we’re having a baby!

Over the past eight years of Lonestar Southern, I have had the immense joy of sharing many big life moments with you all. Graduating from UT, taking Lonestar Southern full-time, moving into my first apartment, navigating the world of adulting, traveling, meeting Andrew, marrying Andrew, moving to Gainesville, bringing Flynn home… it makes my head spin to think through all we’ve “been through” together!

Today, I get to share perhaps the most exciting update yet. Our biggest dream is coming true:

We are having a baby!

we're having a baby, pregnancy q&a

dress // slip // earrings

It feels a bit surreal to type this out, and it’s hard to know where to even begin in expressing our immense joy, gratitude, and excitement as we step into a role we’ve prayed God would grant us in His perfect timing and in His perfect way. And now, getting to share the news, it somehow feels all the more real!

First, I want to take a moment to thank y’all for every comment, email, dm, every prayer, and every kind word! It is pretty incredible to share such happy news with so many, and Andrew and I are deeply thankful for the love and support.

I’m a jumble of emotions right now (thank you, hormones) so I am excited to share a little Q&A with y’all to catch you up on this new season we’ve found ourselves in. A big thank you to everyone who sent in a question! I picked the most commonly-asked questions to share this week, and think I may make Q&As a weekly thing around here. There were so many great ones, so stay tuned for a part two if you don’t see your question answered here.

I am hopeful that this will fill you in on all that’s been going on these past few weeks!


 

baby q&a

 

Q: What is your due date? How far along are you?

We’re expecting Baby Bowman in early February. I’m currently in my 12th week!

 

Q: Were y’all trying or was this baby a happy surprise?

We were trying! :)

 

Q: How did you find out?

Do y’all remember our recent trip to Mexico? Last-minute, I had tossed a couple of pregnancy tests into my suitcase, knowing my cycle was scheduled to start on the trip. At this point, I was in a very laid-back headspace about conceiving (after a really difficult, obsessive previous month… more on that later) so I honestly forgot about the tests while on the trip!

The morning after Andrew’s 30th birthday and the day before our two-year anniversary, I woke up early and realized I was a day late. I took a pregnancy test and honestly forgot about it for a few minutes, not at all expecting to see two pink lines. After a few minutes, I picked it up to the happiest surprise of my life! I was pregnant!

 

Q: How did you tell Andrew?

(Cont’d from above.) I sat there in bed in total shock with a huge smile on my face. I didn’t know what to do! Yes, we had been trying, but for some reason, I still couldn’t believe it! Andrew was still sleeping so I had a couple of moments to think about how to tell him. Let me just say, I was so excited and overwhelmed that I was literally shaking. I ended up finding an empty gift bag from the day before and put the positive test inside. Then I made us both a cup of coffee, set up my phone and pressed record, and woke Andrew up saying I had one final gift I had forgotten to give him the day before. Not to brag, but I think this was the best birthday gift he’s ever received! :)

 

Q: How did you know/decide it was time to start trying?

I actually love this question, because the Lord definitely shifted my heart! To start off, I’m really thankful for my parent’s example. They had kids on the “older” end of the timeline (my mom was 33 and my dad was 37 when I was born) and impressed on me how much fun they had being older parents. So while being a wife and mom was always my ultimate dream, I have never been in a hurry nor felt any pressure from my family. And I’m so thankful for that!

Initially, when Andrew and I got married, I assumed I would want to wait until he finished training to start a family. The thought of having a baby away from our family and friends, while Andrew was in training and making a resident salary (IYKYK) seemed way too daunting and was nowhere on my radar. (Andrew, on the other hand, has been ready from day one!) But as I got to know some amazing mamas here in Gainesville who have so gracefully started families during medical training, the whole idea started to feel less and less scary to me. Then during COVID, when our lives slowed down, Andrew and I started talking about it more and more on our twice-daily long walks. I still didn’t feel “ready,” but started praying about it and asking my friends here what their experiences were like. One night I had a dream about having a baby, and wow – I know it may sound crazy, but the love I felt was unbelievable. I woke up the next morning with a different mindset and an answered prayer. :) I’m sure everyone will tell you “you’re never ready” and I think that’s probably true, but I am grateful for how the Lord had this precious little one in His perfect plan for us all along, and how He gently showed me that!

