Family Excitement

Before we left Montana, we were able to tell Todd's family on Easter day. They were excited with the news, and Harvey already has nicknames for the little tike.

Since we were heading south for a little vacation, we decided to wait to tell my family in person. First stop, mom. We gave her a card with a picture of the pregnancy test that was an early mother's day gift. The picture dropped when she opened it, and when she picked it up, she didn't know what it was. We told her to read it, and she said, "Clear blue." I said to keep reading, but she couldn't see without her glasses. Once she put on her glasses, she looked at it again closer, and dropped her hands down and screamed.

We told my aunt Julie before we left for the wedding rehearsal. Her husband, John, and my cousin Martha were then in the know. We went through the wedding rehearsal and headed over to the dinner, which was in a cool downtown Nashville apartment building. Dad and Beth were going to be late, driving from Richmond. We had a card with the picture in it for them too. Word was spreading fast - Julie's friend Linda congratulated us, my cousin Jenny and her fiance Justin, and even the photographer offered to take belly photographs later in the pregnancy. I was getting nervous that Dad and Beth may find out from someone other than us. We were sitting on the poolside deck with the fireplace and taking in the breathtaking sunset, and Dad walked up. We chatted for a bit and went to find Beth. Once we finally got them both in the same spot, we gave them the card. Confused, Beth opened it, and again, the picture fell out. Dad picked up the picture while Beth read the card - both of them screaming at the same time. Tears came.

After the wedding, we headed south to Birmingham to have lunch with Grandmother, my aunt and uncle, Harriet and Jim, and cousin Jay. We chatted for a while in the living room, and then went to the restaurant. I wasn't sure how I was going to do this one. Fairly soon after we were seated, I said, "Well, we're going to have a baby in November." Harriet lit up and Grandmother was gracefully happy with a big grin.

We came further south to meet my cousin Harrison at the beach. When we got here, she was offering us different drinks, and I said, "Well, I can't have a beer because I'm pregnant." She lit up too.

While I am here, I got the news that our very close friends, Bobby and Avery Jones, are expecting a little one. I was calling to try to find out when and Bobby left me a message that it would be a Thanksgiving baby. I got the chills. Trying to call him with our news, we finally talked in person. He was telling us the good news and I said, "Well, guess what - we're having a baby on Thanksgiving too." So exciting!

A few more to go on this trip - Chris (who came by our beach spot yesterday, but left with a tired baby), Laura and the girls!

In the meantime, I'm loading the baby with some good ocean vibes, seafood, and sunshine. Oh, and lots of shirley temples (made with ginger ale).