pregnancy hormones

Wednesday hubby worked late - a fairly normal occurrence. I planned to grill chicken for dinner once he got home. Except, as he walked in the door, I realized 1) we are out of chicken, and 2) we are out of propane for the grill. Ok, plan B: burgers on the George Foreman grill. No big deal.

So I start dinner. Hubby is stressed from work but asks what he can do to help. I hand him the plate of hamburger patties and tell him to put them on the grill. He questions my choice of seasoning, we have a conversation about it, I get defensive, then he feels bad. We moved on.

As we are making dinner, he's telling me all about a very important meeting he had that day. One that is very relevant to our immediate future, but one I can't tell you about - yet. So I'm running around, keeping an eye on the food, preparing drinks, setting the table, and trying to listen to him talk and retain every detail. He, unfortunately, can't multi-task so he just paces as he talks. Then has to stop mid sentence to check on the burgers. Then has to back up and repeat himself. All making it harder for me to concentrate on what he's saying, at the same time remember what I'm doing with dinner.

Have I ever mentioned that I'm not a huge fan of cooking? I don't mind it, but its definitely not a hobby of mine. And nothing stresses me out more than trying to figure out WHAT to cook for dinner each night.

So there I am, standing at the stove. The food is almost ready. And I suddenly burst into tears.

What? Where did that come from?

Hubby gets a phone call. I walk into the bathroom, hoping it will just pass.

It doesn't.

So hubby gets off the phone, and obviously notices that I'm upset. He's good that way. The food is ready, but he stops me and gives me a big hug and asks what's wrong. But I don't know.

Maybe the subject we are talking about? It's a big life change. Maybe his stress is rubbing off on me, that happens quite often. Maybe that I'm tired, and it's only Wednesday. Maybe that, um I don't know, I'm pregnant? And suddenly I don't feel well and I don't want to eat anything that I'm making. Or maybe all of the above.

Or maybe it's just the pregnancy hormones.

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wordless wednesday: 12 week bump

Hubby says this photo makes me look bigger than I really am,

but I don't know. It's about how big I FEEL!

In case you missed it, my 5.5 week and 9 week bump photos are here.

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12 weeks

How far along: 12 weeks

Baby's size: A Plum

I'm moving into the second trimester, and baby is shifting into the growth and maturation (what a word!) stage! After weeks in the critical development stage, almost all of his systems are fully formed. It's hard to believe, but baby has more than doubled in size in the past 3 weeks. The fetal digestive system is beginning to flex its digestive muscle - literally - as it starts practicing contraction movements, a skill baby will need after birth to push food through the digestive tract. The pituitary gland at the base of the brain has started producing hormones. And the bone marrow is making white blood cells, which will one day help baby fight infection.

Symptoms: It's kind of crazy, but I feel pretty much the same as before getting pregnant! Well, besides the constant need to eat and my growing belly!

Sleep: Sleeping ok. I have more energy during the day than I did at the beginning of pregnancy, but I'm more tired than normal (as in before being pregnant) at the end of the day. I'm normally a night owl, but now once 10 o'clock hits I'm ready for bed!

Total Weight Gain: 5 pounds.

Maternity clothes: Between my BellaBand and my larger sized pants I'm doing pretty well. I'm looking forward to when I can legitimately shop for maternity clothes, but probably just because it means new clothes!

Best moment this week: Mother's Day, or should I say 'In-Utero' Mother's Day as my cousin told me. It was just so fun to spend the day with hubby thinking about how different our lives will be this time next year!

Movement:

Food cravings: Anything other than water to drink! I like water and all, but when you drink so much of it it gets so boring!

Gender: thinking boy

Labor signs:

What I miss: Clear skin. Really hoping my pregnancy acne calms down in the second trimester!

What I'm looking forward to: A real baby bump.

Weekly Wisdom (aka what I learned this week): It may not have been such a good idea to read a few real life "birth stories". Now I'm a little (ok a lot!) nervous for labor and delivery!

Milestones: Making it through the first trimester!

