32 Weeks

What do Coraline and a Jack in the Box have in common?

How far along? 32 Weeks 

Total weight gain? Up 30 lbs, will have another check up Week 34. Really trying to maintain a total weight gain no more than 30 lbs, but seeing how I am at 30 lbs already and Coraline still has big growth spurts ahead...my dream seems to be squashed. :-[

Maternity Clothes? ASOS is my top #1 choice! The tops/tunics run true to your pre-pregnancy size. (Given you didn't let yourself go and blow up like a balloon - boob growth is accommodated for). I found that the pants are true to your current pregnant size. So if you measure your hips properly, use their size chart to order the proper pregnancy size. Yes this means you may order a 10/12/14. Grieve for a bit, then get over it. My next choices are The Gap/Old Navy. I have really only ordered tank tops from there and again, true to pre-pregnancy size. However, for 3rd trimester I recommend going up one size, the belly region can get tight. :-)

Stretch Marks?  The red marks are still on my butt! Good news, the red marks on my boob have vanished! Gone! Not even a slight sign that they were once even there. WHOOP!

Sleep:  Sleeping well again. :-]

Best moment this week: Nursery details have been added. You can see details of our Glam Nautical Nursery: HERE. 

Miss Anything? Alcohol. It is hot and I want to enjoy the fun fruity alcoholic beverages everyone else is getting to enjoy. Jealous. 

Movement: She LOVES to move!! What's new? ha!

Food cravings: Watermelon. Henry picks the best ones too. Each time before he leaves town I make sure he picks a watermelon first so I can snack on it while he is gone. :-)

Anything making you queasy or sick: Textures are still making me sick. 

Gender RESULTS: BABY GIRL!!! My gut feeling was right all along! I absolutely can't wait to meet her!

Labor Signs: More contractions this week! Happened at work while sitting at the desk - probably because I was stressed. I am on a roll. 

Symptoms: 
Braxton Hicks! Yay.
Learned I am allergic to cocoa butter.
Hips hurt. Especially my right hip.
If I don't take my prenatal vitamin at night, my legs get extremely antsy! It feels like I need to go running they get so antsy. However, if I take my pre-natal within 30 minutes they chill out. I read that it has to do with the iron. Either way, it works.
Movements have changed from individual movements to feeling simultaneous movements in two different spots. Like I will feel something toward my right side up by my ribs, and at the same time another movement on the left side of my belly button. It's the weirdest, yet most wonderful feeling in the world.
Disappearing belly button, baby bump, nails and hair growing like weeds, baby movements (the best!) and my boobs have drastically increased.
Frequent bathroom visits
Occasional swelling of my feet and hands. Especially my right foot. 

Belly Button in or out? My belly button is officially FLAT. No innie, no outtie. 

Wedding rings on or off? Both rings have moved to my pinkie fingers. I had a scare with my Aggie ring and just decided to keep them both there. Juuuust in case. 

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy, Happy!

Looking forward to: Finishing out the nursery and getting back into our house from the tornado!

Baby Name? Coraline! I love the name!! See WEEK 21 for name details. <3

Thoughts: First thought - gosh we look a shaggy mess in this weeks photo!!
Second - We are learning so much in our Birth Boot Camp class. I can't express to you how wonderful this class has been. We intend on doing a natural birth. I had wanted to do the Bradley method, however in a small town that was close to impossible without driving an hour to get to a class. When I found this class right down the street from us, designed by a lady who taught the Bradley Method for over 20 years I was ecstatic! I have been against epidurals since I was in high school. I have always had a pretty high pain tolerance, such as opting to have my teeth drilled without medication. Plus I have woken up in the middle of a few procedures, so not only do I have a high pain tolerance, my body has a high tolerance I guess to anesthesia. I would assume that given my history, an epidural wouldn't really work to the extent on my body that it does for most others. Each person has their own reasoning for either choosing an epidural or choosing natural and I don't knock those choose the epidural. This is just my personal preference. I want to be able to labor in my position of choice, walk around, use the restroom and better engage with my baby post-delivery. However, I know I can't beat myself up if for some unforeseeable reason I do end up getting an epidural. My birth plan though clearly states no epidural and to not offer drugs to me, I know they are there if I choose. :-]

About the Board:

Inspiration was from a dream. You hear of those crazy prego dreams? Well this one was pretty odd. I dreamt my stomach was a Jack in the Box. I would crank the Jack in the Box and the music would play until my belly would pop open. It would pop open like the vintage post office box drawers on the street. When it opened I could see Coraline in my tummy, head down, facing my spine. She was wearing this super cute footy onesie I had recently purchased. When she saw that I was looking down at her she looked up at me from between her legs and reached her hands up for me to pick her up. I almost went to pick her up until I realized she wasn't ready to come out yet and slammed the drawer shut!!! HA! Pretty odd, huh? 

