The Big Reveal

Dear Mary Brooks,

 The day I found out you were a girl was one of the most exciting days of my life, but before I can tell you about that I have to tell you about all the things that led up to that exciting day. First of all, when I was between 12 and 16 weeks pregnant I would have sworn you were going to be a twin. I was so convinced that during my 16 week appointment I convinced the doctor to do an unscheduled ultrasound to make sure "you" were not a "them". One reason I was convinced you were a twin is because I could not figure out for the life of me if I thought you were a boy or a girl. Some of the other women who were pregnant at the same time as me would say, "I just know it's a boy (or girl). A mother's intuition I guess". But for me, some days I just knew you were a boy and other days I would have bet a million dollars that you were a girl. So in my silly, preggo brain that meant I must have been having both a boy and a girl.

Also, in the beginning when I started to gain weight I felt huge. I thought surely only someone carrying twins could get this big this soon. Boy, did I have a lot to learn! At 16 weeks the doctor searched and searched during the ultrasound and promised me that there was only one sweet, little baby. However the only ultrasound he had available was an old one that he called the "atari" (You won't even know what that is by the time you can read this blog!) of ultrasounds and the image made you look like a fuzzy, gummy bear. Even though I was happy to hear that there was only one of you, I was a little disappointed that I was not able to see you more clearly.

 Once I knew there was only one of you, I then convinced myself you were a boy. I was having dreams that you were a boy, when I talked about you I would say he or him, and since you only had boy cousins I just thought that we were going to be one of those families that only has boys. Also, Haven and Caroline both found out they were having girls before I did, and I just didn't think there was any way we could ALL be having girls. Once again, I had a lot to learn during this pregnancy!

 Your dad and I went in for my 20 week ultrasound on Tuesday, September 27, 2011. Other than the quick, fuzzy 16 week ultrasound to check for twins, I had not had an ultrasound my entire pregnancy. At the 20 week ultrasound the nurse checked all the organs and body parts (including ten little fingers and ten little toes) to make sure that everything had developed properly. It was about a 45 minute scan. During the scan you were a little wiggle worm. The nurse blamed this partly on me because I was so thrilled to be seeing you clearly for the first time. She said my adrenaline was pumping and that caused you to be more active. I just couldn't help it, I was so excited to be seeing you! I even said to the nurse "this is the most fun I have had since I found out I was pregnant!".  Since the nurse knew I was so excited she printed about 15 pictures that I could take home with me. I put one on the frig, and put the rest in my purse where I could look at you anytime and anywhere that I wanted.

 This one was my favorite, and the one I put on the frig.

 I love this one because it looks like you have your dad's nose and you are sleeping just like he does!

This is your sweet, little footprint. 

Since our entire family could not all be there at the same time, we decided to wait to find out the gender results on Friday, September 30 when we could be with most all of our family members. When the nurse was determining that you were a girl we had to turn our heads, I think this was more difficult for your dad than it was for me. Once the nurse had determined that you were a girl, she wrote it down on a card and sealed it with tape. I took the card to Publix because I didn't trust your dad not to peek. I asked the Publix bakery to read the card, and make cupcakes with either pink or blue filling depending on what it said. We made plans with Mimi, Papa, Reecee, Boom Boom, Brie, and baby Marchal to have dinner Friday and then come back to our house for the big reveal! Unfortunately, Uncle Trey and Uncle Mario had to work. Of course dinner seemed to take forever since we were all so excited to get home. When we did finally get home everyone was given a cupcake, and we all bit into them at the same time to reveal pink filling! There was laughter, tears, and evening screaming, coming from your Mimi of course!

 

Although I have not been right about everything throughout this entire pregnancy, one thing that has been consistent is the pure joy, excitement, and love that both your dad and I have felt for you since the day we learned that you were a part of our lives!

                                                                                    I love you forever and always,

                                                                                                          Mom

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Spreading the News!

Dear Mary Brooks,
     After finding out that I was pregnant with you, both your dad and I wanted to tell our parents right away, but we just couldn't imagine sharing such exciting news over the phone. Since we had just purchased a new house, we decided to take Boom Boom and ReeCee out to dinner that week under the pretense that we needed to talk to them about house stuff. They probably thought we were going to ask to borrow money...haha! I had gone by the paint store before dinner and picked up a bright pink and a bright blue paint chip. After everyone got their drinks and we were waiting on our dinner to arrive, I passed the paint chips under the table to your dad. He pulled out the paint chips and said "So we were wondering if you could help us pick a paint color for the nursery". Boom Boom and ReeCee weren't sure at first if we were just planning ahead or if we were really pregnant. But once they figured out we were pregnant they were, of course, thrilled! Aunt Brie and Uncle Mario were a big help in keeping our little secret during our summer boating trips on Lake Murray. Aunt Brie was also pregnant with cousin Marchal,  so she shared her non-alcoholic beers with me so our friends wouldn't be suspicious. I had to peel the label or hide it in a koozie, or our friends would have known immediately.

 ReeCee and Boom Boom relaxing at the lake!

