20 Weeks + What's in a Name?

This past Tuesday we found out that we are having a beautiful baby girl! Throughout the pregnancy I knew in my gut that she was going to be a girl so I was not surprised by this news at all. It was still so sweet and surreal to see her moving on the screen; I couldn't stop crying even when we had to go back to the waiting room for the doctor's appointment. The best part was seeing Wes' reaction to the news. Although he was trying to keep his cool, I knew he was bursting inside because he wanted a little girl so badly. It was truly a precious moment. 

We are naming this blessing Sarah Parker McGarry and are calling her Sarah Parker. We have had this name picked out for over three years. I have always been interested (obsessed?) with names so when Wes and I first started dating I would ask him what names he liked. The only name he ever said he loved for a girl was Sarah. I loved the name too, but wanted a double name since I knew so many people with the name Sarah. I think it was Wes that suggested the middle name Parker. Parker is his middle name and his mom's maiden name. I really love when a name has meaning and is connected to people that you love so I thought this was the perfect name. We thought about adding a hyphen but ultimately decided to leave it as two separate names. I don't think I would have ever picked out this name on my own, but can't imagine naming our daughter anything else. 
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What Fruit are you? Sarah Parker is the size of a small cantaloupe this week which seems HUGE to me

Due date: June 12, 2015

How far along:  20 weeks

Gender:  Girl!

Maternity clothes: Although I can fit into a select few of my normal clothes, I'm pretty much wearing maternity exclusively...they are so much more comfortable!

Sleep: I have been sleeping much better this trimester! 

Food cravings: Cereal and baked fruit

Symptoms: Some minor back pain

Movement: I've been feeling some solid kicks for the past few week!

Labor signs: None!

What I miss: Being able to eat Mexican or goat cheese 

What I'm loving: Looking at little girl clothes 

What I'm looking forward to: Working her nursery

Best moment this week: Finding out "it" is a she!

Milestones: Seeing Sarah Parker move around in my ultrasound and being able to use the word "daughter"

18 Weeks + Introductions

Hello. If you don't know me well, I am Alex McGarry, a newlywed and first-time momma-to-be. This space is mostly for me to document this joyful time in my life so my family can look back at it for years to come. Let me tell you a little about our story. 

My husband Wes and I were married on May 31st, 2014 at the tender ages of 20 (me) and 19 (Wes). Since I was little I knew that one of the reasons God put me on this earth was to be a mother, and I knew getting married was one step closer to that. What I didn't know was how soon God was willing to bless us with a child! Our plan before getting married was to wait a year until we started trying, but (I kid you not) the day after our wedding Wes casually asked me "So, when are we going to have a baby?" At the time I was shocked but so thrilled because in my heart I wanted a baby so badly but wasn't sure if Wes was ready. We decided it would be best to wait through the summer and see if I would get a teaching job since at the time Wes and I both were only working part time. Well, as a part of God's divine plan I did get my dream job as a second grade teacher and we took that as God's green light to go ahead and start trying. 

I was devastated the first month when we found out I wasn't pregnant. I wasn't expecting to be so sad, but I cried all the way to and from work. I felt so silly because I knew this was only our first month of trying and it takes so many women years and years of waiting. Thinking back to those weeks of uncertainty I have a new respect and empathy for couples who are having to wait get pregnant and pray often that God gives them peace in their waiting. 

Looking in hindsight, I am glad that God made us wait that month. During that time I really evaluated why I wanted a baby. I kept asking myself "Do I want a child just because they are cute? Just because I love kids? Just because that's the next thing we are 'supposed' to do?" and at that time I honestly wasn't sure of my answers. It was a faithful day at church, though, when I unequivocally knew where my heart was. Wes, the youth pastor at our church, was speaking on Youth Sunday. The scripture he referred to was 
Psalm 127:4 "Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth." He spoke so passionately about how parents were to shape their children into godly servants and were to be led by God in this endeavor. I knew he got it, and that I got it too...I had just momentarily lost my way. This was the reason that I wanted to become a mother: to glorify God by shaping my children into believers. 


Later in my bible study I read this passage where Hannah was speaking about her son, Samuel. 

1 Samuel 1:27-28a
For this boy I prayed, and the Lord has given me my petition which I asked of Him. So I have also dedicated him to the Lord; as long as he lives he is dedicated to the Lord.” 
Many times we see the first part of this passage, but I knew God was asking me to focus on the second part. I knew that if and when God was going to bless us with a child He would ask me to give that child right back to Him, and I had finally reached the point that I was ready to do so. 

 

Long story short, a few weeks later (on Wes' birthday, actually) we found out that we were pregnant and here we are now at 18 weeks. We are so thrilled by this enormous blessing and are so humbled that God has entrusted this child (whom we lovingly refer to as "Speck") to us. 

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What Fruit are you? This week Speck is the size of a sweet potato! How cute is that?

Due date: June 12, 2015

How far along:  18 Weeks, 1 day

Next appointment:  January 20th...our sonogram!

Gender:  We will find out at the next appointment :)

Total weight gain/loss:  6 pounds

Maternity clothes: I have started wearing a mixture of maternity and normal clothes

Sleep: I have been sleeping much better this trimester! 

Food cravings: Chipotle burritos and anything spicy

Symptoms: Some minor back pain

Movement: I think I have been feeling some (maybe just wishful thinking)

Labor signs: None!

What I miss: Being able to eat Mexican or goat cheese 

What I'm loving: Stretchy maternity pants 

What I'm looking forward to: Our trip to Elizabeth City and quickly approaching sonogram!

Best moment this week: An unexpected 2 hour delay (I am a teacher after all!)

Milestones: People other than immediate family being able to see the "bump"