 

Q: How did you tell your family?

Andrew and I are both very close with our families, and instantly agreed we wanted our parents to know right away. After taking some time to soak up and process the news just the two of us, we FaceTime’d my parents. I used the same little ploy in saying I wanted to show them the birthday gift I’d given Andrew, and then basically shoved the pregnancy test at the phone screen. Not a lot of finesse, I was just too excited! (Andrew recorded the convo on his phone… they were totally shocked! :) Andrew’s parents were actually at the resort with us, so we were able to tell them in person. We met them at the pool right before they checked out and Andrew gave them the same little “gift” I had handed him that morning. It’s both side’s first grandbaby, and everyone is over the moon!

I was back in Dallas to help my sister and mom with wedding planning a few weeks later and was able to tell my sister in person. Baby Bowman wrote her a little note and gave her a special present! :) Then, Andrew mailed his siblings funny “aunt” and “uncle” themed t-shirts and we had them open them over Facetime since they are spread out!

 

Q: What prenatal vitamins are you taking?

I’ve been taking these. I like that they have a slight lemony flavor, don’t make me nauseous and are on automatic refill shipping so I never have to think about them!

 

Q: Have you had any cravings or aversions?

I wouldn’t say that I’ve had any cravings… it’s more me trying to come up with something that sounds remotely edible and then eating that. (Usually fruit or carbs, haha.) Although I will say, someone mentioned Gatorade as being helpful for nausea this weekend and once it got in my head, I just had to get it. I’ve been drinking it ever since, and let me tell you… nothing has ever tasted as good to me as ice cold blue Gatorade! Not sure if it’s technically a pregnancy craving or just a nice change from straight water… so take that as you will. :) As far as aversions go, I haven’t been able to drink coffee for the past few weeks. Y’all know how I love my coffee, so this has been a really strange aversion for me. Hopefully, once I start feeling better I can enjoy a small cup in the mornings again!

 

Q: How long were y’all trying to get pregnant?

This was by far the most commonly asked question, and I want to answer it delicately because I know everyone’s journey and timeline look different. If you are in a season of waiting, I just want to say my heart is with you. (And you may be encouraged by this story.) Our ttc (trying to conceive) journey was very quick, and we found out we were pregnant after our second month of trying.

I definitely expected the process to take much longer, and because of that was pretty obsessive from the get-go once we decided to start trrying and all throughout that first month. I was tracking my ovulation daily (something my doctor didn’t even recommend doing until/if we reached six months of trying without a positive pregnancy test), taking pregnancy tests nonstop, and overanalyzing every little headache or cramp. It was literally all I thought about… so much so, that when my cycle started at the end of the month I was absolutely crushed. And it had just been one month! I had a crystal clear moment of realizing “Ok, this is not going to work. I can’t live this way.” And right then and there, I decided I needed to release my grip on control and trust the Lord’s timing for our family. I resigned myself to the idea that it was going to take us a long time to get pregnant, and while I don’t know that was the healthiest way to mentally handle the situation, it did help me relax, breathe, and just live normally again. I threw away my ovulation strips, stopped the obsessive pregnancy test-taking, and just went back to life as normal. And that’s why I was so shocked at the two pink lines a month later.

I just have to say – one of the best things I did was open up to a close friend and get honest about what I was going through. I shared my fears about infertility, how obsessive I had gotten, all of it. Letting someone in who could encourage me and pray with and for me changed everything. That first month was so lonely since no one knew what was going on, and opening up about it to even one person made the biggest difference. The Lord definitely used that month to remind me who is ultimately in control, and resting in His plan brought me so much peace. But I will say, the heartache I felt after only one month of trying was raw and deep and something I’ve never experienced before, and I can only imagine what that looks like after multiple months or years of waiting. If you’re reading this and find yourself in that boat, I just want to give you a hug and say you are not alone. My heart goes out to you, and I’m praying for you right now as I type this.

