First Trimester Recap – Baby #2
The first trimester this time around was… well, pretty textbook. And by that, I mean it was tough. I found out I was pregnant at almost six weeks and was hit with the classic first-trimester trio: nausea, fatigue, and food aversions. From the start, I felt pretty crummy most days. There were nights when all I could stomach was a fried egg or two.
I was still nursing Luke for the first 8–10 weeks, and I think that left my body feeling extra depleted. Weeks 6 to 10 were especially rough. Around the 9-10 week mark, we went on a beach trip with Jake’s family and some of our closest friends, and—just to add to the fun—our whole crew caught the norovirus. I was already battling pregnancy nausea, and being down with a stomach bug for two solid days (plus lingering symptoms for several more) just about did me in.
But honestly, after that low point, things slowly started to turn a corner. The fatigue and nausea didn’t vanish overnight, but I began to have more and more good days sprinkled in. That’s one thing I’ve learned about pregnancy: the hard days will come, but the good days do too. My motto for the first trimester? Survive the tough days, soak up the sweet ones.
First Trimester Highlights:
Our First Ultrasound
Getting to see our baby for the very first time was such a gift. Jake had missed all my early appointments with Luke because of training camp, but he was able to be there for the first one this time around. Seeing that tiny heartbeat flickering on the screen together—it was one of those moments I’ll carry forever.
Telling Our Friends and Family
With our first, I think everyone kind of saw it coming. This time, we totally caught them off guard—and that made it even more fun. We were celebrating some family birthdays and I asked everyone to gather for a "group photo" (really a video). Jake casually said, “Caroline’s pregnant,” and the reactions were priceless. Total disbelief and pure joy.
We told Jake’s parents over FaceTime since we weren’t going to see them in person right away. We dressed Luke in a “Big Brother” shirt and waited for them to notice—such a sweet surprise. Later on, we shared the news with more loved ones at Luke’s first birthday party. Toward the end of the celebration, we changed him into his big brother shirt and let him run around. It was subtle, but once people caught on, there was so much excitement.
Beach Trip with Family & Friends
Aside from the dreaded virus, our beach trip was full of great memories. Our best friends have a little boy just a few months younger than Luke, so watching our babies play together was such a full-circle moment. And Luke loved the beach this year—running in the sand, chasing birds, building sandcastles. Last year, he was just a tiny baby in our arms, so seeing him experience it all with wide eyes and sandy fingers was incredibly sweet. He also got lots of quality time with his Meme and Pop, which means the world to all of us.
Luke’s First Birthday
I went back and forth about how to celebrate Luke’s first birthday—partly because I was so deep in the fog of the first trimester. But we ended up inviting our families and some close friends, and I’m so glad we did. Luke lit up the whole day. His little personality came out in the best way—full of joy and curiosity, just like his daddy. Watching him soak in all the love was overwhelming in the best way. I didn’t really get a chance to reflect on that first year in the moment (I was just trying to survive!), but maybe I’ll sit down and do a proper recap soon. He’s such a light in our lives, and I thank the Lord every day for the gift of being his mama.
