gac-journey-blog

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Today is Grayson’s estimated arrival.  Nothing yet.  Waiting, and getting excited.  Not anxious.  But seriously I really wanted a 4/20 baby...Anything is possible, but next date would be earth day we want him to arrive.  He shall come when he is ready.  

[gac-journey-blog]

Things to not buy during pregnancy---

I found throughout my pregnancy I bought and did a few things that I wouldn’t do again.  First off, I bought some “Maternity” tights from target.  The Small/Medium totally didn’t fit (couldn’t get it over my thighs LOL)....so I went back and bought Lg/Xtra Lg and they still didn’t fit.  I threw away the packaging thinking, Oh if Lg/Xtra Lg doesn’t fit a size 3-5, we have a problem. Lessons Learned.  Picture included.  

Another thing my sister in law Julia warned me about when I first found out I was pregnant and playing the “catch up game,” was that maternity jeans don’t stay up.  Literally let me say, I was small enough to where I was getting by with my reg jeans at 20 weeks, but was starting to get super uncomfortable.  So I bought some that are supposed to last until you deliver.  They worked and I was able to put a belt on them, but after about week 28 I wasn’t able to wear a belt anymore, and I didn’t necessarily like to have my crack hanging out.  No go on the jeans.  

A Pea in the Pod---A whole different story--but I won’t shop there.  Unless your rich, stay away.  First off Pea in a Pod stuff states it can be returned at “motherhood maternity” and ‘destination maternity”.  However I learned the very hard way that destination maternity in North County is an “Outlet” and they don’t take exchanges, and Motherhood Maternity only takes back certain brands.  So irritating.  Oh, and the cashier told me I would get a magazine if I wanted, and I said “I’ll think about it” and she signed me up for a years worth of parenting magazines.  It is the concept--that I didn’t tell her that was okay.  So I contacted customer service about all of the trouble, and they really didn’t care.  

Hospital “at home” classes, even provided by UCSD.  I thought since Jacobs Medical Center is more higher end, that their online birthing classes were going to be worth it.  I really didn’t learn much at all though.  Everything I paid for could be found on YouTube.  

[gac-journey-blog]

Found this in my memories. Such a beautiful, affordable wedding spot!

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Telling the Fam-

So we made our journey to Colorado.  I won’t bore you with details, but we stayed in some cool places---Especially in Beaver Creek, we stayed at the Westin.  They are super dog friendly which I loved.  My dog even got his own goodie bag, which included some treats, poop bag dispenser, and holy cow, he got his OWN bed in the room (which he of course didn’t use, because he wanted to sleep with us).  Yes...I’m serious right now.

To tell both of our families, we started with buying a book for each person.  The book was Underwater Puppies (such a cute book).  The reason for this, was because for our wedding, we used “Underwater Dogs” as our memory “sign in book.”  

We wrapped the underwater puppies book.  Inside we put 3 pictures.  One of the day they signed our wedding book and what they wrote; one of the dog they chose on that day, and one of our ultrasound.  We put the three pictures in the puppy that was closest to the dog they signed that day.  Super fun!  

Everyone’s responses were priceless when they found out.  Mostly because they asked “when are you due!”  As I giggled in nervousness, my husband said “April 20 (which is the day his brother and wife are having a baby!).  Everyone thought we were kidding, but we weren’t.  What are the odds!  And to find out my cousin is due the same day---

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The News--I’m Pregnant

So, how do you tell your husband that your pregnant, and make him believe you?  Especially when he found out in October that he is going to be an Uncle!?  I tend to be a prankster, however, something so serious I wouldn’t kid around.  I wanted to hand him pregnancy tests, but since they were all negative, that surely wouldn’t convince my man I was pregnant.  So I googled.  And googled.  And googled some more.  While my video of him finding out is amazing for me to watch (so glad I caught it on video, it’s a lifetime of memories for me and him, also would recommend this to anyone--to video tape it so you always have it!), the pictures just came out so awesome...