 

Q: Were you pregnant when your sis got engaged? And if so, did you know?

Yes I was, but we had no idea at that point!

 

Q: How did you keep the secret?

Being self-employed and living away from most of our family and friends, it actually wasn’t too hard! I don’t know that I did a great job keeping it under wraps when I “disappeared” from Instagram and this blog for a few weeks, but I was so sick that I absolutely wasn’t able to fake it. I will say, it got harder to keep the secret the further along and sicker I got. Finally sharing the news has been wonderful!

 

Q: Will you find out the gender?

Absolutely! We cannot wait to find out and will hopefully hear this week. Eek!

 

Q: Are you shopping the NSALE this year?

This may seem random, but it was actually one of the most commonly asked questions! For the first time in over eight years of blogging, I won’t be covering the NSALE this year. This first trimester has been really difficult (constant nausea, depleted energy, lots of vomiting, etc) and I was not at all anticipating the amount of rest I’d need. So while it feels strange not covering the Nordstrom Anniversary sale this year, it’s also been pretty freeing! Not only am I not covering it, I haven’t purchased a single thing myself and it’s honestly been wonderful to step away from the pressure! No shade to the sale, usually I love it. But it’s always a nice reminder that life goes on and you really, truly don’t “need” anything.

 

Q: What was your first symptom?

The first symptom I noticed was really sore boobs. Then, I would randomly get these horrible whiffs of smells that no one else would be affected by. The nausea and exhaustion came on for me last! I remember being in Dallas and getting so excited after experiencing a little 30-second wave of nausea on the way from church to lunch. (Pictured below.) Little by little, the nausea got worse every day until it was pretty much an all-day affair at about 6 weeks.

 

Q: Where do y’all want to go on a baby moon?

To be quite honest, I’m just looking forward to feeling normal again! But if we are able to make a babymoon happen with Andrew’s residency schedule, I think Nantucket would be amazing. I can’t get a lobster roll out of my head… and there’s nowhere in Gainesville that serves them!

 

Q: Did you do anything in particular to get your body ready for pregnancy?

When Andrew and I decided we were ready to start, I made an appointment with my OBGYN to make sure everything was good to go. I’m so thankful I did that before jumping into the process, because I actually ended up having a health-related situation I had to get taken care of first which delayed our timeline a bit. (All is good, and I hope you understand me keeping this private!) Apart from that, I had started taking prenatal vitamins a few months before we started trying. That was really it!

 

Q: Will y’all be moving back to Texas to be closer to family now that a baby is on the way?

I got lots of questions about if/when we’ll be moving from Florida and if the baby changes that. In a nutshell, we have one more year here in Gainesville while Andrew finishes his final year of residency. After that, he will have a one-year fellowship which… wait for it… could be anywhere! We will officially find out in December where we’ll be moving for that one-year stint. Then, training will officially be over and we will hopefully be able to move back to Texas. The process of selling our house, finding a one-year rental and moving to a place we don’t know yet with a newborn feels really intimidating when I think too much about it, so I really don’t. :) Ha! But in a nutshell, we most likely won’t be back in Texas for two years.

 

Q: Do y’all have any names thought of?

It’s so funny… we have names enough for two boys, but are having the hardest time coming up with girl names! I would love something timeless but unique while Andrew loves traditional. So we will see!

 

Q: Will you do a gender reveal?

Andrew and I will be finding out as soon as we can from our doctor, but we have family trips coming up with both his side and mine so we’ll probably keep it a secret until then and do poppers or something simple! Nothing big. :)

 

Q: Do you have any guesses for the gender?

I swear I’m not trying to be diplomatic about it, but I just genuinely have no clue! For some reason, I’ve always pictured myself having a boy first (truly don’t know why) but because of the sickness I’ve been experiencing, many friends have been guessing it’s a girl. My side of the family, however, seems to think it’s a boy. Andrew says he doesn’t have any idea either, so I think we will be genuinely shocked either way!