Emotions: Just so happy. Happy to be pregnant. Happy everything is going well. Happy to be living this part of my life. Happy to soon be a mom. And happy to be doing it all with my hubby.

***12 week belly photos coming tomorrow!***

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belly buttons and baby names

I noticed something yesterday. Something I was not expecting, at least not so soon. My belly button - normally very much an innie - is not quite as concave as it normally is! My belly button ring normally just dangles, but now it gently rests against the inside of my belly button.

It's still far from being an outie, but it's just so interesting to see these small changes in my body take place. I guess it will be easier to clean now, at least that is what hubby so thoughtfully pointed out.

This little discovery brings up a very good question. What do I do about my belly button piercing? Do I just take it out and let it close if it wants to? Or do I get one of those flex rings that stretch with your belly and try to keep it?

In other news, the subject of baby names came up this weekend (ok, I brought it up.) I have had a list since, oh as long as I can remember. So I was just curious if hubby had even thought about it. He hadn't. At least not much. We decided it made more sense to wait until we know if we're having a boy or a girl to discuss names. Really there's no point in thinking up both boy and girl names, when we only need one or the other anyway.

But then we talked about them anyway.

Surprisingly, if we have a girl I think we're already like 90% sure what we will name her! If we have a boy ... well that's another story! There are a few more details to consider for a boy, like carrying on family naming traditions. We came up with a few good options, but by no means are we anywhere near picking a favorite!

We decided to keep it all to ourselves for now. :) At least until we know if we are having a boy or a girl. Then maybe I'll spill a few options.

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11 weeks

I can't hardly believe I'm 11 weeks along already. So close to the end of the first trimester (yay!) Yesterday was like a dream. I wish I had brought a recorder or something to capture our little baby's heartbeat. It was all just so surreal.

Last night, as we settled in to watch 24 with hubby's family, he leaned over and whispered into my year "bum bum, bum bum" - mimicking the sound we heard that morning. It brought such a huge smile to my face and made me so happy to be going on this journey with HIM. I cannot get over how blessed I feel right now.

You often hear people advising high schoolers and college students to enjoy their time, because it is the best time of their life. I was thinking this morning as I got ready for work that that is SO not the case for me. This very well may be the best time of my life ... so far.

How far along: 11 weeks

Baby's size: A Lime (so much more attractive than a prune!)

Baby currently enjoys a 1:1 ratio between body and head. On the crown of that large head (and over the rest of the body), fair follicles are forming. His skin is so transparent that blood vessels show right through it. But fingers and toes are no longer webbed, and hair follicles, tooth buds, and nail beds are forming -- setting up a significantly more attractive future.

Symptoms: I'm not dealing with much queasiness, but there are still moments of just not feeling quite right.

Sleep: Sleeping ok. Thankfully I'm a hard sleeper, so I'm not waking up much in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom. But it does get me out of bed earlier in the morning!

Total Weight Gain: Still sticking to around 3-4 pounds.

Maternity clothes: Not yet, but bought a BellaBand and I love it! I'm hoping this will get me by for another couple months.

Best moment this week: Hearing the baby's heartbeat at our first OB appointment yesterday. I think that moment may have changed my life.

Movement:

Food cravings: Hunger level is the same, but no cravings so far.

Gender: the 150 heart rate kind of threw me off, but still thinking boy

Labor signs:

What I miss: clear skin. the pregnancy acne is in full swing!

What I'm looking forward to: everyone knowing! I announced it on facebook yesterday!

Weekly Wisdom (aka what I learned this week): There is so much about pregnancy that is completely out of our control. We need to put it all in God's capable hands and trust Him to take care of our baby.

Milestones: hearing the baby's heartbeat, and hitting double digits in weeks

Emotions: The reality of this is starting to sink in, though I have a feeling I may still be saying that in 7 months! Hearing the heartbeat, and having the OB confirm how far along I was makes everything more real. I'm a little overwhelmed with it all!

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baby has a heartbeat!

