Baby Benson: The Day We Found Out

First, quick clarification that I won't only be blogging about the baby. It's just that I've been so excited and unable to talk about it for so long, that I've got a few baby/pregnancy-related posts. BUT I'll also be blogging about other random things, too!

So back to the day we found out I was pregnant... I've also included some of Greg's comments/additions as footnotes (in bold) as he is just a big a part of this as I am.

Well as most surprises in life, finding out I was pregnant did not go the way I thought it would in my mind. I really thought I'd come home from work one day, take a test and surprise Greg when he walked in or have some cute, special way to tell him. And while June 30 was definitely the most exciting/crazy/thrilling day of our lives, it just... wasn't like what we expected.

It all started because I had a party to go to on a Saturday night and I thought, I better just take a pregnancy test just to be safe as I wanted to know whether I could visit drunk town have a drink or two. Because I was still DAYS away from the day I was supposed to start, I had read that if you take the test first thing in the morning, it can be more accurate. So on Friday, I just thought - I'll get up in the morning and take a quick test. Assuming it'll be negative (and I did), I'll just go back to sleep. I didn't even tell Greg because I just figured it'd be negative. The problem? I woke up at 6:00 a.m. on Saturday morning having to pee. So, I stumbled out of bed, grab two different pregnancy tests and did my thing. I went to wash my hands and then came back and I started to see the faintest second line appearing. Then, I looked at the second test and it was even fainter, but sure enough there was a little plus sign. You'll see what I mean in the pic below!

So I sat there for about 10 minutes in total shock, no tears, just pure dumbfounded shock. I was still a little unsure (simply because the positive lines were so faint), so I knew I needed to run out and get a digital pregnancy test. (The "Pregnant" or "Not Pregnant" message leaves nothing to guess about!) I thought about sneaking out, but ultimately decided to wake up the hubby and tell him what was going on. So I came and sat by him on the bed and of course he woke up with an alarmed look on his face.

"What's wrong?!" (1)

"Umm, I think I might be pregnant..."
"What?! Are you sure?! That's great!"

I explained that I wasn't totally sure so I showed him the tests (2) and, while his eyes were still pretty foggy from being asleep, he confirmed what I thought. So we threw on clothes, jumped in the car and headed toward Walgreen's to get a digital test. The problem? Walgreen's opens at 7. OK, no prob. CVS! CVS it is. Except - damn! CVS opens at 7, too. OK, no problem. Target - isn't it 24-hour?! No. The answer is no, no it is not. It opens at 8 a.m. on Saturdays. This is not getting better. So - do you see where this story is going? Yes, we had to go to Walmart Supercenter. At 6:45 a.m. To buy pregnancy tests. Let's face it, it's probably not the first time it's happened... but shameful. Really. So shameful. The person at the register didn't even bat an eye, it was just bidness as usual on Saturday morning.

We finally get home and I run to the bathroom to take the digital test, but before I went in I was telling Greg that even if I was pregnant, I think it might be too early to tell. Well, I went in and did my thing. I put the test on the back of the counter and just turned away. (You're supposed to wait 3 minutes.) So, I said a short prayer and turned around fully expecting to be disappointed, but ummm...

Notice how the two at the top leave a bit to the imagination?!

I wasn't disappointed. :-)

So I bust out of the bathroom and told Greg we were pregnant and then the tears and hugs came. Pretty sure we were in shock all morning (3). All day, really. We actually still might be in shock. But the happiest kind of shock I can imagine. Blessed (4).

(1) Thats what I said, but my initial thought was, "It's Saturday. I can't believe you actually got up and ready for work on a Saturday..."
(2) Yep, she put them right on my pillow. Nothing like a freshly used pregnancy test right on the pillow.
(3) The second best part of this morning? We decided to go out and get some kolaches.
(4) Ditto on that.

The day we found out  & first "bump" picture - no bump yet though!

Announcing Baby Benson + Baby Q&A

As most of you know, the hubby and I are so excited to be having a baby! We're due March 16 and truly couldn't be more excited.

We've gotten a ton of questions, so I thought it might be good to share those in an easy-to-digest Q&A format. I'm all about blog-reading convenience, after all. :-)


1. How are you feeling?
I'm working really hard to not complain publicly about symptoms of pregnancy, partly because no one likes a complainer and partly because I'm so grateful for this blessing and I don't want anyone to think that I'm not. But, hey, you asked. Well, maybe not you, but people have. I've had a bit of a rough first trimester. I've had bouts of nausea that were on and off but mostly just all day long. My doctor got me some awesome anti-nausea medicine and as the weeks went on, I'm finally starting to feel much better.

I've definitely had my fair share of moments at work where my eyes glaze over as someone's talking in a meeting and I just have to focus on not throwing up. I've got some crazy smell aversions going on, too. I almost freaked out on someone at work one morning who was heating up a breakfast sandwich in the microwave. I think I gave that person that person the most murderous glance and literally sprinted out of the break room. I've also been tired but other than those two symptoms, just happy and grateful to be carrying this little one.

2. Was this planned/unexpected?

Well, both. The hubby and I have known since last fall we'd start trying this summer. So, while YES we were trying, we did not expect it to happen so fast. But we couldn't be more full of joy about it.

3. Are you going to find out the sex of the baby?

Are you crazy? Yes, of course. I know that this is truly one of the best surprises in the world, but let's be practical. I've quickly realized that there's already so much I can't control, I want this to be one thing we can. Plus, you KNOW I'm ready to start nursery decorating!

4. How did this happen?

Ummm... 

5. But I saw you drinking...?

No. You didn't. I've been, as the hubby calls it, "living a life of lies." If I've seen you in the past 2 months, there's a good chance I've probably lied to you. (Sorry, friends and fam. We just didn't want to jinx anything!) I've actually really mastered the art of fake drinking. I had a bachelorette party the evening of the day I found out I was pregnant! I managed two glasses of wine without actually drinking anything, if you can imagine that.

6. Are you going to do weekly bump pictures?

Maybe not weekly, but yes! I really want to remember all the fun details of this exciting time, so I'm going to do bump pictures and chronicle the little things for a keepsake book I'm going to have made. Honestly, I haven't had the energy to think through all of it, but I'm getting it figured out. :-)

7. Are you going to do a gender reveal party? (Behind question #1, this has definitely been the most-asked question!)

The answer is I'm really not sure. Both of our families live out of town and it really just kind of depends on when we find out. My doctor won't do the ultrasound until 18-20 weeks, so it all kind of depends on if the timing works out.

So that's all the baby deets I have for now. But we so appreciate all the kind words, congratulations and love from our fam and friends.

P.S. We've gotten lots of compliments on our pregnancy announcement photo (thank you!) but thought this "out-take" from it best explained how excited Greg was to take them. He's a good sport, though! :-)