Telling our family

We found out we were pregnant on November 24^th and waited an entire month to tell our family. Let’s just say that was the longest month of our lives! A few people asked me why I didn't tell my mom beforehand and I get that, but we waited for a few reasons. 1. We wanted to whole family to be together. Our family is super close and wanted it to be really special and with Christmas right around the corner, I knew I could wait. My big sister and her husband live in Dallas and my little sister lives in College Station so Christmas was the first time that everyone would be together. 2. We wanted to see our baby before we told people, just in case. Our entire pregnancy has been a true reflection of God’s faithfulness because we thought I was farther along so we got to see our baby at 6 weeks, the day the heart started beating, and at 8 weeks, the day after Christmas. 3. It was actually pretty fun to keep it between us for a while, it was our big secret!

So we agreed that we would use a Christmas gift to tell our family we were pregnant and have my mom open it since my dad was the one to open a gift to find out my sister was pregnant last year. I bought a cute v neck shirt from Target and we ironed on pretty white letters that said Mimi (what my niece and our baby and future babies will call her). We would have loved to put “Mimi x2” but couldn’t find a cute 2 so to make it obvious that we were pregnant, I taped a picture of our first sonogram below the letters. I wish I would have taken a picture!

We were planning on telling them Christmas morning as to not stir any suspicion asking my mom to open a gift on Christmas Eve but I was so sick Christmas Eve morning and knew we had to tell them that night in case I got sick at their house (and since I fall asleep so early, it would be nice if they knew!). Luckily, we decided to open gifts from siblings to siblings and after we were done I said we had a family gift for everyone that we could “play” tonight (we are huge game people so no one seemed shocked). It worked out perfectly because Cori also had a family gift for everyone so no one was suspicious. Jon was determined to get it on film and I am SO glad he did! My mom was all propped up in a chair because of her foot surgery and I sat across from her. To set the story, my dad was planning on grilling steak and shrimp and was prepping at the sink while we opened gifts (the sink is open to the family room) and I thought he was about to go outside to start grilling so that’s what I say in the video about dad going outside.

Link to video on YouTube

I could watch this video over and over again day after day because it still brings me butterflies. Surprisingly I was really calm while she was opening. I love how she held it up for a few seconds and Tomi says “It says Mimi” and then she got it! The gift was to Mimi from Ernie so she said she thought it was just a shirt from him so thank goodness we put the sonogram. The next few minutes were an exciting whirlwind and I apologize if you lose hearing from all the screaming but everyone was just thrilled! The fun thing was everyone being so surprised. Obviously you can’t be shocked when a married couple announces they are pregnant but no one expected it!

If you remember back to my Christmas highlights, you will remember that my parents gave us an all inclusive vacation this summer which we are still shocked and giddy about! Funny story….the Wednesday before Christmas my dad calls me and asks if we can go on a vacation July 31- August 4^th. Um….1 day before I am set to give birth. Let’s just say I had the meltdown of 2012 and was bawling my eyes out thinking I would have to spoil the Christmas surprise. Luckily my salesman hubby swooped in and told an elaborate lie to my dad about how we wanted to try for a baby in the New Year and if we could do it earlier it would be better. Well that worked! And my doctor will let me fly through 34 weeks and I will turn 33 weeks on our trip. Praise God! It will be an awesome babymoon!

We spent the rest of the night eating, playing games, watching movies, and talking about how we became pregnant, how I told Jon, due dates, names, etc. It was so surreal and fun. We waited until Christmas morning to tell grandparents/aunts and uncles and we got those on film too! Jon went home to Cleveland the first week in January and got to tell his family/friends in person which was fun for him. 

We are SO excited for the next few months and finally getting to meet our sweet baby in August but it has truly been a gift to share this news with all of our family and friends. Life is so much better when you are surrounded by loving, encouraging, supportive people.

Here’s a few pictures we sent friends on Christmas to share the big news!

How cute is my niece, y'all? Let's hope baby Hart is as happy as Embry! And I get so excited thinking about this years holidays with two little cutie cousins.