Today was the day we've been waiting for! The day of our first OB visit. Last night I was feeling a little nervous. I know they confirmed my pregnancy when I was in two weeks ago, but you never know what can happen in the meantime. Hubby of course was great at bringing perspective, and reminding me that it is all in God's capable hands and we just have to trust Him.

But being nervous and excited didn't make for the greatest nights sleep. I woke up around 2 am having to go to the bathroom of course. And then had really weird dreams. Dreams about being back in high school but still being pregnant, dreams about being engaged but still pregnant, dreams about being on crutches (not sure why) but still pregnant ... you get the idea.

Finally we were up and ready, and it was time to go to our appointment. I of course made sure to get there 10 minutes early and get registered and checked in. And then we waited. And waited. Everyone already in the waiting room when we arrived were called, and then the new people who came after us started getting called. And we waited some more. I think it was 45 minutes later before my name was finally called.

The nurse brought us back, went through all my lab results from last time, and asked a few questions for my records. Then she handed me a gown, told me to strip, and wait for the OB. (She didn't quite say it like that, but basically.) While we waited, I warned hubby about what he was about to experience. He was about to see what we women have to go through every year! He was a great sport. I guess if he wants to be there for the delivery he might as well get used to it now!

The OB finally came, along with a med student! Yay me! (They did ask me if it was ok first.) She asked me a bunch of questions about how I had been feeling, and then started my exam. Lets just say a breast exam is not so pleasant with pregnancy boobs!

Then she got right to the good stuff, the doppler! They squirted some cold gel on my stomach and then she let the med student try to find the heart beat. No success. So the OB took over, and within seconds there it was! My baby's heart, beating away at 150 beats per minute. I wasn't sure how I would react, but in the moment all I could do was smile. I got a little teary, but didn't cry. All I wanted to do was look at my hubby and share the moment with him - not with a room full of doctors and nurses. (The OB was standing between us, so I couldn't see him at first, but I eventually caught his eye. He told me later he could see me the whole time in the mirror.) But it was amazing! I'm sure it is a moment that I will never forget. The moment this baby became real to us.

Then we had to move on to the not-so-pleasant part of the exam. I needed my yearly pap smear too. Everything looked good. She said I looked like I was about 10 weeks along, right on schedule. Then I was gracious enough to let the med student have a try too. Oh joy!

Then it was all over. Just like that. We stopped to schedule our next appointment, June 4th. And then walked away not quite sure how we felt, at least I didn't. Hubby was pretty excited. It was all just so real all of a sudden. I have a baby - growing inside of me. Amazing is the only word I can think of to describe the feeling.

And then I called my mom.

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more baby gifts!

Tuesday night we went out for pizza with hubby's grandma, a little tradition we have. There is this amazing local pizza place that we love, and they have a deal where you can get larges for the price of a small Monday-Wednesday. Well Monday is 24 night and Wednesday we typically have small group, so about once a month Tuesday's have become pizza night with Grandma - the only grandparent we have left between the two of us.

Well this week she had a little surprise for us. After sharing our baby news with her a week ago, she informed me that she now had some shopping to do! Well here are the results:

Then last night hubby's aunt came over with a little gift for us as well. And would you believe she had picked out the exact same sleeper that grandma did? The one directly above, with the zoo animals. We now have it in newborn size and 3-6 months! She also got us this adorable blanket and a daily calendar that tells us what baby is doing every day.

It is so fun that our families are as excited as we are! We are feeling very blessed to be surrounded by so much love and support!

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10 weeks

How far along: 10 weeks

Baby's size: A Prune

Baby's growth is fast and furious this week. He is nearly an inch and a half long and the size of a prune - though not nearly as shriveled - and his body length will almost double in the next three weeks. In fact, baby is really taking a human shape now. Bones and cartilage are forming and vital organs are beginning to function. Small indentations on the legs are developing into knees and ankles. The arms (complete with elbows) can flex already. Soon, legs will start working too.

Symptoms: My queasiness is nearly non existent. As long as I don't let myself get hungry, it seems to stay away. My boobs are definitely growing.