 

Q: What have you been using to help with the nausea?

I have tried just about everything, y’all. (A big thank you for all of your recommendations!) I’ve tried sea bands (even bought an electric one, to no avail), Unisom + B6, ginger drops, munching on crackers, literally any tip or trick I have been able to find. Sadly, nothing has really worked for me. When I told my doctor about my nausea and vomiting, she prescribed me a medication that I’m currently taking. It isn’t really effective for me, so I’m just pretty much in survival mode right now. I’ve found that having a snack before I even get out of bed helps with morning nausea, and I’ve ended up having a bagel every morning for breakfast. (Basically, the only thing I can keep down.) Some days are better than other, so right now I’m just letting myself rest and trying to give myself a lot of grace. I definitely do not feel like myself at all, which has been really hard, but I’m hopeful I’ll start feeling better in these next few weeks!

 

Q: How are you doing physically/emotionally/spiritually?

This is a really thoughtful question, I appreciate it! It’s a strange mix. On the one hand, I have never been so excited or so thankful! On the other hand, I’ve never felt less like myself. Physically, everything with baby seems to be developing perfectly (praise the Lord, would love continued prayers for that) and so what more can you really ask for? But not having the energy I’m used to and spending every day on the couch or kneeling by the toilet has been a really difficult change of pace. I can even see it in my personality… just not having the usual pep in my step. It’s also been humbling to have to stop everything: work, keeping the house up, not to mention working out or getting dressed haha. (Shoutout to my literal angel Andrew Bowman. Do not know what I would do without him.) Since everyone has such a different experience with pregnancy, it’s easy for me to compare myself and feel guilty I’m not “doing what she’s able to do.” Things like that. But at the end of the day, I know rest is good. I know the Lord will provide as He already has in so many ways – stamina to get through wedding weekends, support to help with work, etc. And I can already see priorities shifting in my heart. Really all I want is for this little baby to be safe and loved. Everything else is just icing on the cake. So while I can’t wait to “be back to my normal self,” I’m trying really hard to embrace this current season and be thankful in the midst of the hard!

Quick little caveat that I had no idea that answer was going to go on so long. I guess I needed to let it all out, haha! :)


There you have it, friends! Thank you again for your wonderful questions and for sharing in our joy! I will probably continue taking things a bit more slowly around here, but once I’m feeling 100% you’ll be the first to know! In the meantime, let me know if you have any more questions to add to this little series!

Love from the Sunshine State,

Kate

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44 Comments

  1. Kelly said:

    Congratulations, Kate! I too suffered extreme nausea during my two pregnancies and my miracle cure was non-drowsy Dramamine recommended by my ob-gyn nurse. Give it a try if your doctor ok’s — it was instant relief and was so nice to feel good again and actually enjoy pregnancy!!

    Published 7.19.21 · Reply
  2. Morie Smith said:

    Congratulations! I’m a long time reader, but also a fellow physician wife (and Texan!) and just wanted to give a little encouragement on making it through residency and fellowship with kiddos- it’s different, but totally doable! Our first was born in February of my hubby’s second year of residency and our second was born April of his first year of fellowship. We have less than a year left of training and I’m so glad we had kids during this time because it helped us connect better in this place we don’t plan to stay long term. There’s plenty of unpredictability (anything from when Dad will be home to where we’ll live next, haha! 😉) but it just keeps it fun! Good luck to y’all!

    Published 7.19.21 · Reply
  3. Liz P. said:

    Congratulations! This is such an uplifting blog post with such joyous and life-affirming news. Praise God!

