16 Weeks Pregnant: A Baby Boy and a Heart Full of Hope

After three blissful weeks away—starting with our wedding in Santorini and followed by an all-American road trip honeymoon across six incredible states—returning to London marked a whole new chapter of this pregnancy. I was 16 weeks pregnant, and there was no denying it anymore… I was showing! My bump had grown noticeably during those weeks abroad, and as I unpacked our cases, it dawned on me: my wedding dress absolutely wouldn't fit me now!

It’s funny, because while we were cruising along in our RV from Cruise America around the 14-week mark, I started to feel the faintest flutters. Baby flutters. At least, I thought that’s what they were. I’d never experienced quickening in either of my previous pregnancies with Leo or Louis before 20 weeks, so 14 weeks felt really early. There was no real pattern to them—some days there was movement, others there was nothing—but they were there. Soft little flicks that made me stop and smile.

At night, I was also feeling stretching pains—sharp, shooting sensations mainly when I was lying down. Everything felt like it was expanding and growing, which I suppose it was! At 15 weeks, I felt more of those tell-tale flutters. And one particular day in Nashville, I was certain our baby was dancing in response to cold drinks. It was such a reassuring little moment in amongst the constant swirl of excitement and anxiety.

Back in London, I knew I was at the point where I could book a gender scan. But before anything, I needed to speak to my midwife. I was expecting a referral back to Fetal Medicine and my consultant team around this time too. My 16-week check-up was booked for Monday 16th June 2025—the first proper appointment since we’d returned.

We heard baby’s heartbeat officially for the first time at that check-up. We’d been listening at home with our Doppler since 14 weeks, but hearing that whoosh-whoosh sound in the clinic was incredibly comforting. I shared my concerns about fluid levels around baby. It was around this gestation in my pregnancy with Louis that we first noticed things weren't right, and I was terrified history might repeat itself. Thankfully, my midwife contacted Worcester Hospital, and they offered me a scan for the following week—24th June.

But waiting felt impossible. I needed reassurance now. So I booked a private scan at Peek A Baby—the same clinic we’d visited for Louis’s gender scan and again earlier this pregnancy. We went on Thursday 19th June, filled with nervous anticipation. As soon as baby popped up on the screen, I could see how much he'd grown since our 12-week scan. And then came the moment I’d been so sure of all along… we were told we were having a boy! I’d felt it from the start. The symptoms mirrored my pregnancies with Leo and Louis so closely that I just knew. And I was right.

The fluid levels looked normal, too—another wave of relief. Graham was thrilled. This is his first boy, and I could see how much that meant to him.

A few days later, on the 24th, we attended our scan at Worcester Hospital. The moment my consultant from my pregnancy with Louis appeared and called my name, I felt instantly reassured. She gave me a hug the second we rounded the corner, and we walked into a room filled with the same familiar team. It was emotional, grounding, and oddly healing.

This scan felt like the ultimate test. If she was happy, I could finally exhale. Baby boy looked perfect on the screen, fluid levels normal, measurements on track. We even got a sneak peek at the heart, which looked healthy—a deeper heart scan was already scheduled for 8th July, but even the initial look gave us hope. She smiled and said, “It doesn’t look like you need us.”

I walked out of that appointment feeling lighter than I had in months. Two reassuring scans in five days—both saying baby was okay. That was all I needed.

That night, I opened the storage boxes with Leo’s baby clothes. I began sorting through them, washing and folding those tiny outfits with fresh joy. For the first time in this pregnancy, it all felt real. Hopeful. We are having a baby boy—and I’m allowing myself to believe we might just bring him home.

💙 16 weeks and falling in love with our son, one flutter at a time.

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A post shared by Laura Carter (@mrslcarter_)

Our Epic American Honeymoon: A Road Trip Adventure While Pregnant

After the wedding of our dreams in Santorini, we were ready to swap sunsets and Greek elegance for something rugged, spontaneous, and all-American—a road trip honeymoon across the United States. Armed with an RV, a couple of backpacks, and a growing baby bump, we took off on what would be the trip of a lifetime—just the two of us (well, technically three of us).

London Layover & Our First Burger

We waved goodbye to Santorini and landed back in London for one night. It was here our honeymoon officially began—with a juicy, no-frills burger that hit the spot after weeks of wedding prep and Mediterranean cuisine. The next morning, we jetted off to San Francisco.

Hello America – San Francisco & Alcatraz

Our first night in the States was spent in a Airbnb in San Francisco. The highlight? A visit to Alcatraz Island. We even met ex-inmate William Baker, who was there signing copies of his book—a surreal moment neither of us will forget.

Then, the real adventure began. We picked up our Cruise America RV and hit the road toward Lake Tahoe. This was the kind of honeymoon we’d dreamed of—freedom, fresh air, and uncharted roads.

Lake Tahoe to Yosemite – Coffee, Chipmunks & Snow-Capped Peaks

Thanks to jet lag, we were up at sunrise, sipping coffee in the woods and watching chipmunks scamper around. Lake Tahoe was breathtaking—clear blue waters, alpine air, and peaceful stillness. From there, we made a pitstop at Bodie State Historic Park, a preserved ghost town frozen in the 1800s, complete with crumbling wooden buildings, rusted wagons, and stories of California’s gold rush past.

Next stop: Yosemite National Park. The scenery changed dramatically—sunshine turned to snow, lakes were frozen over, and the peaks glistened with white. While hiking was off the cards (pregnancy doesn’t pair well with icy trails), we still soaked in the magic of Yosemite. That night, we camped under the stars and grilled BBQ steak on a $20 Walmart grill. Simple. Perfect.