Sleep: Still sleeping pretty well, but not enough! I'm tired, but not as much as the first few weeks. I can't seem to kick my night owl tenancies!

Total Weight Gain: Still sticking to around 3-4 pounds.

Maternity clothes: Not yet, but I've started needing to leave some of my jeans unbuttoned. Going to buy a BellaBand tonight hopefully! There is sure to be a reviewing coming.

Best moment this week: Hubby's excitement. He keeps wanting to see the bump. In the beginning I think he was in denial about my growing belly, but he can "see" it now.

Movement:

Food cravings: Hunger level is the same, but no cravings so far.

Gender: feeling like it's a boy

Labor signs:

What I miss: Diet Coke ... though I've started drinking it once or twice a week.

What I'm looking forward to: Meeting my OB on Monday

Weekly Wisdom (aka what I learned this week):

Milestones: Making it to 10 weeks, that much closer to the end of the 1st trimester!

Emotions: Excited and anxious.

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a growing belly?

I've been sitting at work all day today with the button of my jeans unbuttoned. Thankfully my zipper is some sort of wonder zipper and has remained fully zipped, even with all the walking around I've done today. How can my belly be growing so much? Is it aware that I'm only 9 weeks!?

Apparently not. Or maybe it's just all in my head. Or ... maybe, just maybe, there's some other explanation? Maybe I'm further along than I think? I mean, I had two fairly strong pink lines four days before my missed period. Hmmm. But that seems pretty unlikely.

Or maybe I'm having twins! Hmmm now that's a thought! That could explain my high pregnancy hormones so early on too. Wouldn't that be fun? I always thought it would be fun to BE a twin, so wouldn't it be fun to HAVE twins? ... or would it just be insane!?

Not that I meet any of the classic criteria ... no maternal history, not on fertility drugs, not over weight, not over 45, haven't had twins already, not Nigerian and don't eat a lot of Yams, not breastfeeding, didn't get pregnant while on the pill. But maybe I just got lucky!

What's more likely though is that I'm just in awe of the fact that there's a real baby growing inside of me! Especially with my lack of overall symptoms, I think I'm grasping to the one tangible one - a growing belly.

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wordless wednesday: the bump

Here are the bump pictures as promised!

5 1/2 Weeks

This is my baseline photo, aka this is how I normally look. Except my butt really isn't that big, there's a shadow there I promise!

See the piercing? That was my big act of rebellion when I turned 18 ... except that I got permission from my parents first. What do I do about it now? Am I suppose to take it out at some point?

9 Weeks

See, see! You can totally see a bump there! Ok, so I guess it FEELS
bigger than it LOOKS. But I still say you can see a difference.
Do my boobs look bigger?

See, now you can totally tell right?

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9 weeks

How far along: 9 weeks

Baby's size: A Green Olive

My little baby has now officially graduated from embryo to fetus-hood. Adding to the excitement, a Doppler ultrasound device might be able to pick up the beating heart (they'll be doing one on Monday!) With basic physical structure in place and increasingly distinct facial features, baby is kind of starting to look like ... well ... a baby!

Symptoms: My queasiness has gotten much better. I'm not getting cramping nearly as much as in the beginning either (weeks 5 and 6 were the worst.) My boobs are definitely still sore! Not sure if they've gotten much bigger, but they definitely look a little swollen.

Sleep: I've been sleeping pretty well, but not enough! Two nights ago I woke up THREE times to go to the bathroom! I'm still pretty tired, but mostly noticing that I can't do as much activity in a day as I used to. We helped my brother move on Saturday, and then cleaned up at the Lake cabin on Sunday and by the end of the weekend I was exhausted!

Total Weight Gain: 3-4 pounds - depending on the day. Between weeks 5 and 7 I gained a pound a week, but now it seams to have leveled off a bit.

Maternity clothes: Not yet, but thinking about investing in a BellaBand so I can prolong the need for maternity pants.

Best moment this week: We told all our extended family about the baby!

