well (again).  Pregnancy makes me do crazy things.

The ultrasound technician said we had a "sleeper" on our hands.  No matter how much she poked and prodded on my belly, our little one just relaxed in there - cozy as a cucumber.  Jeff and I loved this --- totally a Chapman.  (Addy, for example, was still sound asleep in our bed when we left this morning.)  Let's cross our fingers that he/she likes to sleep that much outside of the womb too!

Well, life goes on until July... Beginning with "The Bachelor" premier tonight.  Are you watching it?!?

*I know that there are lots of different beliefs about when the first trimester is actually over; but, I've been counting on twelve weeks... So, I'm going with it.  FYI.