The Baldwin Experience: My Journey Through Life

Last weekend Quinn and I attended the Festival of the Pines... This is a big event in our home town. There is a lumberjack breakfast, bingo, ax cutting and sawing competitions, and a HUGE beer tent. We've had it planned to go to this, but as you can imagine I was nervous about being in that "environment" for the first time after learning of our big news! We met my best friend and her boyfriend in the morning and started our day. Someone suggested bloody marys and the next thing I know I am sneaking over to the bartender asking for "virgins". Then bingo at the tent (and yes, it's "beer bingo"). Poor Quinn was drinking mine AND his as to avoid any question. After many circumstances like I just mentioned, including a wedding reception we attended after daytime festival festivities, we HAD to tell at least our immediate families as well as my best pal. The truth is, I don't know when I think it is appropriate to tell people you are pregnant. I know...

It was the funniest thing... Last weekend I opened a can of Monster (the sugar-free kind, as if that makes it better ;-)) and nearly spit it out. It was Sunday, my regular grocery day at Meijer and I was a little tired from the LONG day before of watching football. I thought a Monster would help. Instead of the instant caffeine buzz I am used to and the taste I normally don't mind, it was absolutely repulsive. Hmmm, what could be the reason for this change?! Did the company change the formula? Was there something wrong with that particular "energy" drink? Was my taste in beverages changing? Was I... LATE?! I also had a similar reaction to coffee the day before... Sure, there were other pregnancy "symptoms", but the most prevalent were smells (mostly bad) and taste. As most of our close friends and family know, Quinn and I had a miscarriage last March. We have come to terms with what happened and in some ways are grateful for the experience; certainly not...