Movement:

Food cravings: Still hungry all the time. But I'm getting into more of a routine with my more-frequent-smaller meals. I've also started using MyPyramid from the USDA. They have a Menu Planner that helps tally the nutrients and calories you get each day. I have never been one to think much about nutrition or read labels, I just try to make healthy choices and I don't have much of a sweet tooth. But this is helping me make sure I'm getting a balanced diet!

Gender: feeling like it's a boy

Labor signs:

What I miss: Energy

What I'm looking forward to: Meeting my OB on Monday

Weekly Wisdom (aka what I learned this week): This week I realized I don't get enough protein and dairy. I'm working on that!

Milestones: Getting the official "You're Pregnant" from the clinic!

Emotions: Hubby and I were in such denial the first few weeks about really being pregnant. Not denial because we didn't think it was true, but denial because we so desperately WANTED it to be true! After being reassured by the clinic that I am indeed pregnant, the excitement is starting to become more of a reality!

I know I promised belly pictures last week, but I promise they are coming this week! I just need hubby to take a 9 week photo then I can prove to you how much bigger I've gotten since 6 weeks!

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first prenatal appointment

Yesterday we had our first appointment with the prenatal care coordinator at the woman's clinic. She was absolutely wonderful! I was so nervous, and she just put us at ease. She took time to go through everything with us, let us ask as many questions as we wanted, and didn't make us feel silly for any of our questions! She even sent me home with a bag full of goodies, information, and a cute little journal.

After about an hour with her, she sent me down to the lab to get a full work up of tests. Apparently that does not include an actual pregnancy test! Thankfully hubby was there and asked a bunch of questions and discovered this before we got down to the lab, so we requested a pregnancy test. They took FIVE blood samples, and of course I had to pee in a cup as well.

All in all it was a great experience, and pretty painless. She called back an hour later to tell me everything looked good, and yes, I am indeed pregnant!

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7 weeks 6 days

As much as I complained about the last four weeks going so slowly, I guess they went faster than I thought. I just looked back at the last time I did a weekly update, and it was at 4 1/2 weeks!

Tomorrow is the big day! The day that I've been waiting for. I get to go in for my first doctor appointment - well nurse appointment really. I have no idea what they will do, but I'm excited!

How far along: 7 weeks 6 days

Baby's size: A Blueberry

Baby's brain - both hemispheres! - is growing fast, generating about one hundred new cells every minute. Arms and legs are merging as joints start to form, and a permanent set of kidneys (baby's third!) is now in place.

Symptoms: I've been battling quite a bit of queasiness and a bit of nausea the last few weeks, but thankfully no full-fledged morning sickness yet. *crossing fingers* Oh, and just before the weekend my boobs started getting a little sore.

Sleep: I've been sleeping pretty well, except for the nights I wake up to pee - which thankfully isn't every night. I'm still very tired, but that's getting somewhat better as well. I think the B Complex vitamins are helping!

Total Weight Gain: 3 pounds! But I'm pretty sure it's all bloat and water weight. Since eliminating diet coke and coffee, I've been drinking about 32 oz of water a day!

Maternity clothes: Not yet, but all my jeans are already feeling pretty tight!

Best moment this week: Will be my doctor appointment tomorrow!

Movement:

Food cravings: No specific food cravings. I've been hungry ALL THE TIME! But haven't had much appetite for anything. As always, cereal has saved my life! That seems to be the one food I can eat no matter how sick I am.

Gender: feeling like it's a boy

Labor signs:

What I miss: Feeling pretty. Between the severe bloat and this horrible acne that's suddenly flared up, I'm not feeling very attractive these days. And the fact that most people don't know I'm pregnant only makes it worse.

What I'm looking forward to: Seeing the nurse tomorrow

Weekly Wisdom (aka what I learned this week): I'm not feeling very wise this week. So many questions! I feel like every time I turn around I"m encountering another food that may or may not be safe for my baby!

Milestones: Surviving until my first appointment with the nurse!

