Spilling the Beans

This pregnancy is feeling more and more real with each passing week.  Over the holidays, we shared our news with Luke's family, my family, and our best friends, Bill and Mary.  While Luke was hesitant to want to share anything with anyone before 12 weeks, I told him that I needed my support networks in place, should we be forced to experience another loss.  Plus, with it being Christmas time, I figured that there wouldn't be a better time to have our families all together to announce our pregnancy.

For this announcement, I found a couple snowman ornaments with round bellies.  Using a sharpie marker, I wrote "Baby" at the top of the belly with an arrow pointing down, and wrote "August 2014" at the bottom of the ornament.

I wrapped each of them up in boxes and Christmas paper, and added them to our gift piles.

On Christmas Eve, Luke's dad opened the gift, and while he was confused at first, eventually the group understood what was being announced and they all jumped in to congratulate us.  On Christmas morning, my mom was the one who opened the ornament, and she got it right away.  I managed to sneak a video of her opening the announcement.

On the Saturday after Christmas, we headed up to Bill and Marys' home and exchanged Christmas gifts.  Their son, Luke, was born on August 2, 2013, so just before we left, we told them that we had another gift for Luke, but it wouldn't be here until his birthday.  Then we explained that his birthday present was going to be a best friend.  I am really glad that they already have a kid, so that we have friends who will understand and be there to give advice since they have been there, done that!

All in all, it's a bit of a relief not having to hide this secret from everyone, especially the people we see and love the most.  It is kind of scary because now that news is out in the open, and we'd have to un-tell if something happens, but these are the people who will be there for us no matter what.  I am looking forward to spilling the beans to our other close friends after 12 weeks, and we've heard a heart beat (hopefully in the next 2 weeks!).