Gino returned from Iraq very early on Halloween morning! He has been in Iraq since early March and I am extremely excited to have him home! I am no where near pregnant, yet this is the week that the medical field decides to call week 1.

Nov 6-7 is the ovulation window. (I warned him!) By the end of this week I am already suspecting that I am pregnant. Now comes the hard part - waiting until I have enough hormones to take the test!

On November 12th Gino and I attended the Seahawks home game against the 49er's. A great time was had by all!! It must be nice to have a permanent designated driver! :)

Just one more week before we can do the pregnancy test, but I am already convinced it will be postive!

It was a happy Thanksgiving! The home test confirmed pregnancy!

An early ultrasound confirms pregnancy, but it's too early to reveal anything else.

Our embryo is now four weeks old! Getting bigger everyday!!

Gino and I attended our last formal occasion for the next few years... The 63rd annual Menton Ball - A great time was had by all, even the newly pregnant (and sober) lady in silver!!

This week we had our first Ultrasound to detect the heartbeat. Our baby is over a centimeter long! Picture taken Dec. 15 at 7 weeks, 2 days... baby is 1.08 cm - the perfect size!!

Merry Christmas We're Pregnant! Kind of hard to excuse away my non-drinking at this point, might as well spill the beans.

As we bring in the new year, Gino and I are becoming increasingly excited to bring in the new baby!

I celebrated my 30th birthday this week! I had a wonderful dinner out with Gino and friends... they drank, I ate! All in all it was a memorable birthday.

This week we announced to all of our extended friends and family around the world our happy news! We are so excited to finally get to share the news with all of the people who are supportive of us and our journey. Thanks to all of you who have already extended kind thoughts and encouragement!

The baby is continuing to grow and I am starting to feel firmer and bigger around the belly. So exciting! Shouldn't be long now until I start to look pregnant!

This is the final week of our first trimester! Woo Hoo!! We made it to week 13. Our baby is now 11 weeks old, fully formed and entering into its rapid growth phase.

This week we go in for a routine check up with the OB/GYN. Somehow Gino was under the impression that every trip to the Doctor meant that we got to get an ultrasound scan of the baby. He was very disappointed to hear that this was not an ultrasound appointment, and that those were only performed about once a trimester. Well... As the Doctor moved the portable doppler devise around on my tummy and all that was detected was static, she recommended that we go into the other room and "take a look". So Daddy got his way. We had an unscheduled ultrasound at 14 weeks... and Gino is so proud because the baby appears to be in the "Thinker" position. I have enhanced the outline of the baby so that you can see for yourself! (Click on the Picture to enlarge)

I finally broke down this weekend and bought my first pairs of maternity pants!! Now I am kicking myself for waiting so long, they are so comfy!! My other pants weren't really too tight (while I was standing) but I am really happy to have some more options. Looking forward to getting some more as I start to show more and the weather changes!