So I decided to let our dog Blake help us.  I started by having our dog walk out with this:

I then attached 5 flip through cards on it.  He had to follow the instructions on the card.  On the side I had 3 gifts, he was to open them, but not look at them.  He could only “feel them.”

This is card # 2:  Whiskey is our cat....:) He has moved from Colorado to California a few times.  And I just don’t think I could have done it again with him...LOL (he cries the whole way, which Ryan’s Dad would totally know, since he took the cat one of the last times)...And we were planning a road trip to Colorado for the holidays...

Gift 1:  (Remember, my husband hasn’t seen this, he just knows by feel that it is a “BOOK”)

Gift #2:  “An Ornament” 

Gift #3---Baby Shoes

The thing is 50/50 I AM ALWAYS WRONG!  LOL, baby GAC ended up being a boy!  LOL  The other thing is my husband was so confused why I was giving “baby shoes” to him, to give to his brother and wife.....So, this totally threw him for a loop.  I hid all the gifts, and let him continue with the poster board.

And this is how I told my husband I was pregnant.  Fun idea, lots of memories.  Off to Colorado we went....

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The Odds--and one beautiful beginning

My name is Melissa, and I am hoping by blogging, I can help some mama’s out there to know what I’ve been through in my pregnancy.  Congratulations if you are expecting!  I am expecting in April 2018.  I wanted to share my story, since it is slightly unique, and is quite funny according to others.

First off, I was one of the ladies that found out I was pregnant when I was nearly 5 months pregnant.  For the woman that are asking “How would you not know!” and the men that are too shy to ask “um…aunt flow???“  Well, my periods have always been like that….irregular (or in my doctors opinion VERY irregular).  I have been on birth control for over 10 years solid, and stopped over 2 years ago, and nothing has surprised us…at least until this point.  I am married and we were not being careful over those years, in hopes that a surprise like baby GAC (Grayson Avery Collins) would surprise us.  I quit my job in July to begin a passion of mine, and had literally NO symptoms, except for weight gain.  For those who know me, know I’ve been between 120-130 pounds all my life.  Yes, I’m the crazy and lucky b**** that usually doesn’t have to watch watch she eats, doesn’t really have to exercise, or watch my weight (though I do both), and I was actually 139 when I found out.  Actually, I called my mom and said “I think 30′s finally caught up to me…”  I literally just thought I was getting lazy and even got a gym membership.  But then, when the weight was consumed all in my belly…I took pregnancy tests.  A lot of them too.  And all negative.  Since I was in my second trimester, I was told though uncommon, it is not as accurate…so, even though it kept coming up negative, I finally ended up going to the doctor to have my broken open knee cleaned, and while I was there I should let him know that I either have a tumor or baby growing. 

He laughed….He said “I won’t congratulate you just in case you have a tumor…”  I replied “And I’ll stop being clumsy so I don’t have to come to you every year…” (Doctor knows me on a slight personal level)

And then the next day, his assistant called to say I’m 7 weeks pregnant.  Boy was that a relief….only 7 weeks, so—I can make changes in my diet, change my habits, tell my family….woooh! 

I told my husband, which was super exciting but will be in a different post since that was super fun—

We went in for an ultrasound a few days later to find out how far along I was, and to try to find out conception date.  When I went in, well, she said I was due April 20…..which is wayyyyy different than 7 weeks.  I nearly had a freak out, because my husband’s sister in law is also due April 20.  

And to make this story the best, my husband and I have been together for 10 years and married for 5; and his brother and wife have been married for 8 years.  It is OUR first child, their first child, and this is the first grandchild in his family!!!  (Well, they asked for babies….they get 2 around the same time! **how odd is this after this much time!?)  

Just for kicks and giggles—my cousin is also due April 20, my husband’s step sister is due in June, and his cousin is due in August.  Um….ask me how this is all happening at once?  

Hopefully your still with me and enjoyed the read!

MAR. 30 2018