Pregnancy/Maternity Fashion: 

Top and leggings are from Motherhood Maternity. I love this top, however I feel like it is the least flattering in photos now that I am getting bigger. It doesn't accommodate upper boob expansion very well.

19 WEEK SONO

Week 19 began on Saturday/Sunday for me. On Monday we had our 2nd doctor sono, 3rd overall, to see the baby, get measurements and determine the gender!! Even though they would be finding the gender, Henry and I would not find out. Our Gender Reveal Party is scheduled for this Saturday, April 13, 2013, so the only person who would know would be the party host, Marina. :-)

Our sonographer did a great job in ensuring we did not find out. She referred to "the baby" the entire time. We got to see the skull, the four chambers of it's heart and the adorable face! When we went to look at the spine and legs she made sure to tell us to look away, even though we weren't looking she talked us through everything she was doing. "I am measuring the legs right now. Looking at the spine, everything looks great. 10 toes are present." She did a few more things where we could watch and at the perfect moment our baby from the profile did a slight karate chop/intense wave on the sono! It was hilarious. She snapped a few photos for us to keep, then told us to look away one last time so she could determine the gender. I really had to practice self control not to peek - I mean REALLY try! If Henry weren't there ensuring I didn't cheat I would've been telling her, "Just tell me, I promise I will act surprised!". HA! I even tried listening for her to type "B-O-Y" or "G-I-R-L" and she was so silent on the keyboard I baaaarely heard her hit one key. Hell, she probably just typed "B" or "G". LOL

Sweet baby yawn! What do you think? Boy or Girl?

When we went to the examining room to see Dr. English, she informed us that she would just talk more about it with us at our next visit. She told the sonographer not to enter it into our chart because she didn't want to slip up and ruin the surprise, so bring photos of the reveal and we would talk about it next time. haha

We left them Marina's phone number and waited until we had confirmation from Marina they had called. Sure enough, they called and Marina did not hesitate to post on FB: "I know something you don't know!" My sister - Stefanie - was cracking me up with her responses! Both her and my sister-in-law were having major jealously issues. At lunch my sister-in-law threw a joking, pity-party, "It's not fair that she gets to know before us! She isn't even family." I had to remind her that we didn't tell family, especially Henry's, because no one on that side knows how to keep a secret. If I would've told her, all of the world would know. Punk. :-P (Love you Audrey)

Love my edit job?

Needless to say, I am posting constant countdown updates and am beyond anxious! Marina has apparently phenomenally decorated a box which will be filled with pink or blue balloons. I haven't seen said box, but my girlfriend Danni has re-assured me that everything Marina has done is perfection. Which I don't doubt one bit. 

I really thought this week would have dragged on, but I can't believe that tomorrow is Friday and we will be on our way to Houston, one day closer to knowing if Baby J will be a boy or girl. I won't be able to sleep a wink Friday night, I just know it!

If you don't already follow me on Instagram, be sure to go check it out! The gender reveal announcement won't be posted on the blog for another week, but will be posted on Instagram this weekend. 

Which team are you? Team Beau or Team Bow?

WEEK 18

I know the photos overlap the sidebar, but oh well!

How far along? 18 Weeks

Total weight gain? 4 lbs as of my last appointment - we have another appointment week 19.

Maternity Clothes? I am not necessarily wearing maternity clothes. If you look at most, they are frumpy and ugly. I mean who designs these things? Even Jessica Simpson and Heidi Klum's maternity lines are slightly awful and seem geared toward mid-30s. Luckily, I love Target! Target has a whole line of really cute ribbed tanks and regular tanks, and fitted shirts that are all SUPER LONG and comfy! Needless to say, I bought about 20 some odd shirts from Target. Their tanks even have cute designs too, long enough to cover my growing bump and unbuttoned pants. hehe

Stretch Marks? None. Thank goodness!