Emotions: My emotions are still pretty much in check. Despite not feeling well for almost a month, I'm still feeling extremely happy and blessed.

Stay tuned, the first belly photos are coming this week!

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little reminders

Remember these? The little gift hubby's mom had stashed in her closet, just waiting for an announcement?

This one in case we have a boy.

And this one in case we have a girl.

Well they are now hanging in my closet. I originally hung them there because I didn't know where else to hang them. It is strange to have baby things in our house. Normally if there is something baby related laying around it means my niece has been there. But now that is not the case. They are our baby things. For the baby we are going to have. They just still seem so out of place.

I kind of like seeing them hanging there every morning as I get dressed. They have served as a daily reminder. A reminder that someday there will be a baby in our house. And a reminder that we are going to have to make room for him!

You know when you have a dream, and then the next morning you wake up and can't remember if it really happened or not? That's how I feel right now. But seeing those little outfits each morning, it's like, one day at a time this whole dream is sinking in and becoming more and more a reality.

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pregnancy symptom #2: tired

Whether its the lack of coffee, the getting up in the middle of the night to pee, or the fact that my baby is growing 100 brain cells per minute - the result is the same - I'm tired, all the time.

*This photo came from an email forward, not sure of the source.

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happy Easter!

Clearly my stomach had taken over my brain yesterday, as I forgot to wish everyone a Happy Easter! We had a wonderful weekend with family. Friday night we watched an amazing Good Friday service online from the Passion City Church, with Louie Giglio and Chris Tomlin.

Saturday I was up at 7am to wait in line, in the cold and pregnant, with hubby so he could be sure to be one of the first to get an Apple iPad. Before you think I deserve the wife of the year award, let me reassure you that he took my shoe shopping after. I've been saving my birthday money for a pair of jeans, but now that I'm pregnant it doesn't seem like the most practical way to spend my money. So I opted for a new pair of Nike athletic shoes instead. And I'm very much in love. I always like it when the cute ones also end up being the ones that fit be best too!

Sunday we went to church, had brunch with hubby's family, and then went out to the lake to open the cabin. It was such a beautiful day, we immediately pulled out the patio chairs and sat in the sun on the deck. It was glorious! Makes me so anxious for summer!

Keeping our little secret is becoming more and more challenging. At brunch hubby was serving coffee to everyone, and I of course did not have any (even though I would have really liked too!) Hubby's grandma, not missing a beat, asked if I wasn't much of a coffee drinker. Before I could even get a word out, my hubby's dad, mom and sister all said at once "no not really." She just said ok, and moved on. We all exchanged looks and silently laughed at our little secret!

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pregnancy symptom #1: hungry

It's 2:24pm and I'm hungry. Forget the fact that I just ate three pieces of pizza (healthy I know, but that was the only leftovers in my frig this morning) for lunch ... at 1pm!

This has been the trend for the past week or so. I am always hungry! In fact, at 7 weeks I've already gained 2 pounds. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not worried about gaining weight - I am pregnant after all! I realize that weight gain is good and healthy, it just seems a little early is all.

But despite my constantly growling stomach, hungry's bff appetite didn't seem to come along this time. I'll be absolutely starving, but not in the mood to eat anything. So frustrating.

I'm still not battling morning sickness, but I'm constantly just feeling a little off, or queasy. Late afternoon seems to be the worst. By the time I get home from work, all I want to do is lay down on the couch. Hubby is so wonderful and keeps asking me how I'm feeling, and I just respond ok or not great. I think he's wondering if I'll ever be "good" again!

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how he saved our baby

My last post was a little dreary - sorry about that - so how about a cute story to brighten things up?

The other night I crawled up onto one of our counter stools to see what was above our cupboards. The stools are only about 2 1/2 feet tall, and I use them as step stools all the time. No harm there, right?

Hubby wasn't so convinced. He took one look at me up on that stool and said, "hey you're pregnant," and promptly came over and picked me up and placed me safely on the floor. "There, I saved our baby."