    Published 7.19.21 · Reply
  4. The most special time! <3 I am so happy for you. I am on this journey with you (19 weeks) and just overjoyed while also feeling similar hard emotions. Excited to watch this journey for you and Andrew. Thank you for inviting us in, even just a little bit. :-)

    Published 7.19.21 · Reply
  5. Alex said:

    I am so happy for you and Andrew! I had a horrible first trimester with nausea, and my doctor told me to change my prenatal vitamin to a gummy-based one. Made the biggest difference for me! nothing else seemed to work. We welcomed a beautiful baby girl after all that.
    Praying for you to get some relief and that your growing baby continues on the happy and healthy track!

    Published 7.19.21 · Reply
  6. Liz said:

    Congratulations!!! It is such a blessing and amazing experience. I just entered my third trimester and throughout my whole pregnancy all I have been able to stomach is fruit or carbs too! I couldn’t wait for watermelon season to come! We are welcoming a little baby girl in October 💗

    Published 7.19.21 · Reply
  7. Kerry said:

    First off, congrats!

    I had hyperemesis gravidarum both of my pregnancies. I thought I was going to die with my first and was on the maximum dose of diclectin both times. The game changer for me in my second pregnancy was this blessing of an ER doctor who told me I could take 2 pills at the same time. I still felt nauseated 100% of the time, but could keep food down.

    I survived on orange fanta and Doritos with my first (gross, I know) and I’m happy to report she’s a happy healthy almost 5 year old now.

    Published 7.19.21 · Reply
  8. Hillary Fischer said:

    Congratulations on your little blessing! I’m 16 weeks and the nausea is UNREAL…like you, I tried everything including two different medications my dr prescribed and nothing has been effective. Now I just keep airplane sick backs in my car just in case and have crackers/pretzels in a container next to my bed for when I first wake up. I’ve been having a bagel every morning too since nothing else sounds appealing and I need to eat. I did find a place that does mobile IVs and that was amazing for helping me to hydrate (plus she gave me my zofran via IV which worked wayyy better). I hope you start feeling more like yourself soon so you can enjoy your pregnancy! Sending so many prayers your way.

    Published 7.19.21 · Reply
  9. Lauren said:

    So excited for you. I will also be sending a prayer up for baby Bowman! I have loved following you over the years. We actually both got married in 2019 and I was inspired by so many of your recommendations. I have the birdies to prove it. :) I will have a six month old in a week, but I wanted to just say that your symptoms sound so much like mine were. Around six weeks, I couldn’t keep anything down, and I basically was hanging on by a thread and it was so bad I was worried we would have to go to the hospital for fluids. A prescription didn’t help me either at first. My doctor actually prescribed me a couple different things, and one finally worked to some extent. I still felt a little like I was out at sea, but it was a definite improvement. Maybe see if your doctor can prescribe something else! Mine told me not to suffer through it and reach out if it wasn’t getting better. I hope that might help you in some small way. 🙏🏼❤️🙏🏼

    Oh and Hook ‘Em! 🤘🏼🐂

    Published 7.19.21 · Reply
  10. Lisa said:

    Eeeeeee! When is your sister’s wedding?! Could she have a little flower girl or ring bearer in her future?! Congratulations to you and your families!!

    Published 7.19.21 · Reply
  11. Kelly said:

    Hey Kate!! First of all congratulations!! I’ve been a follower for a long time, I’m a fellow Kappa!
    I just wanted to say though, I’m currently experiencing infertility and your comment that you were fearful of experiencing infertility after 1 month of trying and having no reason to believe you would experience infertility, is extremely invalidating for women that are actively experiencing infertility.
    I hope that you consider removing that portion of your blog post as it is extremely hurtful. I also recommend reading up a bit on infertility and IVF so that you can better understand others going through those struggles.

    Published 7.19.21 · Reply
    • Carol said:

      I’m genuinely curious why you’re invalidating this fear. I think every woman who wants to have a child fears in the back of their mind that maybe it won’t be able to happen for them.
      A lot of woman do not know they will struggle with fertility until they start trying to conceive. Just because you think she shouldn’t have been anxious doesn’t disregard the fact that she was anxious.
      I’m so very sorry you are struggling with infertility. I do not think it’s fair for you to invalidate someone else’s fear of it just because they ended up not having to struggle with it.