Sleep: Sleep is GREAT! I have been sleeping like a rock.

Best moment this week: Well last week I got to feel the baby and this week Henry got to feel the baby!!! It is wonderful every night us laying together, trying to be as quiet as possible, Henry's hand pressed against my belly and feeling the little movements and flutters. It's my favorite part of the day. <3

Miss Anything? Take a wild guess.....ALCOHOL! And ordering my steaks and prime rib medium-rare. I have actually stopped ordering most red meat, other than burgers, because I can't stand them well-done. Takes all the flavor out and feels like I am eating rubber. 

Movement: YES!! Refer to Week 17 for my first experiences with movements. This week Henry got to feel the baby move, as stated in the "Best moment of this week". I feel subtle little flutters, mostly on the left side, especially at night. 

Food cravings: Fruit. Fruit. Oh, and Fruit. Anything lemon this week is my addiction. I have made two batches now of homemade strawberry infused lemonade. YUM! Henry loves it too.

Anything making you queasy or sick: So I have noticed lately when I eat red meat, it makes me sick later. The sight or thought doesn't make me queasy or sick, but EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. I eat it, I get nauseous later in the day. Pork and Chicken it is. 

Gender Prediction: Baby Boy. However, for the first time I really started accepting the fun ideas of having a baby girl. I don't mean to sound awful, but I am team blue all the way. This week though, I saw two little girls riding around in this Barbie Corvette my sister and I use to have, and then Instagram photos of all these little ballet recitals. Oh how I would love to have a little ballerina princess! haha

Labor Signs: Too soon

Symptoms: Baby bump is the most obvious. The best symptom ever, baby movements! Then there is the hair and nails growing like crazy. 

Belly Button in or out? Innie

Wedding rings on or off? On

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy. This has been an amazing preggo week!

Looking forward to: Reveal Party and more baby movements!!!

Baby Names? Still have to be Henry the 3rd for a boy. Ok Adaleine, the one we thought we were settled on has officially been scratched off the list. No way, Jose. The new names, as seen on the board, are Coraline, Heidi, Claire, Adelaide, and Hayden (couldn't fit this one on there).  Thinking about having friends and family vote at the Reveal Party. 

Thoughts: It is an amazing bonding experience getting to feel the baby move with Henry. I am thankful the time between me feeling it and him feeling it was so short. He is really "involved" with this pregnancy, which sounds odd to say. You read all these things about how the dad doesn't really get to bond or get involved until the baby is born. Henry is rare I guess? He loves talking to the baby, putting his hand on my belly whether it's laying in bed together, driving in the car, sitting watching TV or just walking around town. He gives the baby and my belly a lot of attention that I don't hear a lot of other women admit to or talk about. The best is laying there together and hearing him say, "I felt that!.....And that!". He is going to be such an amazing dad. I can't wait until we get to kiss all those little fingers and toes!

**NEW** About the Board: I have a lot of people asking me how I get my board the way I do, inspiration, chalk, font, etc. So, I decided to add this section each week. I always use Crayolas Sidewalk Chalk for big lettering, then Staples brand writing chalk for finer lettering or outlining. Plus, sidewalk chalk has SO MANY COLORS! However, this week was 100% sidewalk chalk. I wet the board down with a damp rag, and then write away. It makes the colors go on bolder/thicker when it's a bit wet.
Then when editing I increase the "saturation" to make the colors even more bold.
The fonts this week are: Desdemona, Academy Engraved LET, and Harrington.
I pull up word, type what I want in the fonts chosen, then eyeball it onto the chalkboard. :-)

**NEW** Pregnancy/Maternity Fashion: Again, another question I keep getting.
This is post-working out so forgive the outfit. The fold-over yoga pants are Victorias Secret, and then the tank top is a regular tank top from Target. Their tank tops are UH-MAZING! Super long, super cheap too!

14 WEEKS

The Hubby and myself with the growing bump! <3

How far along? 14 Weeks

Total weight gain? Won't go to the doctor for another 3 weeks and still don't have a scale at home.