Of course he was half joking. But it was so stinking cute! I am so blessed to have an amazing husband who cares for me. He will be such a great dad!

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two weeks or two years?

These past two weeks have been the longest of my life. I'm always complaining that time flies by too fast, and suddenly time seems to be crawling ever so slowly.

I still don't have much for pregnancy symptoms. Everything I AM feeling can easily be explained away in other - very logical - ways. I've been exhausted, but I've also completely cut out caffeine. I've had really bad cramps, but I haven't had my daily coffee to, uh ... keep me regular. I've been a little nauseous, but I've had a pretty bad cold this past week that pretty much just wiped me out.

I'm finding myself doubting that I'm actually pregnant almost every day. Yesterday I almost stopped at Walgreens to get another hpt. (And I haven't completely ruled it out yet!) And I still have TWO MORE WEEKS until I get to see the nurse! It might as well be two years.

I'm not worried. I've done my homework, and I pretty much know what is safe and what isn't. But I just want that reassurance of someone else telling me it's really going to happen! I'm having a really hard time letting myself be excited about things yet. I really want to enjoy every day of this pregnancy, but if I could just skip ahead two weeks I'd be a very happy girl right now!

It is SO hard for me to keep this news to myself. I just want to tell everyone, and let everyone be excited with me. It doesn't help either that two friend and a cousin announced that they were pregnant this week. I just want to tell them that I'm pregnant too! And I want to celebrate together! But the logical part of me knows I need to wait to make sure everything is ok before renting a megaphone.

I guess for now all I can do is make as healthy of choices as possible, keep my mouth shut, and put it all in Gods very capable hands.

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telling our family: part 2

We live in the same town as my in-laws, so telling them should have been much easier to arrange. Except of course for the weekend we found out, both hubby's parents were at their condo down south. And his sister was traveling for work. And his youngest sister was down with her parents at the condo. And his oldest sister was three hours away, well because that's where they live. :)

Both of our families are very close, but hubby's in particular has a very hard time keeping secrets. So we really wanted to tell them all at once if possible. However, his mom won't be home until Easter ... and there is NO WAY I could wait that long to tell them!

So last Tuesday (the day after we told my family), hubby's middle sister came over to watch 24 with us. Now this particular sister is actually the reason I'm even part of the family. See we were on the same freshman floor at college, and were very good friends all throughout college. It wasn't until the end of our junior year that her brother and I finally noticed each other! So we wanted to tell her first. But before I even finished my warning about not telling anyone, she blurted out "are you pregnant!?" haha, I guess she saw it coming.

The following weekend hubby's dad came home, and his older sister was coming for a visit with her two kids. So though we desperately wanted to tell them all in person, we came the the realization that we were going to have to find another way. Well we live in an area prone to spring flooding, and this happened to be the weekend the river was going to crest, so hubby helped his mom set up skype on her computer in order to give her 'flood updates.'

So Friday night we sat everyone down and got hubby's mom and youngest sister on skype. Once hubby shared the news both his mom and little sister just screamed into the computer! (And apparently they had their suspicions, they didn't believe the rues of needing skype for 'flood updates.' Oh well, we tried!) His dad, who was sitting right next to us, was uncharacteristically silent. I think he may have been a little stunned!

Once everyone calmed down, hubby's mom told his middle sister to run up to her closet. And she came down with these:

 

One for a boy and one for a girl. Apparently she's been waiting ...

Later hubby's oldest sister arrived. We all sat down for dinner, and as we were passing the food, hubby nonchalantly informed her that we were having a baby. I have never heard anyone scream louder or more intensely then she did at that moment. Her poor kids had no idea what was happening to mommy! She jumped out of her seat and did a little dance than then gave us both hugs. I guess she's a little excited for us to know what it's like to be a parent. :)

It is so fun to be able to share this with our families. I think I'd be going crazy if we weren't telling anyone. I just want to run out and announce it to all our friends. But I think we are planning on waiting at least until our first doctor visit on April 13th. I just can't wait! That still seems so far away.

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