Finding out I was pregnant in the middle of a global pandemic..

So, what’s it like to find out you’re pregnant during a global pandemic? Absolutely terrifying. Not to mention, being in the middle of a huge move to a new state over 9 hours away – all in the same week. The month of March was a whirlwind for the Duckworth family, as you can probably already imagine. The week that I surprised Nate and told him I was pregnant, things weren’t super escalated yet with the virus, but I was still a bit uneasy. Fast forward to a week later and everything changed. The entire nation was pretty much shut down, people were hoarding, and you could barely get groceries. The whole time in my head I was thinking, “I’m just glad I don’t have a newborn right now!” So, to the mama’s who had to endure that terrifying moment, I feel for you!

Watching the President’s press briefings day after day and praying for a safe, healthy pregnancy was absolutely surreal. Also, worrying about the economy and the impact on not only my small business, but Nathaniel’s job as well, was super unsettling.

I’m so thankful for my faith – if we didn’t have that, I don’t know what I would have done. My first ultrasound was during a nationwide shut down, and going into a hospital during that time was absolutely terrifying. I was so sad that my parents didn’t get to attend my first ultrasound, but thankful that they let Nate in. This is something that will definitely go down in history, and I’m sure my kids will be thrilled to know about it (LOL!)

God has blessed me, and my family for sure. I can’t thank Him enough for the ability to start a family, and for a (so far) happy, healthy pregnancy. I wanted to document this moment so I would be able to go back and read my thoughts on a later day. This is such a special, life changing moment right now, and I don’t want to forget any parts of it. Thankfully, by the time you’re reading this, I will be just out of the first trimester (thank the LORD, because I have been so, so sick).

I wanted to share my little secret with Nathaniel in a special way, that we would be able to be capture and keep forever. My photographer Rachel helped me plan and coordinate the entire thing perfectly, and I seriously couldn’t be more thankful for her for helping me get everything together on such short notice! I poured over ideas on Pinterest and fell in love with the chalkboard notes. Nathaniel was told to write three things that he loves about me, while I do the same for him. Meanwhile, my board already had something special written on it…:) I was so, so sick the morning that we took the photos, and you can see it in my eyes, but thankfully, Nate didn’t seem to notice 😉 It was also freezing (of course, Indiana), but I couldn’t wait another day! The photos turned out so perfectly and they will be ones that I cherish forever.

I hope you all are safe and healthy, and I will be sharing more about our pregnancy journey soon! In the meantime, leave me a comment below with any tips, tricks or advice to survive this first pregnancy!