The Itty Bitty Bump

14 weeks!

The Value of a Friend

This past weekend I was lucky enough to be invited to go to the beach to celebrate my best friend, Jennifer's, 24th birthday!  Jennifer, Taylor, and I packed up and headed to Litchfield on Saturday.  We would have left sooner, but the weatherman was calling for SEVERE storms- it was bright and sunny the whole ride down.  We spent the weekend laying out by the pool (it was a little cold on the beach), painting our toe nails, playing cards, laughing, snacking on junk food, and just enjoying each other's company.  It got me thinking about the value of true friends. 

Most of my closest friends I met in middle school, and we are still friends to this day.  How many people can say that they have a hand full of good friends that they have known that long?  Paul and I are both like this- we hang on to our friends, especially the good ones.  I didn't realize the special connection that we all shared until I went to college.  I discovered the unlike me, many of the girls I met there didn't have a group like we did.  We spent all of our weekends together, we shared secrets, laughs, and tears.  We have always been there for each other through thick and thin.  Even though we may not all talk on the phone everyday like we used to, I know if I needed any of them- they would be there. I hope they know that I would do the same for them.  We all went to different colleges, but no matter the distance, our friendships stayed strong.   A friend is really a special gift and that is honestly how I think of my friends.  They are gifts that I am blessed with, and I don't know where I would be without them. So, this is a shout out to my TRUE friends.  Y'all mean the world to me.

Taylor, Jennifer, and I after dinner for Jenn's birthday.

It was so nice to be on the beach!
(I have to give props to Jennifer for my lovely painted toe nails)

A New Chapter

So, it has been a while since I have updated my blog, however, that does not mean there has been a lack of information to share.  There has been A LOT going on at the DuRant household lately.  There is one major change that is happening here and it all started with this:

That's right folks, I'm PREGNANT!  Paul and I are so excited to be entering this new chapter of our lives.  So, let me go ahead and answer some FAQ that I have received thus far.

1. Was is planned?  Yes, we wanted to have a baby.  I don't think anyone can ever be fully prepared to be parents, but I feel confident that we will be great.
2. Will you find out the gender?  YES!  I would NEVER be able to wait until delivery, are you kidding?  I am dying to know.
3. When can you find out the sex?  Hopefully at our next apt, May 11.  We are on the books for an ultrasound to find out.
4. How are you feeling?  I feel great!  There were a couple of weeks where no foods really seemed appetizing, and all I could think about was going to sleep.  But, overall I have felt good.  I have not been physically ill at all, so I consider myself lucky!

We had our first appointment with the OB this week, and it went great!  We heard the heart beat for the first time and it was music to my ears.  It is all very surreal.  It is hard for me to wrap my mind around the fact that there is a little person (about the size of my thumb right now) growing rapidly inside of me.  Hearing the heart beat really made things feel REAL.  I am looking forward to all the good times (and some not so good I'm sure) ahead.  Needless to say, it will soon not just be Riley, Paul and me.  Baby DuRant is due 10/29/11.