Made in Heaven: Second Edition

Last Spring I opened this fortune cookie and smiled...because I knew what we wanted and were hoping for.

Soon, a visitor shall delight you.

This slip of paper is still on our fridge.  

October 11, 1984 and December 2, 1987 were two special moments in history.  These were the days when I became a big sister to Jay, and Ryan became a little brother to Kevin.  Through the years we have all gotten along and are so close to our siblings. 

Truly, I couldn't imagine life without my brother, and I know Ryan feels the same way.

Emerson was barely sitting up by herself before we started getting questioned about our second child.

I always knew that I wanted at least two children, but GOD is in control, and it's all about HIS timing!  I'm going to be honest; we had to wait a little while for this one.  This whole idea of when you're "ready" for another is nonsense.  God will tell you when and IF He's ready.   Because what's so easy to forget is the fact that we are promised nothing, and everything we receive is admittedly something we don't deserve.  And furthermore, to whom much is given much is required.

So we prayed.  And prayed.  And Emerson prayed for a "baby brother or sister" for several months.  And I could practically predict when I would be asked what we were waiting for and "isn't it time" for another?  And some days it would just weigh heavily on my heart.

Some people wait months.  Some years.  Some spend their whole lives waiting for something they want.  Again, no one is promised anything.

I completely understand that every person who asks these type of questions... (Are you dating/working/getting married/having a baby soon?) is doing so with good intentions; that's the truth.  People mean well, and the questions are coming from a place of genuine interest and care.  I never felt any ill will toward anyone who inquired about our next baby, but perhaps it's possible to strike up conversations about other topics instead.

"Did you know that you can save hundreds on your car insurance by switching to Geico?" may be a good place to start.

So we'll rewind to the week after Christmas 2016.  Jay and Laura had come and gone, and the festivities were winding down.

My parents actually stayed an extra couple of days to help me un-decorate the house; after all, I'm fairly certain that the Rockefeller Center has less Christmas decorations than I do. The next day I just felt OFF.  I was super nauseous and tried to rack my brain.

Had I gone on this ride without remembering?

Shortly after midnight on December 30th I took "the test."  And as weird as I felt, I was going to be shocked if it was anything but positive.  Without even a drumroll or fanfare I got the results almost immediately: BABY #2 was on the way!

My heart!!!  What a way to ring in the new year!

Ryan was asleep, so I resisted the urge to scream and do a gymnastics routine.  Emerson was sleeping sweetly in her bed, so I went in her room, kissed her, and said..."Sleep well, big sister."

I used to play Life all the time and remembered adding "pegs" to the car when your family would grow.

BRING ON THE EXTRA PEG!!!

The next morning I called my doctor's office to make an appointment.  I was so sick and nauseated that even turning the cart on an aisle in Target made my stomach do flips.  So what exactly was I doing in Target when I felt so sick?!  Getting the supplies to tell Ryan the big news...DUH!  Come on, don't you know me well enough by now?

While the time and place when you tell people are certainly an important factor, it's HOW you do it that really makes it memorable.  I wanted something history-book worthy.  When Ryan came home that afternoon there were two signs leading into our kitchen where "Sandstorm," one of USC's traditional pre-game songs was blasting.

Emerson was wearing a Gamecock jersey,  and there was a gift on the counter.  

"You just missed him, Ryan!"

"Missed who???"

"Will Muschamp.  He just dropped off this package for you."

Will is USC's head football coach.  You're welcome if I saved you a trip to Google.

"Hold the questions please, folks. You'll get the full story in the blog, okay?"

Inside the package was a letter written directly from the "coach's office."

Dear Gamecock fans,

     As we have said farewell to the greats such as Marcus Lattimore and Jadeveon Clowney it is time for us to focus on the future of Gamecock football.  It is with great pleasure that I welcome our newest recruit, Baby Moody #2 to the Carolina family.

Forever to thee...Summer 2017!

Sincerely,

Will

There were also some assistant coach onesies.  Ryan high-fived me and was absolutely over the moon.  I'm pretty sure there was a fist pump involved, and this is the same guy who would probably say "meh" if he were to win $100,000.  Translation:  Ryan was SO, SO EXCITED!

Gamecock Newest Recruit

Summer 2017

We celebrated that night at Outback and decided the perfect weekend to tell our parents so that they wouldn't suspect anything: the weekend before Valentine's Day.

I searched local stores in depth for ideas on how to reveal the big news.  Our parents are some of the people who ask us all the time about another baby, so we had to be sure and catch them off guard.

After much retail research I decided to fill a basket of candy and goodies for them. After all, Valentine's Day is all about goods, so I didn't think it would be that suspicious.  However, take a close look at the candy:

BABY goldfish, BABY Ruth, "He" and "She" Hershey bars, and pink/blue candy.

Just in case that didn't give it away, I wrote "special delivery" cards.  The most massive ones I could find, of course.

Here is the card to-scale next to the empire state building...

As we know, though, it's what's on the inside that counts:

Dear Poppy and Nana,

Roses are red, Violets are blue,

In September 2017 your next grandchild is DUE!!!

Love,

Ryan, Katharine, Emerson, and ?

Then they would open a gift bag with one of these.

