Pregnancy: Weeks 8-12

I think I'm going to be sick just thinking about weeks 8-12 of my pregnancy. I am dead serious when I say they were the WORST 4 weeks of my life. I threw up almost every day, and most of the time it was multiple times a day. The girls at Sweet Tooth Fairy knew that they shouldn't expect to see me and when they would see me, I would dart out of the kitchen multiple times a day sometimes barely making it to the toilet. Luckily the shop was slower and all of my employees were so nice to help me out and cover for me when I needed. It didn't seem to matter what or when I ate, it just always came back up. So, I was put on promethazine, a much stronger anti-nausea medication than one I had previously tried. And I am SO thankful I was put on that stuff.

Christian's parents happened to be here when I was super sick, so we decided to tell them because we thought they might assume anyway. So, the first night we saw them, we gave them each a present to open. Each package had a little custom "Eames" onesie that Christian had made.



After they opened their packages, Stacy of course started screaming and she couldn't believe it was true. They were so excited for us and to be getting their 3rd grandchild. Even though I was really sick, it was exciting to see how excited his parents were for us. Oh I am so glad those weeks are far over!

That one time I found out I was pregnant...

If I don't write this down, I'm going to forget! Warning: This post may have "too much information" for some people.

It started when I was driving to work on a Friday morning. Now that I think about...I'm pretty sure it was Friday, June 13th...did you hear me!? Friday the 13th! I should've known it'd be a bad day :)

(That was supposed to be funny!)
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You are now entering my head and thoughts:
(7:30am) My boobs hurt really bad. I can't even move without them hurting! Why do my boobs hurt so freaking bad!? When was my last period? Eh, it's always crazy. Although....Sunday, Monday....last Friday...hmmm...when was my last period? I don't think I had one the entire month of May. I think I would've remembered having cramps at Christian's graduation...or all those parties we went to. That's weird. I think I'm late. I think I'm really, REALLY late. There's no way I could be pregnant though. People have to try really hard. For months, or even years and it takes lots of patience and work. I'll just grab some pregnancy tests to prove to my boobs that they're just being annoying.

(8:00am) I'll work for an hour and drink lots of water and then take the tests.

(9:00am) So I pee on this....okay, now it says to wait 3 minutes. Okay, well, I will wash my hands while I wait....what? Why are there 2 solid lines? It's only been 20 seconds. That's weird. Oh, but 2 lines, okay, you dumb boobs, I knew I wasn't pregnant. I should get back to work. I'll just grab this box of un-used tests and save them for the future. Wait? This box says that 2 lines is pregnant. I thought 2 lines was NOT pregnant. I'm confused. Oh....it's cause I haven't waited the full 3 minutes. Scared myself for a second! Okay, 3 minutes later and I still have 2 BRIGHT RED lines. I must've done that wrong. Let me take another one. Come on pee, work for me. Okay, this time I will wait the full 3 minutes. Why is a second line appearing already again!? I JUST peed on this. What is going on? These must be faulty tests...right? Oh no! I can't be pregnant. I don't want to be pregnant! This can't be real life! I can't breathe...oh no, I can't breathe! I need out of this bathroom.
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At this point, I started shaking and I was having a hard time breathing. As I went back into the kitchen, Brooke happened to be standing in the doorway. She could tell something was wrong and I immediately headed back to the bathroom and told her to come with me. I couldn't talk, but my test was laying there in the open. She hugged me and told me to calm down and breathe. She said it would all be okay. We walked back to my desk and I think I started crying at this point. Lindsay happened to come into the store and asked me what was wrong. I told her I thought I might be pregnant and then showed her the tests. She said, "Oh, you ARE pregnant!" And then she hugged me and was so excited and kept saying it was a good thing and that she was so happy for me. She told me I had nothing to be worried or scared about. Then she told me to get out of the store and go tell Christian!

After I calmed myself down, I worked the rest of my shift and kept thinking how excited Christian was going to be. He's always wanted a baby. Then I started feeling guilty. I've had many friends struggle with infertility and here I am, not trying hard at all to get pregnant, and now I'm having a baby? I felt so selfish and guilty for not being excited about finding out for the first time that I am pregnant.

Before I left the store, I took some "Father's Day" goodies from the shop to give to Christian to tell him. When he got home, we were running late to go out with Jade and Russell, so Christian hurried and took a shower and got ready. While he was showering, I set the Father's day sodas and cupcakes, along with a baby naming book and the 3 tests on the countertop. I didn't know how to tell him, so I wanted him to just figure it out. Before we left, I told him to look at the stuff I brought home. It's not unusual for me to bring home treats from the store, so he assumed it was leftover merchandise. He wasn't getting it. So I pointed directly to the tests and he started jumping up and down like a crazy person and screaming like I've never heard. Then he kept saying, "Are you serious!? Are you serious!?" He was so excited and screamed for a solid 3 minutes. I was on the ground laughing at one point because he had tears streaming down his face but he was kind of laughing, and screaming. Between my own laughter, I said, "I can't tell if you're laughing or crying." Neither could he, but it was definitely the best reaction I have ever seen from him.