Maternity Clothes? None yet, however the bump is growing and I have purchased some daily leggings and tunics to come in the mail from Victorias Secret. I don't know why, but I am really not wanting to buy actual maternity clothes. Ugh! I want the bump, but not the maternity clothes lol.

Stretch Marks? None. 

Sleep: Sleep is becoming a bit restless and I am up at 6:45 am almost every morning due to the bladder.

Best moment this week: Getting to see Baby J again!!! You can read all about the experience with sono photos HERE: 14 WEEK SONO. Man I do I love this little baby! 

Miss Anything? Still missing alcohol. With the summer months coming up and all the pictures of Mojitos and Sangria...I feel tortured!

Movement: No movements. Watching the sono and seeing Baby J move SO MUCH I can't believe I didn't even feel a flutter. Patiently waiting though!

Food cravings: Fruit cravings are back. We have been making fruit dishes galore. Such as Belgian waffles with sliced strawberries, blackberries, and banana slices topped with powder sugar. YUM! Then craving lemon water, lemonade, and this amazing Kool-aide that I can't seem to find: Watermelon Cherry!! Luckily, I have 3 packets still left.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope! Yippee!

Gender Prediction: Baby Girl. 

Labor Signs: Too soon

Symptoms: Other than the baby bump slowly growing, and slight memory loss, I have been beyond HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY!

Belly Button in or out? Innie

Wedding rings on or off? on

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy Happy!! 

Looking forward to: Our Gender Reveal Party on April 13th thanks to a wonderful friend Marina! 

Baby Names? Still have to be Henry the 3rd for a boy. Then baby girl options seem to be narrowing down to Adaleine and Adalena. We did a poll the other day asking which people liked most: Adaleine (Add-uh-line) seemed to win. We love both names. Adalena (Add-uh-Leen-uh) was a little German girls name from our Honeymoon, but my nickname in Germany was "Heatherleine", so Henry thought of the idea of taking Adalena to Adaleine. The "Leine" on the ending is suppose to mean something like "little love". I am leaning toward Adalena though since it is purely original.

Thoughts: I still can not get over how developed our baby was at 14 weeks. It really got me to thinking about all this abortion stuff. I am all for abortion if it is rape (police report to prove it) or medically necessary (doctors note to prove it), but if some girl just decided not to keep her legs closed, NO MA'AM! Especially if it is later in the pregnancy. Did you know they allow abortions even if the baby is near 24-28 weeks!!!!??? Partial Birth Abortion is what it is called. They deliver the baby only to the head, a slit is made in the back of the head, and a suction tube is stuck into the head to suck all the "Product of Conception's" brain out, skull is crushed, then the rest of the baby is delivered and disposed. WTF!?!?! Ugh! Now I am not going to post up with a sign and crucifix outside of an abortion clinic, but it has got me thinking. 

11 WEEKS

How far along? 11 Weeks

Total weight gain? Still don't know yet. My next doctors appointment is week 13! <3

Maternity Clothes? I finally ordered a Maxi dress to cater to the future growing belly. I am still wearing my regular clothes now, although I have opted for more flowy blouses and tanks to hide the slight beer baby bulge. 

Stretch Marks? Still in the clear. 

Sleep: Well this has been affected by my newest "symptom". Sharp lower abdominal pains. They are so painful they wake me up at night. There were a few nights I laid in bed for hours kind of rocking in pain. 

Best moment this week: Eating CRAWFISH! 

Miss Anything? Alcohol. Holy crap do I miss alcohol. I was not a HUGE drinker pre-baby, but I did enjoy my Sangria and glasses of wine. Oh and mojitos.

Movement: No movements.

Food cravings: I was at dinner with the hubby the other night and the bar area walked in with a case of rum...Let's just say I had the craziest urge to want to grab that box of rum and run! It was an awful, torturous craving. Don't judge.

Anything making you queasy or sick: I was actually able to eat a burger this week, but onions still top the list for no eating.

Gender Prediction: Girl. Girl. Girl. Now I am team boy, but don't get me wrong, I have reasons I love both. I just really want a little momma's boy. 

