Family Reaction

With Ms. Abigail, we got some great reactions to announcing the pregnancy. We didn't do anything fancy to announce it or have any time to plan. It took enough effort for me just to convince Josh that I was pregnant and his "boys can swim"! This time things were a little different. As I mentioned yesterday, we had been trying so it wasn't an accident or failed birth control. However, Josh had to convince me to take the test this time. The week leading up to taking the test, Josh noticed a few things were off. The first one was that I didn't know where the Baby Tylenol was. Now, I don't have the neatest house but I usually know where stuff is or in what general vicinity. I had him upstairs looking for this when Abby had an ear infection only to find that the Tylenol was by our phone chargers. Why, I don't know. STRIKE ONE! Then one night I was cooking pasta for dinner while Josh had Abby upstairs for her bath. I put the pot on the stove as I ran upstairs to finish our nighttime ritual. I told Josh to go downstairs and put the pasta in the water because I am sure it was boiling by now. After I put Abby to bed, I smelled burning something. Well, apparently I put the pot on the stove, put the burner on high...but forgot to put any water in the pot. I was burning the bottom of my pot but Josh got it off the stove in time to do any permanent damage. STRIKE TWO! Then I misplaced our digital camera. Any of you who have seen our photo pages know that we are avid photo takers (and with such a cute person to take pictures of, how can you not?). I love this camera and ALWAYS know where it is. There are only a few places I keep it and if I take it out of the house it is usually in my purse or in the diaper bag. But, more importantly, I know where it is. Well, after Josh searching EVERYWHERE in the house for this little camera...I realized it was in my car. STRIKE THREE!

With three strikes, Josh finally said "You have to be pregnant. Your brain is not out to lunch like this normally". Which I didn't appreciate hearing at first because I don't like feeling like I am incompetent. But I realized that I am very capable and competent and he knows that...he is so sweet. Now I may cry...Stupid hormones. Anyways...I took a test and it said no. But since I wasn't technically "late" I wasn't surprised (but Josh was). I figured it may be so soon that no hormones are in my system to show up on a test. So we decided to wait another week, of which I only made it 5 days, but got a faint line. I decided I am so sick of looking at lines that I need to just get the test I got last time with the PREGNANT or NOT PREGNANT in the window. I went to the store the next day and got a two pack, just in case. I took the first one and NOTHING came up...dud test. UGH. With nothing left in my bladder, I had to wait to take the test the next day and pop! PREGNANT. I showed it to Josh and his reaction..."Told you so!". Yes dear. You are right. It sometimes happens. Be thankful.

So now it came time for the family's reaction. I decided to tell my brother first since he was going to be in town...His reaction to the news? "Really? Again?" No, Adam...this is my first. Where have you been?

Then came time for our parents. We again knew we could only tell one family in person so we decided to tell my parents in person (and grandmas since they would be there) since we had already had tickets to go visit them 2 weeks later. I craftily purchased picture frames with a picture of the pregnancy test stating "PREGNANT". The picture frame said "Grand Kids" on them and I even got picture frames for the grandmas. I mailed it to Josh's parents with big words on it "CALL BEFORE OPENING" and paid for 2 day shipping (on a Thursday night the week of Christmas so it would get there on Monday) to make sure it got there when we were at my parents. Of course the post office decided to be very efficient and get it there Saturday morning. Josh's parents followed directions and called us. Josh and I exchanged looks and just said "OH CRAP". I told Josh. Make something up!!!!! We told them that they can only open in on Monday, which was the first day of Hanukkah. Since it is 12/22 this year, it has a mathematical connotation. So call us at 2:00 PM on 12/22 and try to figure out the math until then. Josh skillfully talked in so many circles about math, they bought it!!!!

We got to my parents on Monday and I gave my parents and Gram the presents. My parents reaction was that my mom screamed for joy and my dad gasped for air. My Gram says "What a nice picture frame!" Gram, look at the picture. "Oh! Is this from when you were pregnant?" No Gram...this is from when I AM pregnant. "Oh...OH!...really?" Nope. Just like to pee on things and take pictures of it...My Grammy came to my parent's house two days later and we gave her a picture frame too. It took her awhile because first she couldn't see because she didn't have her glasses. Then she couldn't see because there wasn't enough light. Finally, she was beside herself happy. Boy, that took a lot of work!

After all that work (and waking up at 4 AM to go to the airport to fly to my parents that day) we took a nap. About an hour later, I hear Josh's phone ringing. I look at my watch and bolt up in bed yelling "JOSH, IT IS 2:00! PICK UP THE PHONE! YOUR PARENT'S ARE CALLING". He picked up on the last ring (I can't imagine what would have happened if it would have gone to voicemail) and his parents opened the package. Josh's dad took the wrapped picture and started opening it while his mom opened the card. Next thing I hear is Josh's dad screaming followed by his mom screaming. Everyone was thrilled to say the least.

So the lesson here is to just not tell anyone ever and save the energy. It can just be too much work to spread good news!