      Published 7.20.21 · Reply
      • Kelly said:

        Carol,
        Have you yourself experienced infertility? I’m simply providing perspective from someone who is actively experiencing months long infertility involving multiple pregnancy losses, surgeries, and treatments. It’s invalidating when someone says they’re fearful of infertility, especially after 1 month of TTC, because I, and many other women are living that fear.

        Published 7.20.21 · Reply
        • Katie said:

          You chose to read this clearly defined pregnancy announcement post; one would think it might be generally triggering and one wouldn’t expose themselves by choice- hmmm. She linked to Caitlin’s story and phrased everything well in my book. Since infertility rates are increasing as time passes, yes it’s a valid concern for women regardless of prior history. It’s her blog and HER story, she doesn’t have to edit anything to make you more comfortable- you 👏chose 👏 to read it! She can be scared of things in a month, your pain isn’t more valid because you’ve experienced months or years of it. She already states her heart goes out to you. There’s no pain/suffering Olympics winner here. You don’t even try to educate,you simply suggest she read further, effectively shaming her. 😂

          Babydust to you, however offended you are.

          I see there’s more easily offended in comments below. They are jealous.

          Published 7.20.21 · Reply
          • Katie said:

            Hi! Other commenter you referred to. You’re right. I’m 1000% jealous that she got pregnant so quickly, and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. I don’t wish my experience on anyone and that includes myself. I think I can speak for Kelly when I say that when you’re trying to conceive there’s just something extra fascinating about reading how someone else got pregnant. And how were we supposed to know she didn’t struggle until we got in there and read about it? I don’t think either of us shamed her. We simply stated that her description of fear and the awful experience she had for a month was hurtful. Assuming she had no reason to believe she’d struggle, I also think it’s a tad tone deaf to go on about her fear without mentioning that taking a few months to conceive isn’t just normal, it’s standard. Unless you’ve been through it, you simply can’t understand the pain infertility causes. Does it also cause complicated emotions like being hurt by someone else’s announcement and feeling diminished by her equating her fear and experience to your months of fear and money spent? ABSOLUTELY. And again, I don’t expect you to understand unless you’ve been through it. I know Kelly and I aren’t alone in our feelings; and I hope Kate first of all doesn’t feel guilty for her experience but that if she chooses to continue discussing her TTC journey that she acknowledge it’s normal for conception to take more than one month.

            Published 7.20.21 ·
    • Anon said:

      Hi Kelly!

      I went through unexplained secondary infertility and I have never been upset by a woman worrying how long it would take, if they would struggle, etc. In fact, I think the wonderful thing about women is how compassionate we are. Someone with cancer can understand that someone with a stomach bug is suffering in a different way. I see you have some aggression to think that a mother announcing her pregnancy owes YOU an edit to her blog post. For fuck’s sake, just be a decent human and move on. In fact, while I was experiencing that I had a friend that took 2 months to get pregnant. She worried. And you know what I did? I was compassionate. I didn’t tell her to educate herself or change her words. I’m sorry for what you are experiencing, but don’t let it make you a bitter, hateful person. We ALL have shit to deal with.

      Published 7.22.21 · Reply
  12. So excited for you! I just had my first baby ( Eliza Ann! ) and I was all day nauseous and throwing up for 18 weeks! The only thing that helped me was prescription Metaclopromide – it was a miracle! I too struggled with everything going on pause while I was so sick, but God totally was working in my heart and it really helped prepare me for even more changes now that baby is here. The 4th trimester hit me like a ton of bricks and I was so thankful that the lord had worked on grace, rest, and peace with me in pregnancy. You are going to be a great mom! 💕

    Published 7.20.21 · Reply
  13. Maggie said:

    The Lobster Roll at Timotis on Amelia Island is one of the best I’ve ever had!