Labor Signs: Too soon

Symptoms: All day sickness is still lingering, which doesn't make the lower abdominal pain any better, topped with the bloating. Oh and my face can't decide if it wants to be an oil slick or desert. Either way, my forehead has begun to breakout - my forehead has never been broken out in my life. I was the one or two big pimple kind of girl, never over-all little bumps. My forehead is embarassing. To top it off, all of my wonderful make-up won't stick. Primer won't help, I've tried multiple brands, translucent powder doesn't help, nothing. I've done facials, microderms, different face washes, toners, moisturizers....I spent over $200 on NEW make-up to try and see if another brand or formula would work. Nope. Now I have tons of Clinique, Revlon, Smashbox, Pur, BareMinerals, Urban Decay, etc. makeup I can't wear. At least not until my skin figures out what it wants to do. I feel like I am in some awkward ugly duckling growing phase. HA!

Belly Button in or out? Innie

Wedding rings on or off? on

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy most of the time, other than when it comes to getting ready in the morning. That depresses me.

Looking forward to: Getting an actual baby bump and decorating the nursery.

Baby Names? Still have to be Henry the 3rd. Then baby girl is still leaning toward Claire or Adaleine, but started liking Annabelle too. <3

10 WEEKS

How far along? 10 Weeks

Total weight gain? Haven't weighed myself yet, we don't own a scale. 

Maternity Clothes? Not yet, but occasionally the pants are a bit tight. Boo.

Stretch Marks? Nada

Sleep: Sleeping well, other than having crazy freaking dreams. I am talking BIZARRE! 

Best moment this week: Won money to buy an awesome diaper bag. HA!

Miss Anything? Not feeling bloated! As usual.

Movement: No movements.

Food cravings: I had this crazy craving for Taco Bell this week, and Dunkaroos!! But fruit is still topping the list of food choices.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Red meat and onions still. Hubby tried to cook onions and I gagged the moment they touched my tongue. So depressing! It's crazy how I can recall wonderful dishes and how they taste, but the moment I actually try to eat onions, they are repulsive. 

Gender Prediction: Still Girl.

Labor Signs: Too soon

Symptoms: Well all day sickness is back! Not cool, I thought I was in the clear. Then of course my new best friend, bloating. Started to look a tiny bit preggo this week, but to a stranger it probably looks like I ate too many cupcakes or drank one too many beers.

Belly Button in or out? Innie

Wedding rings on or off? on

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy Happy Happy

Looking forward to: Getting an actual baby bump and decorating the nursery.

Baby Names? Still have to be Henry the 3rd - although if I could choose, I would pick Elijah. Then baby girl is still leaning toward Claire or Adaleine. <3

First set of baby toys bought last week! 

Gender Reveal: How To Announce Baby J As A Boy Or Girl

If you ever browse Pinterest, then you will see the Gender Reveal Party ideas taking over people's baby boards. Some old fashion folks prefer the idea of waiting until the baby pop's out, but the latest generation trend is the Reveal Party/Shower. Henry and I have decided we would like to jump on this bandwagon, but don't know exactly which of the many fabulous ideas to use! That is why I have listed some of our favorite ideas. We need your help in voting, or suggesting alternatives, to help us decide how to reveal Baby J's gender to family and friends.

We find out the gender in just under 8 weeks, with the reveal shower to follow shortly after the doctor puts the gender in a sealed envelope where even we won't know until the shower.

This means we need to come up with an idea, so the shower planning and theme can begin!

Ideas:

1) Gender Reveal Scratch Off:

Etsy Source

If we chose this idea everyone would receive a scratch off, but only ONE would have 3 bows or 3 mustaches (or feet or anchors or bees, whatever the theme may be). This way everyone gets to be involved. We can either buy them pre-made off Etsy, or use one of the many How-Tos that can be found online.

2) Fizzy Drink Gender Reveal:

Pinterest Baby Board

The science nerd in me loves this idea!

Henry suggested as a way to prevent some party-pooper from spoiling the surprise before everyone is ready by being an eager beaver, was to get a pretty vase in the center of the room, fill it with water, and everyone toss the fizzy into the vase at once.

Wishing Well Style. 

We could opt to give everyone a fizzy or a select few. Or hell, just Henry and I could drop one in together in the front of the room.

3) Box of Balloons Gender Reveal:

Pinterest Baby Board

Etsy Source: Balloon Reveal Box Vinyl Decor

 This is a pretty common reveal along with the cake/baked good reveal.

