First off, Kyle and I have big news (which I'm sure you already know since your reading this)--I'm pregnant!!! We are so excited and have decided that we should start a blog so that all of our family and friends can feel free to follow along with what's happening. So, in order to catch all of you up, I will give you the short version of how we got here.

Kyle and I had been trying to get pregnant for almost 2 years when we had recently decided to turn to fertility specialists for some help. After months of diagnostic testing, we were finally set up to get an IUI (intra-uterine insemination) procedure done. Part of the preparation for this procedure was for me to get on hormone pills the first day

of my cycle. Well, low and behold, that first day never came around. I took a pregnancy test when I was a few days "late" seriously thinking that I'd just wasted another $5 (I cannot explain how many times I'd taken those with a "negative" result) and to my incredible surprise, it was positive. I seriously couldn't believe my eyes! I had completely given up on us getting pregnant the old natural way. I really had finally accepted it and had turned the whole situation over to God. Well, it looks like that's what I should've done from the beginning!

Anyway, after moments, even weeks, of disbelief here we are-8 weeks pregnant. I realize it is still incredibly early to start spreading the news, however, we have so many people happy for us that it just keeps spreading. That's why I wanted to start this and keep everyone posted since mostly everyone knows already! We love it though and we feel so blessed with all of the love and support from our families.

So, that's the story of how we got to where we are now. I am in full swing of wonderful (NOT) pregnancy symptoms; you know, the fatigue, sore breasts, nausea , and complete aversion to foods I used to love. Although, I have my good days and bad days, I have to say that the morning sickness is not as bad as I expected. Not to say I don't have it because I assure you I do, just not to the degree that I thought I would have it.

One last thing before I wrap this up, I just wanted to brief everyone on the Dr. appt.'s (I've had a lot of questions about this). We just went to the Dr last week to talk to the nurse. It was a short appt. and she just gave us the information about the hospital and what classes they offer, asked if we wanted to do genetic testing (which we declined), and took another pregnancy test. Luckily, we had already done all the required blood tests through the fertility center in preparation for the IUI. The next appt. is the big one and I seriously cannot wait for it. It's going to be our first ultrasound!! We get to see the baby and hear it's heart beat! I really cannot describe how excited we are for that, and that happens next week. So, I'll definitely post a

picture!

OK, and finally wrapping it up, since I don't have an actual picture of our little baby, I thought this was the next best thing. This is what are baby looks like and how it's developing right now:

How your baby's growing:

New this week: Webbed fingers and toes are poking out from your baby's hands and feet, his eyelids practically cover his eyes, breathing tubes extend from his throat to the branches of his developing lungs, and his "tail" is just about gone. In his brain, nerve cells are branching out to connect with one another, forming primitive neural pathways. You may be daydreaming about your baby as one sex or the other, but the external genitals still haven't developed enough to reveal whether you're having a boy or a girl. Either way, your baby —about the size of a kidney bean — is constantly moving and shifting, though you still can't feel it.

I just thought that is a great way to end this! So, thank you all for all of your amazing love, support, and prayers. We've definitely felt them and needed them. We love you all so much, and I'll post something new after the ultrasound!

~Love, Ashley & Kyle

PS: Feel free to leave comments-I'd love to hear what you guys think!