    Published 7.20.21 · Reply
  14. Katie said:

    Congratulations, Kate! A baby is such a blessing. Respectfully, though, I do want to point out that your details on how long it took to conceive came off a little hurtful to me and to others I’m sure. You got pregnant very, very quickly and that’s not at all something you should feel guilty about or shy away from sharing. But I think it should have been left at that. You talked about how draining obsessively testing and tracking was and you’re correct. It’s very challenging. I’ve been doing it for 13 months with no baby to show for it. To me, suggesting that you were fearful of infertility after one grueling month only to get pregnant when you gave it all up the next month diminishes the experience of women actually going through infertility and dealing with the fear, uncertainty and expense that goes with that diagnosis. Many of us tried for months before we feared there was a problem. Many of us have tried relaxing as often as we’ve tried obsessing and we still can’t get pregnant on our own. I’m sure in your month of obsessing, you did lots and lots of research (we all do!) and learned that it’s common for couples to try for six months before getting pregnant. I think that’s something that should have been acknowledged in your post. Other women reading this who are considering starting TTC might also worry after an unsuccessful first or second month and they truly shouldn’t. I understand that you in no way meant to hurt anyone and I appreciate your thoughts for those of us going through infertility. But as another commenter suggested, if you choose to continue discussing your TTC experience and how fear came into play, I’d suggest researching infertility a little further and the reality that it can take six months to a year for most couples to conceive. The fear you experienced very, very briefly is the reality so many of us are now facing and how awful actively TTC-ing was for you is something many women go through month after month only to ultimately put their bodies through hell to get what you, frankly, got extremely easily. I want to stress that you truly shouldn’t feel guilty for that or shy away from talking about it. It’s your experience and you should be overjoyed. I would just suggest not discussing your “fear” without also acknowledging the reality that often pregnancy doesn’t happen right away and it’s completely normal and no reason to worry if it takes a few tries. All the best to you and your growing family.

    Published 7.20.21 · Reply
    • Margaret said:

      THIS! Thank you for saying this (and saying it so eloquently!).That last part of her post was very hard to read for myself and for many others I’m sure.💔

      Published 7.20.21 · Reply
    • Liza said:

      Respectfully, I disagree. My husband and I are in year 4 of TTC, with unexplained infertility. We’ve been through the tracking, ovulation tests, temperature charting, vitamins, scans, IVF, etc.
      I don’t think her fear of infertility after one month of trying diminishes the experience of other women. She was talking about *her* fears and *her* experience, and those are hers alone. I’ve always wanted to be a mother more than anything else in the world. However in 4 years of trying to have a baby, and everything I’ve gone through, I’ve never felt angry or jealous of others or thought my situation was “unfair.” My journey is mine alone, just as yours is, and Kate’s is. We can’t compare someone’s fears and anxieties after one month to anyone else, because they’re different people with different feelings and different experiences. By telling her she had it easy because it only took 2 months, you’re diminishing the fear she felt and playing Emotional Suffering Olympics. Are there people struggling to conceive who might be hurt by her comments? Yes. But there are also those of us who recognize that we’re all individuals, and we can’t compare our struggles and feelings to anyone else’s. Just my take on it.

      Published 7.20.21 · Reply
      • Katie said:

        Thanks for sharing your point of view. I’m so sorry you’ve been going through TTC for so long. I truly hope you get your baby soon. And I commend your response. It’s a lot more composed and reasonable than mine. I’m 13 months in so I’m struggling with the new “infertile” title I have and finding it hard to articulate my feelings. I never meant to diminish her feelings, just as I know she never intended to diminish my experience or anyone else’s. At the end of the day, we can’t help how we feel. Something about what she said hurt, and I’m sorry that I’ve had a tough time articulating why. I’m not angry whatsoever at her or anyone who conceives easily. Like you said, that’s her experience. But I can’t lie that sometimes it’s hard seeing other people get what you want so easily when you’re having such a tough time dealing with not having it. If you’ve never felt that way, you are certainly a better person than I am! I know moms (especially influencers) are shamed all the freaking time for their parenting choices and Kate I really apologize if my comment came off as shaming you. You don’t deserve to be shamed at any point of motherhood. I really just meant to represent the perspective of someone who was disappointed by how you detailed your experience and who wishes you would have acknowledged that conceiving generally takes a few months.