You take a decorated box, have the balloon place fill the box with the correct color, then release the balloons in front of family and friends. Simple and sweet! You could opt to do regular latex balloons, get different shaped balloons in the correct color, have streamers attached to the balloons, etc. All different ways to dress it up!

4) Confetti Balloon Gender Reveal:

GreyLikesBaby Blog

 This idea could get messy, but I love it! I do not know exactly how this couple had the confetti release, but this is what I have pictured in my head.

You get some pink balloons, some blue balloons, then two black balloons.

Have the balloon store fill the two nice sized black balloons with the correct color confetti.

When it is time to reveal, you each pop the two black balloons and down rains beautiful gender colored confetti! Partay!

5) Bubble Gum Gender Reveal:

Frosted Petti Coat Blog

 For this one, the photographer was the only one who knew. Everyone closed their eyes, photographer placed the correct color gumball in the parents-to-be mouths, and then everyone opened their eyes.

My sister also had the idea of instead of revealing the gum-ball, you could blow a bubble. 

Super Cute! 

6) Cake/Cupcake/Cake Pop Gender Reveal:

Pinterest Baby Board

 This idea you could do one whole cake, where Henry and I would slice into the cake and the cake or filling would be pink or blue. You could do cupcakes, everyone bites into it to reveal pink or blue. You could do filled cupcakes, where the filling is pink or blue. Cake pops, cake balls, etc. Lots of yummy edible options here. This is also the most traditional way people have done it.

7) Party Popper Gender Reveal:

Pinterest Baby Board

This is a new idea I haven't seen used yet.

Everyone gets a party popper filled with the correct color, count 1,2,3 and POP!

Out comes pink or blue!

8) Gender Reveal Pinata:

Etsy Source

Who doesn't know how a Pinata works?

Hang piñata in a tree, everyone takes a whack at it, colored candy/confetti/glitter, etc. falls out!

Gender revealed! Voila!



1 + 1 = 3

The Saturday before Christmas Henry and I learned the special news that we would become three. Friday I went in for a blood bHCG since Henry and I had been trying, but would not get the results until Monday morning. Torture.

I had been up nauseas all night Friday. I text my bestie, Taylor, Saturday morning to let her know I wouldn't be making Yoga that morning because I was feeling pretty awful. She text back, "Sick? Or Morning Sickness?".

I immediately sat up in bed. I thought to myself, noooo, nooooo. I honestly didn't think I would become preggers on the first try. It's suppose to take months!

Henry was up about to give the dogs a bath. I ran past him yelling, "I have to teedle!!" slamming the door shut and trying to quietly open a pregnancy test.

Sure enough the moment I put the cap on and turned it over to set down the two pink lines crept across. I started instantly shaking from the adrenaline while simultaneously doing a happy dance, fist pumping and silently screaming at myself in the mirror. Lol

I shoved the pregnancy test in the cabinet and grabbed the unused one to take a second one in the guest bathroom. Sure enough, same thing happened.

Henry requested I wait to tell him on Christmas Day with a cookie cake. There was no way I could wait four more days and not tell ANYONE! He's crazy.

I text his mom and asked her to go get a cookie cake, since obviously if I left he would know something was up. She text back, "Really!? I'm so excited!!" His dad then text me excited too.

I could hardly contain my joy waiting for lunch time to roll around so we would have an excuse to go to his parent's house. Luckily, Blondie text me asking if I had made her Hawaiian Sweet Roll recipe the other week, because she was going to make it for lunch. Whether she meant to or not, that was the perfect text to show Henry so we could head over.

Herman was outside pacing around. Henry snickered thinking it was because his dad was trying to resist lighting a cigarette, but I knew it was because he has a hard time keeping secrets. HA!

Herman grabs me as Henry walks in to let me know the cookie cake was in the corner of the kitchen with a towel over it.

We are all four in the kitchen, Henry is chatting away not realizing that Blondie, Herman and Myself are trying to avoid eye-contact. I am trying to devise a way to get the video camera going without looking straight up suspicious, so we can have it on video when we tell him. Finally Henry goes to the restroom. We start frantically moving around. I am trying to get my dang camera to focus so Blondie can record, and it keeps staying blurry. Henry eventually waltzes out of the restroom as his mom and I are huddled behind the kitchen cabinet fumbling around with the camera and trying to keep the cookie cake hidden. I say screw it, it's recording lol, grab the cookie cake and walk over to Henry.

