Friday, August 9, 2013

Telling MY Parents – No More Wine!

Originally written June 15, 2013


So, I was dying to share the news with my parents as soon as possible.  With Father’s Day approaching, we thought it the perfect opportunity to share the wonderful news.  Knowing my parents like to go to lunch on the weekends, Kevin and I invited ourselves along the Saturday before to celebrate Father’s Day. 

I had spent a while trying to figure out a clever way to tell my parents. And, since my well-known relationship with wine had come to an end, I deemed it related to them not being able to serve me the ideal way. A bottle of wine with a custom tag that read:

You may pour your daughter a glass of wine
When your grandbaby arrives February Nine.
 
I had wanted to wait until we got to their house to tell them, but Kevin thought it would be so much funner to tell them AT lunch so we could talk about it during lunch.  Once we received our drinks at the fine establishment of Texas Roadhouse, we passed over dad’s Father’s Day gift to open.  He pulled out the bottle of wine, began to say thank you, and we had to make sure he read the tag.

 

I wasn’t sure it sunk in, because there was a double take from both Mom and Dad. Followed by a re-read. Followed by dropped jaws.  Yup, there is it, it sunk in.  WE’RE HAVING A BABY!  It was a wonderful moment, and a wonderful lunch.  We started our first planning of who, how, and when we would be able to tell other family members.  

Overall, I’d say my Pops had a pretty splendid Father’s Day.

Thursday, August 8, 2013

The stork has arrived (AKA Two Pink Lines)

My very first few blogs will be rather lengthy and stacked on top of one another. I have already been writing about the major experiences of our pregnancy to this point, I want to get them added so I can catch up to real-time!

 

Originally written June 2, 2013


The story of how we found our Bun in the Oven.

So yesterday may have been the most surreal day of my life.  Last week was probably the longest week Kevin and I have experienced in our lives… we wanted to take a pregnancy test, but I assured Kevin that taking one too early would only create uncertainty.  So we decided we would wait until Sunday (which would be the first day of the period I was hoping not to get).

I was honestly nervous and a bit scared of that first moment of taking a peek of our first pregnancy test, because it could be one of the most exciting, life-changing moments of our lives or a letdown. After all, this was only the first month we’d been trying (but we’d been trying our butts off!), and my Doc told me he didn’t want to hear from me about not getting pregnant for at least 12 months of trying. Anyway, building up the suspense of Kevin and I waiting X amount of minutes to read that fateful line was just too much.  So I conjured up a plan.

Kevin was coaching in a tournament Saturday, two back-to-back games.  I wanted to be able to take the test and tell Kevin the news after I found out the results.  I knew if I took it while he was at his games I wouldn’t be able to hide it when he got home (because naturally, the first thing he wanted to do when he got home was take a shower… and I didn’t want to give him the news while he was stinky!). So I had a small window of opportunity while he was in the shower.   

I had it all planned out.  As soon as I heard the shower curtain shut, I ran into the bathroom, took the test, and started the stopwatch for THREE GRUELING MINUTES. During this time I set the video camera in place, and waited.  I watched the seconds move slower and slower and tried with all my might to not go and look at the test.  But then, a twist. Kevin decided to expedite his shower and the timer hadn’t hit three minutes yet (yeah I know, a record-setting shower of all days)!

So, I went for it.  I took that fateful peak at the test, and I saw it. Gasped. Backed up. Disbelief. TWO pink lines. During this moment of mental madness, I hit play on the video camera because I knew this was it.   


What now? I hadn't planned for anything else! Kevin was still in the other bathroom presumably drying off.  I had to check the directions again. Two Pink Lines = Pregnant. Yup. Not faded or hard to decipher.

After it was all said & done

As the terrible rap music blaring from Pandora on Kevin’s phone grew louder, the time came for me to say something. I stopped him in the living room just outside our bedroom (as to avoid indecent exposure), and asked him to turn off the music.  Unfortunately, he was still in his towel and holding his clean boxers and shorts in his hands. I asked him to get dressed immediately.  I know I freaked him out. I didn’t know what to say or how to act.  Exactly as I anticipated and only something My Kevin would do, he dropped trough directly facing the camera (yet still never noticing it).  As he pulled his shorts up, he asked me what was wrong over and over. 

