December 16: 5 year Anniversary
December 18: Pregnant
December 18-24: Keeping the most difficult secret ever!
December 25: The Corbin Family Reveal
December 26: Jeff's Mom's Reveal
January 1: Fletcher Family Reveal
Let me fill in the details. Jeff and I are what you might call intentional people or planners. We met at UT in 2002, got married in 2006, bought a house, fixed it up, trained our dogs, went to graduate school, started a therapy practice, got my dream job, became aunt and uncle, and took some trips. After our big splurge trip to Hawaii it was about time we got down to business. We began the exciting and strange journey of starting a family. We soon found out that we didn't get to be totally in control of the Baby Fletcher plan and by the time December rolled around, it was getting tough not to blurt out that we were "trying." We wanted to give it a little more time. I had decided I wasn't taking a bunch of home tests this month. I couldn't help myself and took one on the morning of our anniversary (what better anniversary present could there be), and it was "Not Pregnant." I knew that it was possible to still be negative at that point, but we had pretty much ruled it out this month. We celebrated our anniversary and Christmas with Jeff's dad's family, and then spent Sunday doing church stuff. At "Welcome Home a Hero" and then lunch with the group, I was super tired and felt kind of weird. Jeff had a hockey game, and I went to the youth group Christmas party. When we got home I had the urge to take just one more test. I was ready for bed, and Jeff was in the garage putting up his hockey stuff..."Pregnant." I couldn't believe my eyes! How was it that I had planned to tell Jeff? Should I wait until he came inside? How much longer could it take to put the hockey stuff away? Jeff had said that when it happened, he would probably need to be sitting down. Standing in our bedroom, I told him that he might want to sit down. He asked why, and I held up the test.
He took it in his hand and stared at it without blinking, and then he said "I think we need to talk." "What do we need to talk about, Jeff?" "I'm
not sure." Lots of hugs and kisses and staring. We remained in a state of shock and excitement for the rest of the night.
I laid on Jeff's chest as we tried to go to sleep. He stared at the ceiling and said that he felt as though he needed to start painting something. I reminded him that we were in the process of building a house and didn't know yet what we were having, so that probably wasn't necessary right now. His next thought was that he could start building something. I told him that as difficult as it was I needed to go to sleep as I had to get up early the following morning. He said that he was trying to go to sleep, but his eyes kept opening...so cute! He makes me melt and laugh at the same time, and this was one of my favorite moments ever!
I had to go to work the next morning with the hugest secret ever so naturally I told Ashley by showing her the picture of "the test" in the hallway near our office and then asked her not to say anything...sorry Ash! We then had to figure out how to tell the family. I put my embroidery machine to work quickly...
The last Christmas gift opened on Christmas day was for Elise. April kept telling me that she needed a cousin so we decided to give her one. I was immediately tackled by my ecstatic family members, oh and congrats were in order for Jeff too. Next was my best friend since 7th grade. I had somehow kept the secret at Lindsey's Annual Christmas Party, but now that I had told the family, I had to tell Jennifer. She offered me a drink when we went by her house prior to going out, and I spilled the news. Jumping up and down and lots more hugs followed.
As soon as we returned on Monday, we stopped at James Avery and started Jeff's mom her grandmother necklace. We knew the baby would be due in August so we got the August birthstone to go on a necklace. We included a Bible verse about passing things on to the next generation. When she opened the necklace she commented on how pretty it was. We explained that it was a birth stone. Once again, "it's so pretty." Jeff: "Mom, it's a birthstone." Sheryl: "Is it your birthstone?" Jeff: "No mom, it's an August birthstone." (blank stare) Me: "It's an August birthstone, and it's not mine." (Tears and smiles and hugs).
New Year's Day Lunch!
New Year's Day Dinner. I didn't get a good picture, but I love the look on Cheryl's face. Jeff's dad is holding a onesie that says "I love Grandpa Joe."
We (and somehow our families) kept our little secret until we got
the first glimpse of our "Smidgen," as Jeff's mom refers to Baby Fletcher. It was an awesome moment to see that little flutter and hear the words "Everything looks great!" You are 7 weeks and due August 28th!
Of course, next came grandma, aunts, uncles, cousins, and Uncles Charles and Moses all over the phone and close friends in person as much as I could. I got to tell the kids at youth, and they were all so sweet and excited! Jeff announced it to our Sunday School class as a prayer concern that he is going to be a dad, but I think all agree that he is going to be a wonderful dad. I can't wait to see him in action! I'm surprised that we were able to tell everyone on our own time, especially since even Monster knows something is up. Until the Snoogle pillow made it's way into my bed (best invention ever), he began sleeping on the bed at my feet all night every night. Poor Monster's little world is going to change; however, Sunny remains cool, calm, and collected.
It is an amazing experience all in itself, but it is so awesome to experience how much Baby Fletcher is already loved by so many! We have already received our most appropriate baby gift...Thanks Steph! The next time I saw Jennifer she gave me the sweet customized cup below (my new love...Tervis tumblers). It was full of chocolate, but as you can see that is all gone. Sweet cards, texts and questions about how I'm feeling and congratulations have all been so appreciated! I was quite light headed, nauseous, and moody; but everyone has been so supportive! We feel overwhelmingly blessed!