After I saw how happy Christian was, I realized I had nothing to be worried or scared about. I would have the most awesome dad-to-be by my side for this entire experience. I really am excited for a little poop to join us. Out of pure selfishness, I'm really excited to be entertained, and laugh at the funny stuff he/she will say someday.

Hulme Adventures

It's been a long time! Since Christian and I have been married for more than 5 years now, we decided it was time to make a video to document all of our fun adventures, and some upcoming adventures.

If the video doesn't work, try clicking on the link below.

HULME ADVENTURES VIDEO

Hulme Family Pictures 2013

During Christmas break, Steph got someone to snap a few photos of the whole family. It's been a few years since our last picture all together.

Thanksgiving 2013

We went to Colorado for Thanksgiving this year. Our only request was that we go directly from the airport to our favorite Mexican restaurant, Jose O’Sheas. There is nothing better than a blue plate special….mmmmmmm.

Thanksgiving day was great. We watched movies and ate delicious food made by Stacy. That night, we went to a local appliance store so Christian’s parents could pick out a new fridge. Standing in a line of 6 people is my kind of Thanksgiving shopping.

None of us felt like braving the crowds for Black Friday shopping, so waited until the late afternoon to go. And it was perfect! Christian and I found the deals we wanted from Macy’s and Gap and there was nobody around. After shopping we went downtown Denver to see the lights.

Saturday, we drove up to Boulder to go to the Celestial Seasonings Factory. We got to sample tea’s, and go in the peppermint room…it was awesome. Since the trip, I’ve now been living off of their Sugar Cookie tea and Gingerbread tea. I’d never been to Boulder, so after the factory we went to Pearl Street. We shopped a little and had dinner at a small Italian place. It was so fun. And the houses in the town are so cute. If we ever move to Colorado, my vote is for Boulder. We got to hang out Sunday and flew home Monday afternoon. It was a very fun Thanksgiving break.

Last month...

Where did September go? I can't believe summer is over.

At the end of August, Christian went to Australia for a few weeks. He is in his final year of grad school so his entire studio group went to Australia to study the health care system built for the indigenous people there. The group will apply the learned concepts as they plan and then eventually build a wellness center for a Native American tribe here in Phoenix. Typically, studio projects are hypothetical, but this one will actually be built sometime next year. It's so awesome to see Christian working as a real architect, with a real project. 

After Christian got back, we took a day trip to Sedona with his parents and the Bowen's. I love Sedona so much. It was beautiful and the weather was so cool. It's always a nice little break from Phoenix.

 

We celebrated my 25th Birthday last week. Christian spoiled me with some great gifts. For dinner, we went to Benihana with Bowen's. Other than that, our month was filled with lots of studying and tests. We are now half way through fall semester and are looking forward to the Holidays.

European Vacation part 3: Basel, Switzerland

Ahhh, Switzerland. The most beautiful place I have ever seen. Seriously. And the people bend over backwards for you. They are the nicest people I've ever met. If you can only go to one place in Europe, you should probably go to Switzerland. 

After our week in Paris, we headed to the train station to start our journey to Basel, Switzerland. I got so sick when we got to the train station, I started barfing in the parking lot. A nice French guy came over and gave me a water bottle. I wish I could have stayed awake on the train to Switzerland, but I felt so yucky, I just slept. But it was so rewarding when we arrived in Switzerland. Such a beautiful country. We can't wait to go back.

Swiss chocolate. What more can I say!?

Ronchamp, Le Corbusier, 1954

What a beautiful place. Ronchamp is a miniature community which includes a chapel, museum, and a monastery (built by Renzo Piano) for the sisters. A few of the sisters were worshiping (I believe in what they called the oratory) when we arrived. They let us sit in the room with them while they prayed.

On our last day in Switzerland, we actually went across the boarder to Germany to go to Vitra. They build a lot of Eames furniture and other top designer items. We really wanted to buy a little Eames elephant, but we wouldn't really have anyway to get it home. Nor do we even have a child to use the elephant chair. Someday we'll buy one.

I still can't believe we spent part of our summer traveling Europe. It feels like a really, really fantastic dream. Christian and I are so glad we did it. It wasn't the cheapest way to travel, but being our first international trip together, it was a good way to travel. I'm so thankful for such a great experience. It was so fun to experience other cultures and ways of thinking, living, and communicating. We can't wait to start making plans for our next big adventure. We are thinking South America if anyone would like to join.