Bridal Veil Falls was a surprise—it looked like a 5K hike on the map, but we reached it in less than a kilometre. Not that we were complaining!

Vegas via Death Valley – Heat, Storms, and Neon Lights

From Yosemite, we headed through Death Valley, and wow—the name fits. Rugged, dry, unforgiving… and utterly stunning. The heat was intense—like nothing I’ve ever felt.

Arriving in Las Vegas, the skies opened, and a wild storm welcomed us. We stayed at the Oasis RV Resort—easily the poshest stop of our trip, with full hook-ups and blessed air conditioning. We Ubered to the strip and saw the lights, fountains, and chaos of Las Vegas. It was fun, but not really our scene. The Bellagio Fountains were the standout.

The Grand Canyon, Route 66 & Buttermilk Pancakes

From Vegas, we swung by Hoover Dam, then headed through Williams, Arizona, where Graham indulged in some (safe and legal!) automatic gun shooting—something he can’t do back home in the UK.

We finally reached the Grand Canyon, found a secluded forest clearing to camp for free, lit another BBQ, and grilled steak once again. Waking up to birdsong and crisp air, we made our way to the Canyon’s edge. The views were unreal—an endless expanse of rock, shadow, and light. No photo will ever do it justice.

Driving east, we jumped onto Route 66, stopping at Galaxy Diner in Flagstaff where we met true American portions for the first time. We couldn’t even finish our pancakes! Then we saw signs for Meteor Crater, a massive, perfectly preserved crater caused by a meteor impact over 50,000 years ago. Standing on the edge of it was both eerie and awe-inspiring.

We drove late into the night and tried boondocking for the first time—camping off-grid, without hookups, in a roadside clearing. It was raw, wild, and liberating and completely legal!

Lubbock Storms & Cowboy Hats

After rolling through Roswell (where we quickly realised the famous crash site was far from town), we made our way into Lubbock, Texas, and found an RV park just in time to be told they were on tornado watch after just having one the previous night! We could see the dark clouds rolling in, and before long, thunder and lightning were lighting up the sky.

While in town, we stumbled across a proper western shop called El Herradero—a treasure trove of boots, hats, belts, and more. Graham treated himself to a cowboy hat, which they steamed and shaped to fit him perfectly. He looked right at home, and we left feeling a little more Texan than when we arrived.

Fort Worth Stockyards – Cowboys, Longhorns & A Wild Texas Night

From Lubbock, we headed east to Fort Worth, a stop I had been so excited for—and it lived up to everything I hoped for and more.

Arriving at the Stockyards, we were instantly transported into cowboy country. The streets were steeped in Western charm, lined with saloons, boot shops, and old brick buildings that looked like a movie set. We caught the iconic longhorn cattle parade, where these majestic beasts were calmly walked down the historic streets. It was surreal, beautiful, and iconic all at once.

We browsed a maze of Western stores, picked up a few treasures, and soaked in the authentic feel of the place. Fort Worth had grit, warmth, and a kind of timeless magic about it.

That evening, the tornado alerts started blaring again on our phones. We brushed them off at first—false alarms had become something of a theme by now—but things escalated fast. The wind picked up, the sky turned a deep, ominous grey, and then came the pounding rain.

Suddenly, we heard cars screeching out of the RV park and people shouting and running. That’s when we knew it wasn’t just a typical storm. Graham looked at me and said, “Let’s get dressed and find shelter.”

So we quickly got ourselves together and ran across the car park to the public bathrooms, which were being used as an emergency shelter. There we stood, fully dressed, watching through the cracks in the doors as the storm roared. Thunder cracked like cannon fire, the wind howled, and rain flooded everything in sight. It was one of those moments that felt both terrifying and completely unforgettable.

The next day, with clearer skies and still buzzing from the night before, we went back to the Stockyards and visited the Cowtown Coliseum. We watched a live bull fighting show, which was raw, energetic, and a little wild—like Texas itself. It was incredible to see it all unfold in such a historic venue.

Fort Worth gave us everything: iconic sights, unpredictable weather, and unforgettable moments. It's a place that will always hold a special spot in our hearts.

Houston, Space Center & Nashville Finale

Our final RV stop was Houston, where we returned our beloved Cruise America van after driving 2,667 miles across six states. The RV had everything—comfy bed, working kitchen, and a fridge big enough for steak and bacon. We truly loved it.

We celebrated Graham’s birthday at the Houston Space Center, ate at the famed Truth BBQ, and then flew to our last stop—Nashville.

Nashville was the city we both fell for. Country music playing on every corner, neon lights, cowboy boots, and pure heart. We bar-hopped our way through Tootsies, Bell Bottoms Up, The Stage, and Goodnight Nashville.

The craziest moment? Standing at the bar in The Stage and spotting a familiar face on guitar. It was Paul Sidoti—Taylor Swift’s lead guitarist! He kindly took photos with me and even threw me a Lover guitar pick (thanks to Graham’s quick reflexes!).

The End (and the Beginning)

We flew home glowing with memories and a little bump now at 16 weeks. Our adventure was over, but a new one was just beginning. And just days later… we’d find out whether we were having a little boy or girl.

2,667 miles. 6 states. One growing baby. A lifetime of memories.

Our honeymoon wasn’t just a road trip. It was freedom, joy, chaos, laughter, and love—on wheels.