I had anticipated saying one of those momentous one-liners like “We’re having a baby” or “It’s positive” or something.  But nothing came out. I literally opened my mouth and no words. I just stared, and a smile began to emerge as we locked eyes.  He knew. He knew what I was trying to say but couldn’t verbalize.  “Really?”  Yes. As we both darted over to what rested on the bathroom counter.  He interrogated it for seconds in disbelief.  Are we really this blessed?


We stood in an embrace for what seemed like eternity, kissing, crying, hugging. My life partner and best friend, the man who desired this moment as equally as I. It was the most incredible moment of my life to date.  I think it was made even better looking back at the video to recognize our boys Chief and Chief Osceola had taken part in this moment as Chief sat staring with Chief Osceola lying next to him at the bathroom door.


Our family of four will become at family of five in early 2014.

Upon revealing the video camera
With this incredible news, my hubby took me to dinner at a place near and dear to our hearts where we, along with both of my brothers, had our Rehearsal dinners: McGregor Café. Now being Pregnant and no wine for me, I immediately jumped on the chance to order the biggest heart attack on the menu, the Lasagna.

Time feels like it’s standing still.  I’ve read what to do now to treat by body the best I can, but what now?? We’re both dying to go to the Doctor and know it’ll be impossible for us to keep our silence (because it's apparent by our demeanor!).   This is just the first step in an incredible nine month journey, and lifetime adventure.  And there’s no one else I’d rather share it with. 

This is it... no turning back now


Here we go! This is something that I have longed to do since 2010. In my opinion, my Hubby and I had a very special wedding in 2010.  He and I (along with some irreplaceable family members) managed to put on a wedding almost completely DIY (yes, he helped tremendously throughout the entire thing!).  The ups-and-downs of that journey are something that I greatly wish I had documented.

Well, with another momumental journey upon us, I ain't lettin' it happen again.

Now 13 weeks pregnant with our bundle of joy, there are no more excuses. It's taken Baby P coming along for me to kick myself in the ass and just do it.  I don't want to look back years down the road and regret not documenting the most significant journey of my life.  And while Baby P is the reason for starting this blog and my pregnancy will initially be the highlight, I really want it to be a place to share ideas and experiences for anyone (or no one) that wants to listen.

Me and Hubs at one of our favorite pasttimes: FSU football

A little about me:

My name is Elyse.  The list of nicknames I have is never-ending, but what most loved ones call me is LeeSee. I graduated from Florida State University in 2008 and recently received my MBA from Florida Gulf Coast University (that's right, Dunk City). I am a planner. Type A. Perfectionist.  I love crafting, cooking, jogging, drinking wine, everything DISNEY, but most importantly I love anything and everything Florida State Seminoles.

About my family:

Kevin, Hubby: 

This is the man that makes my life make sense! Even when I think I'm going crazy (or when I actually am going crazy), he thinks I'm less crazy. He also graduated from Florida State University.  He is my best friend and partner-in-crime - I never anticipated marrying someone that I geniunely enjoy just hanging out with.


Chief, Black Lab Mix: 

AKA Black Bear, or B.B.  A Tallahassee pound puppy, this guy has been through it all with me.  I've always loved dogs, but I never knew how deep that bond could be. He can read my emotions better than Hubs! If he were a Disney character, he would be Eeyore.

Chief Osceola, Golden Retriever:

AKA Booger Bear, or C.O.  This goofy guy has the spunk and energy level of a 4 month old pup.  If there isn't a dog toy or frisbee in his mouth, there's always a smile on this guy's face.  If he were a Disney character, he would be Tigger.

You may wonder why both of our dogs are named Chief.  Well that's just one of the many ridiculous stories that I'm sure I'll share along the way.