I have big news to share: Pierre and I are expecting a baby in mid‑February and we couldn’t be happier. I waited to share until we had exam results confirming the baby is healthy. I always felt confident everything would be fine, but I wanted to be certain before telling everyone.
We married in November 2011 and always thought waiting about four years before trying to start a family would be a good idea. I wanted to enjoy our newlywed life first. Neither Pierre nor I were immediately eager to become parents — I’ve always loved children, but I was a little nervous about the responsibilities and life changes that come with parenthood. That changed when my nephew was born last November. I traveled to Brazil to be there for the birth and stayed for over two months to help my sister. Those months sparked a deep desire for motherhood in me. My nephew made me see life differently. Helping my sister made me realize how tiring having a newborn is, but it also showed me how wonderful it can be. He brought so much love and joy to our family, and being with him made me less afraid. I began to hope I might have my own child soon. Another reason I felt ready was my age — I didn’t want to be older than 35 when I had a child, and turning 33 made me feel like the time was right.
At the end of last year Pierre wasn’t completely sure he was ready to try, and I didn’t push him. I trusted that when the right moment came it would work out, and I was right. On December 24th he gave me a Christmas card that read: “May 2015 we try to have our little family.” I was stunned — it was a wonderful surprise. I even joked that he might mean getting a pet. When I returned to Canada I booked an appointment with my family doctor. She prescribed prenatal vitamins and ordered all the necessary tests. After three months of preparing, we began trying, and I became pregnant on the first month. We were very lucky — I had convinced myself it might take much longer, so it was a happy surprise when it happened quickly.
I discovered I was pregnant when I was almost two months along. My periods have been irregular since I was young, so when I was about ten days late I didn’t worry. After five more days I bought a home pregnancy test and it was negative, so I relaxed and enjoyed a week away in Montreal with my in‑laws, husband, sister, nephew and my mother who had come from Brazil. When we returned to Toronto I took another test. On June 10th I woke early and took it alone in the bathroom. When the test showed YES, a wave of happiness and calm washed over me — it was unexpectedly beautiful. I woke Pierre, showed him the result, and he was thrilled. We called his parents and shared the news; they began joking about knitting already. I also ran to the guest room where my family was sleeping and told them that Bento would have a cousin. It felt right to share the news in person rather than by phone, and everything unfolded perfectly.
Pierre had to travel for work and was away for three long weeks, so I went to the 9‑week ultrasound alone. I was a bit sad he couldn’t be there, but seeing the baby and a strong little heartbeat for the first time made me overwhelmingly happy. It felt miraculous — two heartbeats, one inside me and one inside our baby. I called Pierre, and he was excited. When he returned we attended the 12–13 week ultrasound together; the heartbeat was strong again and the baby was moving. It was so cute.
My first trimester was exhausting — I had never been so sleepy in my life. I wanted to sleep constantly and didn’t cook many dinners, so we ordered takeout more often than I would have liked. As a food blogger I wish I could say I ate homemade meals every night, but some evenings I simply didn’t have the energy. Pierre helped by grilling and making simple meals while I made salads when I could. My doctor reassured me that if I ate well during the day, the light evenings were okay. For lunch I usually had healthy food and fruit snacks, especially since I work near a great market, but evenings were difficult. I also didn’t do much housework, though I’m fortunate our condo is small and easy to manage.
I didn’t experience classic morning sickness. I did have nausea, mostly later in the day, and I vomited a handful of times in the first trimester. I wasn’t particularly bothered by smells, but I developed an aversion to rice, which is one of my favorite foods — a strange and temporary change.
Today I’m approaching 19 weeks and feeling much better. My appetite and energy have returned, though I’ve been busy with work and a bit tired from activity, not the pregnancy itself. We’ve finally started sharing the news publicly, and yes — we will find out the baby’s sex. I don’t understand how people wait until birth to discover it; I’m too curious. I’ve even tried a few old wives’ tests and bought a urine‑based sex‑prediction kit just for fun. I have a strong feeling it’s a boy, and Pierre thinks it’s a girl. I had a vivid dream of a nine‑year‑old boy calling me “mom,” and it felt incredibly real and joyful. We’ll know for sure at our 20‑week appointment next week, which is one day after my birthday. We haven’t chosen names yet because we want to wait until we know the gender. Fun fact: my due date is February 11th, the same day my father was born.
This is the story of my pregnancy so far. We’re thrilled and grateful to share this news with you. I’ll update you again at the end of the second trimester and later in the third trimester to share more of this journey. Thank you so much for all your support.
