A New Year . . . and a little news

Here we are in 2008. With so much news to share already. Jason and I celebrated Christmas in Texas, and New Years in Missouri. We enjoyed time with family and friends. On January the 5th, we celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary. I came home from work on the 4th to chilled sparkling grape juice and apple cider, flowers and cards. What a sweet and thoughtful husband! We then celebrated with dinner out, a night at the Hilton here in Memphis, and a lovely brunch on Saturday morning.

Many of you have received our Christmas letter. My mailouts are not complete. If you would like to receive one, and have not, leave me a message. I believe we ended our letter with something like '2008 promises to be an exciting year . . . ' What I did NOT know when writing this letter, (or when running that half marathon!) was that I was PREGNANT! Jason and I are thrilled to let the blog world know that our first child is on the way!!!!

We could not be happier! Our little one should arrive around August 10th. A friend advised me that if early, our baby's birth date could be 8/8/8. We'll do our best!

I don't know how many pregnancy tales I will feel compelled to share . . . but below is a picture of Jason shortly after he found out that we were expecting. I had found out in the morning when he was still at work. I did not want to tell him over the phone, so I waited all day and avoided his calls that came in throughout the day for fear I would spill the beans. (I wanted to tell him face to face). It took me two home tests, and one at the doctors office for me to really believe that I was indeed pregnant! In fact, after taking the first test, I took a picture of the result window, took the picture to work and asked my co-worker if she thought it was positive. She looked at me and said 'um...yeah!!!!!'

After work, I went and purchased a newborn onesie and a card. Jason was taking a shower, so I set on the table the onesie, the two hpts (I know...kind of gross...but apparantley this is what happens!) and a card that said on the front 'for the Dad to be'. Jason came into the living room and completely missed the display. I asked him to put dinner on the table. He did and it was then that he noticed these foreign items. He looked at them for a bit and later told me that he was thinking (panicking!) 'OK...someone has had a baby, and I am supposed to know who. She will be mad if I ask her 'who?'...so I will just think who it could be'. Then he said he thought 'that's strange...she did a card for this Dad'. I think it was the home pregnancy tests that finally tipped him off. Although he did still ask 'who's having a baby?' I don't remember but he says I responded, 'Who do you think????'



And then the joy was finally mutual! It was a good moment! I don't think I will ever forget it. We also won't forget hearing our baby's strong, fast heartbeat for the first time.

Many like to tell us how our lives are going to change. I should think so! We feel as 'ready' as first time parents-to-be could feel for such a life change. Truth be known, we know little to nothing. But we already love this little life that God has blessed us with. What a joy to pray for it and thank God for answering our prayers!