Cherry Sparkle Laffy Taffy

I am officially 13 weeks pregnant and can't believe my first trimester flew by so quickly. I must say I have been very blessed during my first trimester - three words:

NO MORNING SICKNESS.

My thoughts are that I haven't had morning sickness because of how well I treated my body before I found out I was pregnant and continued to be healthy and active after I found out; which ultimately gives me a ton of energy (this is my moto: healthy mommy, healthy baby). I keep telling myself that I'm going to be the cute mommy-to-be in spin class that is all belly, but this week I'm feeling like I'm going to be the mommy-to-be that looks like the spin bike is going to crumble underneath her. All of a sudden at 13 weeks I've got this belly and I totally look pregnant... like BOOM here I am Mommy! It seems like I'm the only one who notices it though, maybe because I'm my worst critic. The sudden bulge could be from me smelling the bathroom air freshener at work and all of a sudden craving Laffy Taffys. Of course, I call my husband and tell him that I must be crazzzzy because every time I go to the bathroom at work (every 20 minutes) I want a Laffy Taffy and what does my awesome hubby do?! He has a Cherry Sparkle Laffy Taffy ready for me on the dining room table! 

(Do you remember these? 

If you didn't eat these as a child than I apologize because you've been robbed.)

What an a-hole right?! Here he is eating one and doesn't gain a pound, but I stray from my "no sweets" and the next day I have my first noticeable baby bulge (thanks, Ed). I still can't believe that I'm pregnant so looking at my belly and seeing a bulge shocks me every time. I'll get used to it soon, I think... 

Here is a picture of what is going on in that little baby bulge of mine:

That little bean right there is actually the size of a peach:

How crazy, right?! Luckily, this little peach of mine hasn't given me too many cravings. I'll handle a Cherry Sparkle Laffy Taffy every now and then if it puts a smile on my little peach. Pretty soon that little peach will be out of my belly screaming, crying and pooping up a storm! Believe it or not, but I'm actually excited for the screams, cries and poopies. But now that my first trimester flew by I am starting to worry about how quickly the next two trimesters will go (probably a concern that many preggers face). Luckily I've had a lot of support from my friends Lisa (who has a two year old) and my friend Amanda (who is also pregnant). Lisa specializes in prenatal and postnatal so she has been giving me a lot of information and really has me thinking about my birthing plan. I know that every many women say they want to have a natural birth with no epidural if it is possible for them. However, I feel very strongly about wanting to have a natural birth with no drugs (I know, I'm crazy, but I'll blame it on the hormones). Lisa suggested I check out a place called 'Well Rounded Momma' and says that they have amazing doulas. I wasn't really sure that they did so I had to do some research. Here are some amazing benefits of hiring a doula:

25% shorter labor

50% fewer c-sections

40% reduction in forceps use

30% reduction in analgesia use

60% reduction in epidural requests

Now don't get me wrong, I will have whatever type of birth my baby needs, but I'd love to have someone there to help advocate for what I want without having my husband do all of that for me, after all he's going to be busy with me clenching his hands and screaming at him. Lisa said that pregnancy is like a journey and she felt her pregnancy journey was like ice skating and not being able to stand on her feet. She said that once she hired the doula at 36 weeks she wishes she did it sooner because her journey changed from not being able to stand on her feet to walking in a meadow full of flowers with all the support in the world. I don't know about you, but I'm a fan of flowery meadows! So I'm going to at least go by and check it out and see what is best for us. Being pregnant makes you think of things you never thought of before and it seems like every day there is something new for us to consider, but I'll tell you what...

I AM SO EXCITEDDDD!!