We’ve had to put our baby blog on the back burner for the last two weeks, but not much has happened on that front either. I was in Costa Rica for a week, and then Julie left for Anacortes, WA about 12 hours after I returned.

While Julie was in Washington, she stayed the weekend with her Aunt Candy and Uncle Ed. We rarely see them and it was the perfect time for Julie to tell them in person… Candy was ecstatic and immediately took Julie shopping for maternity clothes. Back in Texas, Julie’s Uncle Tim and Aunt Jenny were in San Antonio and we were all over at the Reasonovers’ for dinner and a trip to the neighborhood pool. This was Julie’s family, but I stepped-in to break the news during another rare face-to-face meeting. Julie Anne, a cousin, immediately jumped to give me a hug and went to her phone… I told her “Your mom (Candy) already knows!” She responded with disgust, “How dare she not tell me!!??”. There’s a reason we chose this order…

Once Julie returned from her business in Washington, we were finally set to start spreading the word. The events for the weekend gave us some prime opportunities to talk to people one-on-one in person and share the reaction.

First up was the baby shower for Sarah Pike that Julie and her mother and sisters were invited to. Sarah and her husband, Jim, are college friends of Julie’s and are due in October. We have had an ongoing couple relationship with them as we have each been married and made the time to hang out a the river at least once a year. Julie was afraid of stealing Sarah’s thunder so she told her the news in private, but it was Sarah that asked Julie if she could tell everyone. The shower attendees congratulated Julie, and Sarah graciously shared the spotlight.

That evening, we attended a wedding for a couple from the church that Julie met on her trip to Rwanda last year. Several of our closest friends from church were there and it was too good of an opportunity to pass up. The best reaction of the night goes to Perry — he gave us both a hug and then looked me in the eyes and said, “Now you’ve proven your manhood, good job!”

At church the next morning, we went to our usual 9:30am service. I was most excited to see my cousin Patty and her husband, Jeff. We’ve been sitting with them pretty regularly at church lately and their daughter Katharine is always excited to sit with Julie and I. At the end of the service, we told Patty and Jeff and several other friends. Hope, one friend from bible study, broke down and cried when she gave Julie a very emotional and sincere hug. She and all of our bible study have been praying for us for quite some time. We stuck around for the beginning of the later service to catch those friends that we had not seen earlier. When we got home we realized how many of those key people we saw in such a short amount of time!!

We likely have a couple more phone calls to make, but at this point we are certain that the word is going to spread faster than we can control… it’s like herding cats. We want to thank all you for your prayers, your concern and your love. Julie tells me that she has never felt more special or loved than she has in the last few days that we have been sharing our news.

-RB

Julie and I are fortunate enough to have all four grandmothers still alive and kickin’. It never fails that when we take the time to see them, they always tell us goodbye and say, “you should come see us more often.” What grandkid has ever heard that before and NOT been overcome with guilt? When we think to explain our busy lives we try to find reasons within the society that our generation has created, but then even that answer doesn’t even sound good in our head. Grandparents have that special place in our hearts that we respect and love in a completely different way than any other relative, and we all do our best make time for them in our lives.

For each of our grandmothers, we set aside the time to talk-to or visit with them to share the news. Julie called Grandma Killam in Temple. We stopped by Granny Reasonover’s house during the 12 hours that Julie and I were together in town after my Costa Rica trip and before her Washington trip. We visited with my dad’s mom and stepdad, Mama B and Papa Roy after church on Sunday. I talked to Grandma Pribyl on the phone while she was in Houston celebrating Uncle Joe’s birthday with most of my mom’s siblings.

Each event was special to us. However, what we’ve realized is that we certainly played it up more in our heads than what actually happened. We realized that our grandparents have done this before… this isn’t news of their first child, or grandchild, and in most cases even first great-grandchild. Our grandmothers are seasoned veterans and the news of new life… just isn’t new!!

Now, I’m not saying they weren’t happy for us. Each of them had responses of joy and congratulations, but it’s like they either already KNEW it, or it was just another verse to a song they’ve heard before. I guess you could compare it to the economic law of Diminishing Returns.

-RB

To Jeff and Patty,

This is a special post that I wanted to write specifically for the two of you. You are likely reading this now that you have found out that we are pregnant, and I can imagine that you’ve started to put the puzzle pieces together and realize that we were actually already pregnant (and knew it) when we went to dinner together last night at The Melting Pot. Yes, had the timing been right, it would have certainly been the best venue to share the great news with both of you. Yes, you are family, but we have not yet told my own family and I owe it to them to know first.

We had a great time and we appreciate the the invite to get together.

-RB

I gotta say that this first appoint was a complete letdown. Yes, we ARE pregnant, but the entire doctor’s office experience was less than pleasant.

We showed up right on time, checked-in at the desk, and then waited… for about 20 minutes. There was only one other patient in the waiting room. Julie did a urine test right away and the nurse told us everything we already knew from our own research: Yes, we are pregnant, and have been for about 5 weeks. The nurse said that there was a chance that the doctor would do a sonogram and probably a culture, but we would have to wait and find out from him.

So, we waited… and waited… and waited some more. Thirty minutes later… we waited a bit more. At 40 minutes the doctor FINALLY came in, appologized that he had two deliveries to make. He then asked if we had any questions and said he would wait to take any more tests for another 2 weeks. ARE YOU KIDDING?

We both understood that our visit was one of the most routine and least important of his responsibilities… we get that. What was so frustrating is that the whole visit could have been avoided with a little questioning by the staff when we set up the appointment to see if it was even necessary. The visit provided no more value to us than a $20 pregnancy test at CVS and a little research on the internet.

Needless to say, we were very letdown when we left and only felt mildly validated by their information.

So, there you have it… WE’RE PREGNANT!!

-RB

Our mouths have been zipped-shut to the outside world since we found out. Nobody has a clue!! As a result, we both feel like we are living the same dream at the same time… it doesn’t feel “real” yet. Not until we crack the silence for the very first time and the excitement carries the moment will it feel like this is really happening to us.

Tomorrow morning is our first doctor’s appointment. I’m quite sure that we are going to be busting at the seams with excitement of our own once the doctor validates the two pregnancy tests that Julie has taken this week. (I asked her to take another one last Saturday night, 7/12. Apparently the second one came back positive AMAZINGLY fast!)

“Mums the word” again tomorrow night at bible study. We seem to be doing well so far from giving away any clues in conversations, but after tomorrow’s appointment, it could be rough. To top it off, Ryan and Caroline from our bible study will be delivering their baby, Megan, on Wednesday afternoon!

There are babies all around us!! We are just fortunate that God has blessed us with this pregnancy at a time where there is more than enough support around us to rely on.

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s doctor report…

-RB