{This is a continuation of a previous post. To read from the beginning, click here}

The third new beginning: discovering a new addition to the family! (September 2013)

In all honesty, we didn’t plan to have a new addition so early on. Previously, we had planned for two years together alone and for my business to take off before we’d entertain having children. We definitely knew we wanted kids, but it was just about the timing.

I guess they say this is to be expected with newlyweds and I probably shouldn’t go into too much details here. But suffice to say, no contraceptive is 100% effective (I guess I did learn that from that episode of Friends…).

Though the chances of it happening were extremely slim (again, not going into the details but everyone close to us who knows agrees), our baby beat all odds and decided to surprise us.

{Introducing baby Isaac with an ultrasound scan taken in November 2013}

We were in shock for quite some time and I’ll admit that it took me a month or two to come to terms with it. Partly because it meant that the way I had envisioned my life for the next few years would change forever, and partly because morning sickness was quite a force to reckon with.

I’ve had several friends who’ve gone through their first pregnancy with very few symptoms and I guess I had assumed the same for myself. Little did I know that for me, nausea would be a 24/7 ordeal that lasted for more than four months. (Morning sickness should really be called all day sickness.) My sense of smell was akin to a bloodhound’s and I was exhausted all the time.

Suddenly, the smell of the paint and new furniture in our new home got to me and so did every other smell. Opening the door to our room of new IKEA furniture meant throwing up within five seconds. Other occurrences also triggered random throwing up – catching a whiff of my husband’s cologne which I used to like, sneezing, taking a warm shower, brushing my teeth, drinking water and the list goes on. The smell of food in general was repulsive to me and I got by the first trimester by eating ice cream which I don’t usually like.

Our families were concerned about the potentially toxic smells in our newly renovated home so we shifted back to my parents’ place to let it air out for a longer time. (We are planning to move back soon to finish unpacking and setting up, so hopefully I’ll get to share more photos with you then.)

We had to cancel our honeymoon as Dan injured his back and I was starting to feel morning sickness and nausea set in. I was also in the midst of launching my new business (to be continued in the next post) but was afraid to hold face-to-face meetings in fear of throwing up in front of potential partners and customers. I avoided social meet-ups where possible for the same reason. My birthday was spent on the couch the entire day due to ordered bed rest.

I had to stop doing DIY and craft projects as well as any freelance makeup jobs (hence explaining the long gap in my tutorials and posts). The tiredness that set in also meant I had less time in a day – I spent working hours setting up the business and any free or leisure time was devoted to naps and resting.

I became quite the grumpy, anti-social person and very different from my usual self – totally not the wife that Dan got to know for a week when we moved into our new place. In short, I was miserable.

Thankfully everyone around me was patient enough and learnt to ignore the craziness. It took me some time to come to terms with the situation but I finally realized/ decided the following:

• Our baby may have been unplanned or seen as an accident but he is certainly not a mistake. In fact, he is a blessing and I know we’ll realize more of it on hindsight when he’s actually here.

• While I hated morning sickness and the symptoms of pregnancy, I would not confuse it with my love for the baby. I know some people who love being pregnant and I am happy for them, but sadly I am not one of them though I know the journey will be worth it!

• That life can’t always be planned the way we want it, but everything happens for a reason and things will work out eventually as long as we keep having faith.

I know it’s pretty cliched but I had to experience it first-hand to fully understand what it meant to me. Thankfully the morning sickness has subsided and the rest of the changes to my body are bearable enough.

We are just a few more months away to having our baby boy Isaac with us and things definitely seem more exciting the closer it gets!

In the meantime, feel free to share any new parent tips and I’ll be sharing the launch of my new business in the next post! :)

[This is part of a series of posts on new beginnings in 2013. To read part I, click here. To read part III, click here]