Baby Surprises

So if you saw my Facebook last night, you will have noticed that we announced we are having a baby girl!! Here is our story :)

Back in August, my family was planning a trip up to Utah in October to visit us and go to a doTERRA conference. We were living in Heber at the time and were very excited to have them come stay with us. My sister mentioned that she wanted to have some family pictures taken since it had been over a year since the last time we had pictures taken, and we had a new member of the family to add, my niece Aubry. I thought it was a good idea and started to look for photographers in the area. August 26th, we agreed on a photographer and my husband and I found out that we were pregnant. I immediately emailed the photographer and let her know that I wanted to surprise my family with the news while we were taking pictures. She LOVED the idea, and we were all set.

I didn't tell my family or John's family at all, and that was very very hard. I never had really bad morning sickness, but I just felt nauseous all the time. My coworkers knew because I found out I was pregnant at work and kinda freaked out a little (in a good way!). So here I was, newly pregnant, feeling sick all the time, and could only talk to my husband and coworkers, who don't have kids. I couldn't ask for advice from my sister or my mom, and that killed me inside. 

The month and a half went by, and my family didn't have a clue that we were expecting. I was just hoping and praying that my nausea would subside and I would be able to keep it a secret while they were there. They arrived on Tuesday and we weren't taking pictures until Saturday, so I had to keep my mouth shut for a few days. The whole week I had worked so hard to lead them astray and kill any thought or idea that we were pregnant or planning on getting pregnant any time soon.

And it worked!

Saturday rolls around and we get ready for pictures. We arrive to the location and start shooting. I wanted to tell them in one of the group shots, but I was just so nervous!! We took pictures in a few group settings, and we were about done with group shots, so I had to do it now! We get situated in the position below, and the whole time my husband keeps whispering to me "Okay Caren. Any day now. Are you going to tell them?"

Finally, I turn to them and say "Oh yeah, mom? I don't know if I told you, but we're pregnant." Just very nonchalantly dropped the bomb. And you can see how they reacted...

NOW, it finally sunk in. First thing out of my older sister's mouth? "SHUT UP!"

 Commence the hugs.

And tears of joy.

Of course, my mom thought I was a stinker. But it was so worth it! At this point, I was a little over 10 weeks along (I can't remember how far along exactly I was). It was such a relief to finally let them know and not have to keep it quiet any longer. It was a very perfect day :)

Fast forward two months, and here we are! I had a doctors appointment on Wednesday to find out the sex of the baby. Long story short, I thought I was a week farther along than I was, and my doctor wouldn't do an anatomy ultrasound for another week or two. Oh boy, I could already feel Mama Bear coming out. A few of my friends announced they were pregnant and what they were having at like 13 or 14 weeks. Here I was, 17/18 weeks along and she said that they could still miss things if they did one, and we had to wait until around 20 weeks.  

Bull. Crap.

 She had me come back in for a different ultrasound on Friday to double check some things, and I told the ultrasound tech that I just NEEDED to know what we were having. Amidst so many changes and challenges in my life right now, I needed something to look forward to. So, she went ahead and did the anatomy ultrasound (against doctor's orders) and we found out we are having a girl!

My family knew I was supposed to find out on Wednesday, but I didn't want to tell them until after we went through the temple on Saturday and most of our family would be there. (By the way, we went through the temple!!) So I call my sister, and I tell her the bad news that I didn't find out on Wednesday and had to go back in on Friday for another ultrasound. Of course, with everything that has happened thus far with the baby, she didn't believe me. Same thing with my mom. They thought I was just holding out for the perfect time to tell them, but they wanted to know now!! Haha.  Friday rolls around and I talk to them about the other ultrasound I had to go in for and explained that the ultrasound tech wouldn't do an anatomy scan because that's not what the doctor ordered and I had to go in in two weeks to have that done. They were a little hesitant to believe me, but I pushed it pretty hard, so they had no choice but to believe me.

Saturday rolls around and we go through the temple. We all got together afterwards to eat dinner, and to tell them the great news! We were all sitting around reading menus, and I again, nochalantly, tell my mom "So mom. You'll need to dry clean the baby blessing gown. Because we're having a girl." It took her a second to finally realize what was just said, but at this point my sister was celebrating and was so excited! The rest of our family was very excited. The Memmott side of the family needs more girls, as we have mostly boys. The Allred side of the family, needs more boys as we have 14 girls, and 2 boys. But we are so very excited to have a girl. All I know is girls, so I'm excited to spoil her :)

Moral of the story, I'm a great liar and keeper of secrets ;)