And so we set out on a mission.  On February 3rd I had my first Doctor's appointment, but all they did was blood work and scheduled the ultrasound for later.  I'll admit that I was very nervous to not have an ultrasound yet just to confirm things.  How would we know everything was okay?  How would we know something REALLY crazy wasn't happening...like TWINS?!?  But nonetheless, when my blood work came back normal we knew in our hearts that all was well, even if we didn't have a picture yet.

My parents were first up that Friday night.  After Emerson opened her Valentine's gifts from them I brought in the basket and card.  In true fashion my Dad started eating the candy immediately, and neither of them had a clue.

That was until they read the card aloud together.  And this is a screen shot of their ACTUAL reaction from the video we took:

They were absolutely shocked.

I could take this picture out of context and make SO many memes it's just insane.

1) Russia hacked into your Time Warner Account; hope you like foreign movies and subtitles.

2) "I've taken a job as an astronaut; see you in 2027."

3) Chip & Joanna Gaines are in the driveway ready to remodel your family room

 The next morning we told Ryan's parents.  His mother looked closely at the candy and thought something was up and then blurted it out before Ryan's Dad could read the last sentence of the card.  Nonetheless, I'd say the look on his face shows enough surprise!

Both my Mom and Ryan's Dad even went to their closets and pulled out the last outfit we gave them when we told them about Emerson.

We also Face-Timed Jay & Laura and Kevin, and they all had the Publishers Clearing House look, too.

For our grandparents I got Valentine's gift boxes and filled them with the same pink and blue themed goodies.

And cards:

They were all super surprised and thrilled!

 ...and here is a still shot of both of my grandparents with their jaws dropped.

This past Monday we had our long awaited first ultrasound.  I was almost 13 weeks!  They apparently don't do them early unless there is an issue, so while it's a huge blessing to be issue free it's also a whole month after we had our first ultrasound with Emerson at nine weeks.

But it was certainly worth the wait!

At 13 weeks we were able to see the little head and body, legs, arms, feet, and even the brain developing.  Of course, the baby was already moving!  It's already trying to keep up with Emerson...and yours truly.

Then came the question of how to make the news official.  What would our announcement be?  I've always thought that if a picture says a thousand words a video says a million, and I had an initial idea of what I wanted to do but completely scrapped it when a better one hit me:  Emerson needed to have a big sister job interview.

Ryan was on a work trip, so one morning I propped up my iphone on top of some books on our coffee table and sat Emerson on the couch.  Who knew if it was going to come out decent or not, but it was worth a try, and I was thrilled with the finished product!  It's something we will cherish forever and will show our next baby one day.  

I started by asking her some real questions that you'd get in a job interview and then did a hands-on training to make sure she could put the baby in the crib, stroller, and high chair properly.  What was particularly special about these items is that my own grandparents gave them to me when I was little, so they've come full circle.  And they made some fantastic props.

You can watch the interview here: Emerson's Big Sister Interview

So God answered our prayers, and I almost hesitate to say it that way, because there are countless people who pray for a baby or something else in life and do not yet have it.  Does that mean God didn't listen or didn't answer their prayers?

I learned a lesson about prayers a long time ago that has really stuck with me.  God DOES answer all prayers.   He does so in three ways:

1) Yes

2) No

3) Maybe...aka Waiting

The second option can be heartbreaking, and the third option can be an emotional roller coaster, but rest assured that God hears each and every cry and prayer from His children.  Every one.  Whether you're praying in front of a congregation or huddled in your closet crying He sees all and knows all and carries the big picture in His hands.

God planned for Emerson to be a precise age when she will become a big sister.  That hit me one day, too.  Every single second is part of his divine plan.  During those months when we prayed I believe God was preparing us for the next step, although we felt like we were "ready" before. But as the saying goes...if you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans.  Just as there are prerequisites in college, you can also apply this to your life.  Things need to happen in a certain way, and maybe God needs you to experience something/meet someone/accomplish something before the next part of his plan unfolds.  Have you ever thought about it that way?

We are incredibly grateful to be parents again, and honestly I still want to pinch myself when I wake up.  I also received two major blessings this week:

1) I can feel the baby moving already; I was over four months along last time when it happened, but I guess I'm more sensitive to it now.

2) Because I had gestational diabetes last time they went ahead and tested me early.  Last Tuesday I took the dreaded three hour glucose tolerance test...and PASSED!!!!  It was an unbelievable relief to not have to endure that again, although I would have done whatever it took to keep the baby safe.

Here is a look inside my pantry now that I have free reign....

KIDDING.  Mama, please don't call me about that.  I googled this photo, ok???

Plus, I haven't really felt nauseous since the first week.  WHAT a relief.  Emerson is crazy excited about the baby, which we are calling "Baby Bean" at the moment.  She hugs and kisses my tummy frequently and said, "Will Baby Bean be here in five minutes?"  

SHEESH!  I certainly hope not, but this is also teaching her a lesson of waiting.  For the record, she refers to the baby as "He" a majority of the time, but let me be clear and say that we do not know the gender and won't know until the end of April.  We will be absolutely thrilled with a happy and healthy boy or girl.

So as usual, our lives are about to get ever the more interesting and fun, and as Matthew West sings..."It's day one of the rest of your life."