We had told our families that we wouldn’t find out the test results until the 15th (Friday), so when we broke the news to our parents and siblings on Tuesday night / Wednesday day, they were all pretty surprised. After nearly 2 yrs of TTC, that meant so much to me to have at least an element of surprise with this announcement!
My Fam:
Mom & Dad:
Mom’s hands fly to her mouth. She starts crying. Dad is smiling and crying. No talking from either of them. I’m giddy with excitement and can barely stand it. 🙂 Then they both tell us how happy they are for us. How much they’ve prayed for us. How wonderful and amazing this is. We’re all smiling and happy. We Skype for quite awhile, all sort of in shock that this is actually happening. 🙂
For my siblings, one by one I sent them links to the video and then to the pic of the Scrabble board and called them to tell them to check their email. I love how their different personalities shine through their responses! Their “quotes” are really my recollections of somewhat what they said. I was too excited to actually be writing anything down. *grin*
Aud.rey (oldest sis [26] who is married):
I can’t get the sound to work? Hm. I’ll figure this out. Hold on.
I think she’s proud of me for succeeding on the first time – even though I had nothing to do with it. *LOL*)
Aug.usta (middle sis [24]):
Squeal of excitement! Expression of her joy! *tears* More congrats. Then…
I kind of want to just leave it at that. Is that okay?
Em.ma (youngest sis [22]):
she’s excited to be in her final semester of undergrad. we chat while she gets the video downloaded)
*silence* I can’t even talk right now, I’m crying!
Thank you SO MUCH FOR TELLING ME. I’ve been thinking about you every day!
(she is full of joy & love, always. she is an optimist. she brings joy to my life.)
T.om (brother [19]):
Huh? No!!!! No way!!!!!! Oh my God Jo!!!!!!! Congratulations!! Oh my gosh Jo – that is freakin amazing!! I’m so happy for you right now. 🙂 That brings tears to my eyes right there. Right on.
Char’s Fam:
Mom & Dad:
Brother B [32] (married to our sis-n-law K [33] with a 1yo):
C and his bro are super close, so after giving him a quick rundown about the new job offer, he did the honors of telling his bro about the BFP. He basically said “well, Jos got two positive tests today,” and his brother got a big grin on his face and said, “no way! congrats!” His wife was in the shower, so he asked if he could go tell her. We laughed and said sure. Through the Skype we could hear him walk 20′ away and start talking… then we heard her SCREAM in excitement while still in the shower. I love my SIL. 🙂 I really couldn’t have been blessed with better in-laws as family. She has been constantly texting and emailing and checking in on me throughout this process. Such a sweetheart.
Sister J [24]:
What?! Oh. My. GAWD. Are you guys freakin’ out yet? …
Well, cool dude, congratulations.
As a side note, this is yet another December birthday for our family – C’s brother and his wife above and my husband all have December birthdays, and hopefully Rock Star will be joining their ranks in 8 short months! The EDD is exactly one week before my husband’s 30th birthday. How cool is that?!
**Edited to Add: OMG – I forgot to include my family in this December birthday tally. Oops! My little sister Emma is Dec 8 and my Grandmother (who is still alive and married to Grandpa below) is Dec 28. I can’t believe I forgot to include those. Sorry little sis – thanks for pointing it out!!**
Also, Rock Star’s ETA is my Great-Aunt Elie’s 90th birthday. Ever since I went away to college she and I have been pen pals. She is one of the classiest, sweetest women in the entire world. She made my wedding garter for me. The day I got the BFP, I had just received a letter from my Grandpa (Mom’s Dad – and brother to Elie) saying he was thinking of us and including a check to help with baby costs. How awesome is that?! I called to him to tell him thanks… and to tell him we’re hopefully going to be buying a cradle with that money. He liked that. 🙂 I made him promise not to tell anyone else, but the next day I talked to Elie (remember – his sister), and 15 minutes into the convo she says, “Soooo…. any thoughts about starting a family soon?” LOL. Darn it Grandpa!! I told her to expect to be sharing her birthday with a new little one, and she was SO excited… though she admitted that gpa had already told her. *grin* She’s in a lot of pain now days because her vertebrae are failing (from osteoporosis I believe?), but I hope she makes it to 90 and gets to meet our little Rock Star. She said she’s going to try! 🙂
So far we have only told immediate family and a couple of close friends that knew we were going through the IUI. For the most part, we’re going to hold off until we hear the heartbeat at the u/s to tell a few more friends, though I doubt I’ll ever make a public FB announcement, etc. I just know how much those hurt me over the past couple of years. That’s not to say I won’t acknowledge the pregnancy, but no u/s pics as my profile pic and no big status updates, you know?
This is a very fun record of people's reactions. I wish I had done this when I got pregnant with you! There are so many things you think you'll never forget. And then you do. xxlove you, darlin'!
Isn't telling them so much fun!?! My mom was laughing like a crazy person she was so happy. One of my brother's said, "so mom did that thing where she could be manic she's so happy?" Yep. So happy for you guys!
You'll treasure all these reactions one day when you have them to look back on. Sounds like you have a very supportive family and this baby will be very loved. 🙂
I loved reading your family's reactions! I'm still so very happy for you 🙂
Awww, I loved reading all the reactions. Made me tear up. Great idea to record these 🙂
Awesome post J. I love it. And I hear you on the FB stuff, as you know, I never really "announced" so baby photos of Mac really threw people for a loop, which was pretty fun in and of itself. Now we just have to be patient until we meet Rocky, how is that possible? And yes, I'll be calling him/her Rocky from here on out. 😀
So excited that you told your families!! Love all the different reactions 🙂
This is such a great post. It is nice to hear about all of the wonderful support you have. For some reason it made me cry, I have no idea why, I guess I am just happy to hear how blessed you are, you and C totally deserve it.
this one had me crying!! I'm so, so excited for you guys!!! And your families sound so loving and supportive, your little one is going to be so loved!!
I can't believe how invested I am in your story! I'm not sure how I wound up following a fertility blog, but as a Mom of 1 and no chance for any more biologically – I am hooked on these stories and I pray for you and this story of telling your families actually made me cry! Congrats! I read all sorts of blogs – not just fertility – don't want to seem like a weirdo! God Bless!
It sounds like you both have really supportive families. I am so happy that you got to have that experience of getting to tell each one individually. Great memories I'm sure. BTW – Your Grandpa sounds so cute. :)Thinking of you.
awww, such great reactions from family 🙂 great memories
So sweet! I was laughing and crying at the same time. Such fun reactions… I'm so glad you have such a close and supportive family!
Awww love this post! 🙂 Such happiness!!! You can just feel the love from your family 🙂
Good for you for recording all this. Now you can have it for Rock Star's baby book. What an awesome family you both have! Josey, you've made me so happy with your BFP! I can hardly wait the next 8 1/2 months to meet your little one!
Ohh thats awesome! Its amazing to have such a nice supportive family and it must have been so great to tell them all!
Thanks for posting about those special moments! How cool!
How special to be sharing this!! LOVED your brother's reaction and the storynabout your parents and grandpa !
This brings tears to my eyes (mostly because it is so sweet and partyl because everything makes me cry nowadays)!Telling friends and family who have supported you through this IF journey is one of teh best parts of pregnancy in my mind!!!!
Ahhhhh agreed with Madre, LOVE all the reactions!!! haha So great!Also, don't forget you have another sibling with a December birthday 😉 Hopefully it'll be a bond me and RS* will have, getting me moved up on the favorite Auntie list 😀 (too many competitors! haha)