We’re Expecting!

If you told me a year ago that I would be announcing I was pregnant, I would have laughed. For years, I was certain that we were going to be a one child family. But never say never, am I right?

To be frank, I was scared of another pregnancy. During my first pregnancy, I struggled with nausea for 6 months, worsened by the daily hilly drive of our neighborhood. After a few months of respite while eating mug cakes, my blood pressure sent me to hospital. Thankfully, we were released just in time for a freeze to overtake Texas. We prayed my blood pressure would maintain until we could safely leave, and thankfully it did. Birth was also an experience I try to forget. And then the avalanche of post partum feelings overtook me.

Needless to say, I was not confident that I could do it again, so I opted to forego the thought all together. Or I did until we went to Jerusalem.

If you don't believe in divine intervention, need not read on. If you do, continue.

At our longest day in Jersusalem, we began at the Mt of Olives at Mary's tomb. As we prayed at the tomb, I turned to a picture of Mary holding Jesus, and I heard a voice that I would have another baby. As tears rolled down my face, I reached for my husband's hand, and I was in awe. Although I went to Catholic school for 13 years, my faith ebbs and flows. This was the first time in my life that I heard God's (in this case Mary's) voice clearly. I spent the rest of the day praying as we journeyed to Old Jerusalem by way of the stations of the cross. I bought a Jerusalem cross with Ancient Roman glass in Old Jerusalem as my only keepsake thus far of our trip. I wanted to remember this day forever. Our salesperson gave us two hand made olive wood rosaries, and it felt like fate. We prayed over the grave of Jesus with our two rosaries, and I knew this day would be the most spiritual day of my life. Afterwards, we went to Bethlehem, and we bought rosaries for our families and friends as well as a nativity scene carved in Bethelehem. As we approached the spot Jesus was born, we were alone and able to put each of our rosaries into the star to be blessed. My husband and I said several prayers aloud holding hands, and it was a feeling I'll never be able to put into words.

As we drove back to the hotel, I became anxious. For years, I told my husband that I couldn't go through pregnancy again, and yet I knew with certainty I wanted to try. As I worked up the courage as we arrived at our hotel, I blurted out the words quickly as we stepped inside the hotel room. To my surprise, he hugged me and said he thought the same. He explained he has thought about it more and more lately.

And so, the rest is history.

Immediately after the tax deadline, I got sick from what I thought was a stomach bug after a grueling 4 weeks working everyday. Still unclear, but on the 3rd day of vomiting, I took a test. To my eyes, there was no line. I decided to still attend book club that evening. However, I smelled something unsavory to my nose and subsequently puked no less than 6 times during book club. (Each girl in the group has since said they were suspect, but obviously weren't going to ask lol). The next morning, still feeling terrible, I took another test. As the line appeared, I checked the previous day test. Both had lines. Akin to how I found out with Isa, I had yet to learn to read direction and adhere to waiting time of 5-7 minute. Patience is not my virtue. (with Isa, it required digging a test out of trash with two lines as well).

This time around, we told our friends and family almost immediately. Regardless of what happened, we wanted to share the joy and have support if we had pain.

As I begin my second trimester, I must admit our family finally feels complete as cliche as it sounds. We look forward to becoming a family of four and watching Isa turn into a big sister. Our hearts are fuller than we thought possible. I look forward to sharing more neutral capsule wardrobe with you all into my pregnancy and beyond.