        Published 7.20.21 · Reply
      • Sydney said:

        Thank 👏🏻 you 👏🏻 Liza👏🏻! Breath of fresh air. Let’s all just be happy for her!

        Published 7.22.21 · Reply
    • Sydney said:

      Damn this poor girl can’t do or say ANYTHING!! You come off extremely jealous when you say shit like this. I cannot anymore. Everyone has a different journey and I’m SORRY THAT SHE WAS ANXIOUS SHE WOULD HAVE TROUBLE AND SHE DIDNT UP HAVING TROUBLE GETTING PREGNANT! We GET IT IT! That isn’t the same story for you girls…you have mad it PAINFULLY clear.
      Can you not simply congratulate her without giving into your jealousy and sucking joy from this announcement?? Good god, youre damned if you do and damned if you don’t. Unbelievable

      Published 7.22.21 · Reply
  15. Liza said:

    So exciting! We’re entering year 4 of TTC, and I know everyone handles infertility differently. Personally, it makes me so happy to see couples get pregnant easily. My ‘journey’ is my own, so I’ve never felt angry or jealous to see other women’s dreams of motherhood come true. I’ve really enjoyed following along for your wedding and move to FL, and can’t wait to read about this next phase!

    Published 7.20.21 · Reply
  16. Joanna said:

    Congratulations! Wishing you a healthy pregnancy!

    Published 7.25.21 · Reply
  17. I’m so happy for you kate! First trimester is always tough for moms-to-be. Nausea, acid reflux and insomnia are the real issues in this period of time. Good luck to you. Sending so many prayers your way!

    Published 8.1.21 · Reply
  18. Kerri said:

    Hi Kate! I have a question for you! My husband and I will be trying soon for a baby, but I am struggling with the prenatal vitamins already (hard to swallow the big ones, can’t stand the taste of the gummies). Do you think the Ritual vitamins are worth it? Im thinking about starting up a prescription!

    Published 8.12.21 · Reply
  19. Things like that. But at the end of the day, I know rest is good….

    Published 9.6.21 · Reply
  20. EMMA said:
    Published 12.13.21 · Reply
  21. Jolly said:

    Congratulation, but sorry I am late. Best wishes to your child and you.

    Published 1.17.22 · Reply
  22. Redactle said:

    Kate, I’m overjoyed for you! The first trimester is often difficult for expectant mothers. The main difficulties at this time include nausea, acid reflux, and sleeplessness. Best of luck to you. Many prayers are being sent your way!

    Published 7.7.22 · Reply
  23. annie said:

    Due to the fact that early morning is a great time for earning money, I travel while everyone is asleep. When the kids get home from school, I sleep during the day so I can resume driving when they get home. Though words from letters occasionally I still have the urge to take just a few more rides and earn a few extra dollars, I know that every minute I spend on the road and abandon my wife at home with the kids, the more agitated she will be when I walk through the door.

    Published 8.21.22 · Reply
  24. We can’t wait to meet our little one! There are so many changes ahead, and you’re probably feeling a bit nervous. But remember, your baby is in good hands. Your doctor is there to help you through the process. And your partner is right by your side. He or she will be an important part of this exciting time.

    Published 9.5.22 · Reply
  25. quordle said:

    Congratulations! I’m very happy to hear that. Please take care of yourself.

    Published 10.3.22 · Reply
  26. Our first child was born in February of my husband’s second year of residency, and our second was born in April of his first year of fellowship.

    Published 10.6.22 · Reply
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    Published 11.2.22 · Reply
  28. Lara Peterburge said:

    You weared a high neck dress for the fact that you become pregnant wearing such a dress, right ?

    Published 12.26.22 · Reply
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    Published 2.2.23 · Reply
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    Published 6.7.23 · Reply
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    Published 6.13.23 · Reply
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    Published 6.13.23 · Reply
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