Henry looks really confused and very inquisitively asks all of us, "What's going on?". He finally sees the cookie cake and the joy just spreads across his face. "REALLY!?" I explain to him the pregnancy tests were positive and sure enough we are having a baby! All of us are tearing up, there was lots of hugs, kisses, and celebrating. Henry's dad even bought a bottle of sparkling grape juice so we could all toast to the great occasion. His parent's are amazing!

Later that day his sister comes over and I had asked Henry to put the cake in his car, afraid his little nieces would see it and go Facebook happy announcing it to the world before we were ready. I find out Henry only hid a tiny hand rag over it on the bar. Of course his family can sniff out sweets a mile away, so all of a sudden I hear, "What's the cookie cake for?" as she lifts the rag up. I jump up to show her the silence signal with my finger over my lips. She gets the same giddy look as everyone else and yells, "Really!?" "Yes, really." as she rushes over to give me a huge hug. I explain to her how we dont want the kids knowing though until we get a doctor confirmation. Plus, I didn't want many more people knowing until I had the chance to tell my parent's. If word got out before I personally told them, they would be so upset, especially my sister. I really wanted her to be the next to know after Henry, but I had a special way to announce it that had to wait until the Christmas party. It took every fiber of my body not to text her! HA!

I told Taylor once she got out of Yoga and she was beyond happy for us. She isn't sister by blood, but she will make a fabulous aunt! :-)

We headed to my family's Christmas party in Houston the next day. There we pulled my Aunt Marilyn aside to tell her. It took a bit to get her in the garage alone, but once we did she did a happy dance for us and put her hand on my belly. She is an amazing aunt who I adore!

Next we pulled my grandparents aside. My grandpa was adorable to say the least. I had no idea he would get so excited. I started saying, "We have some exciting news we want to share with yall." before I could get another word out my grandma blurts, "YOUR PREGNANT!" We all started laughing, well yes we are. LOL My Grandpa luckily had his video camera on as well and gives me a great big hug, grinning ear-to-ear. He says, "I can't believe I may actually get to live to see my great-grandkids from yall!" He was all smiles and it made my heart smile to see how happy this news made him. I really didn't think it would phase them too much since I am like in the middle of their 20 grandkids and they already have like 10 great-grandkids. I guess I am just the favorite. HA!

Later my cousin Matthew messaged me on facebook and told me his mom told him and told us congratulations. He is such a great kid.

I had text my Aunt Robin the day we found out. I had told her we were trying and had gone in for a blood test, but her and my sister at the time were the only ones who knew, other than Henry for obvious reasons. When we arrived at her house Christmas Eve she was extremely excited and using code questions to ask how I was in front of my younger cousin. My Uncle Warren, her husband, then pulled me aside to say congrats as well. 

My Uncle Bubba is always "santa" on my mom's side of the family. All he knew before he began passing out gifts was the three Aggie gifts on the coffee table were to be handed out first and to make sure my mom, dad and sister opened them side-by-side at the same time or it would ruin the "joke". 

Once everyone was situated we began with the gifts. All three open their gifts to see three t-shirts. They all hold them up and you could see them peeking at each others shirt trying to wrap their brain around what they said. Then it was, "Noooo! Noooo!" My sister started crying and yelled, "REALLY!?!?" (Response of the season) My mom began squealing. My Uncle Bubba hugged me tightly and everyone was congratulating us. Bubba even stopped in the middle of passing gifts a bit later and squeezed my hands, slightly tearing up. I adore my family, other than my dad. My dad however didn't congratulate or hug either of us. As we left town he didn't even come to wish us a safe trip. Dad of the year right there, or I guess I should say Grandpa.

Everyone's excitement made up for those lacking. It was so sweet to see how happy everyone was. I am the oldest child, oldest niece, oldest grandchild on my moms side, so it was exciting for everyone except the Grinch.

As soon as Christmas Eve festivities were over, it was back to Cleburne to enjoy our first Christmas as a married couple and last Christmas before we officially become a family.

Best Christmas Ever!