Now it was on to telling Mimi and Papa. It just happened that the Sunday after we found out we were pregnant was Father's Day, June 19, 2011. We had already planned to visit Papa in Hilton Head for his special day. I decided to order his favorite cake... carrot. I had them write "Happy (Grand)father's Day" on the cake.

When we arrived, I took the cake into the kitchen and told them to come in and smell the cake because it smelled so yummy. I really just wanted them to come look at the cake. We knew they weren't going to get it right away since Papa was already a grandfather to Landon, but I was hoping that if we insisted that the cake was from your dad and me that they would get it eventually. Although it did take them a moment to figure out the meaning behind the cake, their excitement was immediate and overwhelming. Mimi starting screaming with joy, which you will quickly learn she does a lot of when it comes to you, and Papa's face lit up and he was smiling ear to ear! That evening Mimi, Papa, your dad, and I went to dinner with Landon and Uncle Trey. Mimi had taken a picture of the cake to show to Trey. When Mimi shared the picture with Uncle Trey it did not take him nearly as long to understand its meaning. He was shocked but very excited!

This happiness is nothing compared to the day they found out about you!

 We decided to wait until after the first trimester to tell our friends. As you will soon learn, our friends are like our family to us. You have lots of aunts and uncles who love you already! So you can see why waiting to share the news with them was very difficult for me. I used the excuse that I needed to do work around the new house to avoid the girls as often as I could during those first few weeks. Finally, when the time came to share the good news with them I invited all your aunts over to "see the new house". After about an hour of mingling and showing everyone the new house, I passed out cards. I told the girls they were "We've Moved" cards because I wanted everyone to have our new address. I think I did a good job of playing it off. The girls causally opened the cards and excited shrills filled the house!

 

I can't forget to mention your brother and sister, Flopsy and Lucy. Flopsy has enjoyed checking out all your new accessories that have started filling the house.

Lucy is afraid she will miss something so she follows me around wherever I go. I have a feeling she will want to be a big helper for me when you arrive!

" Hey, don't forget about me!"

Now we are just patiently awaiting your arrival.  Take your time, we will be waiting with open arms for you whenever you're ready.

I love you forever and always,
Mom

Is that a plus?!?

Dear Mary Brooks,

 I found out I was going to be your mom on June 13, 2011. As you can see I am a little behind with this whole blogging thing, but I wasn't so sure it was for me. Your Aunt Caroline is a big blogger, and I have always teased her about it. But then all these wonderful and exciting things started happening and I was scared I was going to forget something. So, here I am, five months later blogging! I can't promise to be funny or witty, but I can promise to be honest, and to blog about all the things (the small, the big, the pretty, and the ugly) that happen throughout this entire journey!

 So June 13, 2011 was the day that changed my life. I know that it was definitely June 13 because it was mine and your dad's two and a half year anniversary. We had just returned from a family trip to Palm Coast, Florida. We had no idea that you had joined us on the vacation with Mimi, Papa, Uncle Trey, and cousin Landon! 

 Mermaids Mimi and Papa

 Little Italy

 Daddy playing with cousin Landon.

 Uncle Trey and Landon

 Papa reading to Landon, one of his favorite things to do.

 Landon and me splashing in the waves.

That Sunday when we got back we went to Ashley and Fitz's house to cookout and watch the Gamecocks play in the College World Series (which they went on to the win for the second year in a row!). Towards the end of the night I secretly told Ashley that I thought I might be pregnant. She immediately wanted me to take a pregnancy test she had. "No, not yet!" I told her. But that night when we got home and all the next morning it was all I could think about. I called Ashley and asked her to bring the test over...she was there in no time. I went to the restroom and walked out a nervous wreck. I couldn't go back and look at it. Ashley ended up having to look at it for me. When she walked into the room with the test she said "I don't know". What!?!? It was a faint plus so we couldn't be sure. We decided to go to lunch, and pick up a test on the way home that says "pregnant" or "not pregnant"so that there would be no confusion this time. However, I could not wait until after lunch. On the way, I made Ashley stop at the store, buy a pregnancy test, and return me to the house. After taking the test this time there was no confusion... it said "pregnant" and it said it immediately!!!

 Now I knew, but how to tell your dad? I decided I wanted to tell him in person so I had to wait all day for him to get home from work. I didn't even want to call him because I knew that I wouldn't be able to keep it in. To distract myself, I headed to the gym, but first I hid the test in the bathroom drawer. When I got home, your dad was already home, sitting at the dining room table paying bills. I forgot to mention, we had JUST purchased a new home in Shandon and were preparing to move.

I gave him a kiss and headed for the shower. When I got into the bathroom, I pulled the test out that said "pregnant" and called him into the bathroom. When he walked in, I pointed to the test and said "What's this?". Of course, having never seen one before, he had no idea what it was. He took a close look, hesitated, and with a look of confusion asked "Whose is this?". Well, duh "it's mine!". After a few seconds he put it together and figured out that I was pregnant. We hugged and cried together in the bathroom! Later, after all the excitement died down I asked him why he had asked whose test it was. He actually said that for a split second he thought someone had broken into our house, taken a pregnancy test, and left it there. That still makes me laugh today!

And so began the most wonderful and exciting journey of our lives!!!

                                                                                       I love you forever and always,

                                                                                                                                    Mom