A baby?? Us?

Can you believe we are having a baby!? I know I can’t, but how did we get to this point after 8 years of marital bliss?

It all started early 2007, we had moved into a house in November 2006 and were running out of reasons to put it off; it seems having kids was inevitably just around the corner. We had a trip to Europe scheduled with friends the first week of April and decided we would talk about it after we were home. I was feeling pretty anxious when we returned but decided to give Ryan the opportunity to bring it up himself, kind of… I told him that Monday that he had until Friday at 5PM to bring it up, otherwise I would have to start the conversation. We were driving home from work Friday and it was about 4:45PM when I reminded him he had about 15 minutes to bring it up, not much warning but we proceeded with a conversation that only took about 10 minutes. Ryan asked what I would do if it were entirely up to me, I said “I would go off birth control and see what happens” assuming it would take some time anyway. His response was classic “can’t you just do that and not tell me about it!?” We laughed for a few minutes but that was literally the extent of our conversation. It was only about 2.5 months later that I panicked and went back on, that’s not all that surprising right? But the turning point this time was on August 27, 2007 when we visited the hospital to see Neil and Krissy’s adorable new baby boy, Mikade. We arrived in time to be the photographers of his first bath and everything, it was a pivotal moment and we determined, with more mutual enthusiasm that it really was time. A few more things fell into place for us as well; on October 15th I left Oracle and started working for a partner Serene Corp. in a position that allows me to work from home. Little did I know how appreciative I would soon be of this transition as I moved from working East Coast time zone to West Coast, a welcome and relaxing change of pace. It wasn’t until late November when the signs began to show, but how could it be so quickly? After taking 6 pregnancy tests and all of them showing negative I finally made a doctors appointment on December 4, 2007. While at this point I obviously expected the result to be positive, I was still shocked when the doctor broke the news; there are no words to describe my elated state! I was hardly out of the doctor’s office when I called Ryan, I was prepared to play it cool but did not expect that it would take me an hour and a half to get a hold of him; apparently he didn’t expect much to come of this little doctor’s visit. It was all I could do to not just blurt out the news but I wanted to make him think a bit. We had been planning a Nordic cruise for August of 2008 (fortunately we didn’t book it!) so I just asked him if we had made any plans for August, he said not yet and I said “well maybe we should just have a baby!” there was a moment of silence followed by a dozen or so comments in the form of “no way” and “are you serious” he was immediately excited too. We determined to wait to tell anyone until Ryan’s sister Lisa would be in town from D.C. so we could tell her in person, this was a very long 10 days away and I could hardly contain myself. I pretty much avoided people for fear of giving it away.

It was an exciting day on December 15th, the day of our 8 year anniversary that we got to tell the world our exciting news! I could hardly sleep and called my mom bright and early to tell her and Anna. Again wanting to try for some sneakiness I simply asked my mom if we could borrow the cradle (that my grandpa had made) next August, she quickly replied yes but I could tell it hadn’t really sunken in yet. When she did realize what I was asking we celebrated over the phone and I told her I would call my brother Curtis with the news and then she could tell whomever she wanted after 6PM so I could tell Ryan’s family first. I had to work a short shift at Williams-Sonoma that day but it felt like the longest 5 hours of my life! I was finally on my way home and going directly to the Thomas’s but much to my disappointment when I arrived Jim and Kristi were out shopping. Ryan knew I was anxious and called his dad who would only be about 15 minutes and I called Kristi to see when she might be home, trying not to sound suspicious, she would be home in 20 minutes which I thought I could barely handle. But that wasn’t then end of complications... when they were both home Lisa had decided to take a nap and when she did get up Kristi was in the shower. I really didn’t want to make everyone be in the same room so I just kept hoping it would happen soon. When Kristi was getting ready I went to talk to her with Lisa about clothes or something and luckily she followed us back out into the living room where I finally just yelled that I was pregnant! I was so relieved to get it out and share our excitement. We told the rest of Ryan’s family at a Christmas party that night.

Word has spread fast – thanks to all for your shared excitement!