keeping secrets...

keeping secrets is a funny thing, sometimes it easy, sometimes its hard. Recently Nathan and I have been keeping a secret from just about everyone, and I truly think it was the hardest secret to keep.

I find that between the two of us Nathan is probably better at not letting things slip, but he says thats because he doesn't have anyone to talk to, whereas I am always talking to people either on the phone or through email. I think its because if we have a secret, and its about us - or Nathan- they are usually about him wanting to go back to school or becoming a brain surgeon etc. , then I am so excited for him and proud of him that I want to share our exciting news with someone. Usually that someone is my Mom, and if I do slip it almost always comes back to bite me and I end up looking stupid.

So needless to say the past 6 or so weeks have been torturous for me! Again, Nathan didn't have anyone to tell, so he wasn't so worried. He did feel for me though, because I've actually had to lie to people, and that isn't something I like to do or should do. So finally we had to give in. This past weekend we let as many people as possible in on our little secret. Wanna know what it was?

the Berry Ann duo is about to become a trio!!!!

Yep, we're adding to our family. This fall, well, late summer early fall, we'll be having a baby, God willing. Now can you see why that was the hardest secret to keep? Its some of the most amazing news and yet we wanted to wait as long as possible to tell people... just in case. But what a relief when we did tell people.

I will say this, it didn't go as I had planned, but it was fun. We really wanted to tell our parents first, and since we couldn't tell my parents in person I came up with what I thought was a cute way to tell them. I bought two baby bibs one saying "I love Grandma" and the other "I love Grandpa" and sent them to my parents. My Mom & Step-dad's anniversary was on Valentines Day so I put the bib in their card, and for my Dad I bought him an early birthday card (his birthday is in Sept...when we're due). The problem occured when my Mom never received her card! My Dad got his on Friday and he was working out of town so he told my Step-mom to open it. Amy kind of knew what was coming, she had known that we'd been trying for quite a while and as soon as she read everything to Dad and they hung up the phone she immediate called a bunch of her friends telling them she was going to be a Grandma. Too funny! My Dad was very excited which I loved, and everyone at his work cheered and applauded for him.

Friday night we drove to Morgantown to Nathan's parents house. Todd, my brother-in-law was in a wrestling tournament on Saturday and we went down to see him... but also Nathan wanted to tell his family on Friday. They were very excited and Linda already wants to take me clothes shopping... thank goodness, my clothes are alerady uncomfy. By that night I still couldn't get a hold of my Mom, they had been in FL. and were supposed to be driving back on Saturday.

Then on Saturday we drove out to Parkersburg for Todd's tournament and after that went to stay at my Aunt & Uncle's house. That made for a night full of laughs as we called everyone in the family and tried to figure out a different way to tell them we were expecting. Some of the reactions were hilarious. My aunt Judy was the only one who figured it right away from the clues we gave her. I was impressed. But again, it was getting late and I still hadn't talked with my Mom. I was very upset that she didn't know. I really expected she would be the first to know! Finally around 9 or so, she called. They had stopped off in Lake Norman to visit a friend and didn't have any cell phone service... boy was she surprised when I asked her if she had some vacation time saved up that she could use to come and stay with us a while in Sept. She was so stinkin excited and got to share her news with everyone on Sunday.

It made for a crazy weekend and left me completely exhausted, and not feeling the best, but it was great to finally tell people. So I'm finally glad that we've told all of you too! Welcome to our little... no BIG secret. Oh, a couple little details.... we're 1 week shy of 3 months and due on the historical Sept. 11th. More than likely that date could change, but we'll hold on to it for now. My next appt. is March 6th, so hopefully I'll have an ultrasound picture for you.

On a side note, Nathan has been sick. Last night he came home, went straight to take a shower to warm up, then got in bed. This is how I found him a half hour later:

After I fixed dinner I asked him if he would come out to the living room so he wouldn't accidentally fall asleep (he'd never sleep through the night) and so I made him a bed on the couch... this again is what happened.

Can we say Daddy's girl? It never fails anytime Nathan is sitting or laying on the couch, Ashley is right there laying on him in some way. I thought this picture was too cute not to share.

Have a great day!!