Frank and Mrs. Lydia

Classic Frank laugh.

Gotcha Mrs. Lydia.

Uncle C-Hop

From Mama...

I could not wait to tell Carter. He has begged us to have a baby since day one of our marriage. This video contains so many one liners that I will remember for the rest of my life. Watch for "Jared, you're gonna have a baby with my sister." Priceless.

Telling the Howells

From Dad...

So we tried to video chat, but when that failed we just couldn't wait. I sent Jessica a picture of me and Carrie holding a sign signifying that she's pregnant. Well, Jessica immediately called me back several times. The trick is, my phone was in the car and we were all sitting there waiting for her to call back on Moms phone.

Once we got connected everybody was excited. Jay and Jessica were so excited for us. The best moment came from Jay Baker (as it usually does). Jessica said to him, "you're a cousin." Jay Baker started yelling "I'm a cousin, I'm a cousin." Next thing out of his mouth, "What's a cousin."

Aren't they cute. Thanks Jessica, Jay, Jay Baker, and Carter. You're a cousin.

Your First Present

From Mama...

My parents could not stand it. After we told them about you, we left them to go tell the Osborne's. They left and went shopping, of course! When we caught back up with them for dinner, they gave you your very first present, a monkey. Why this monkey is so soft and cute, it is very symbolic. You see the very first thing I remember my daddy tell me I could not have was a stuffed monkey (King Louie from the Jungle Book) from the Disney Store. He said it cost too much and that I would never play with it. My MawMaw (my grandmother and your great grandmother) bought it for me. I slept with it every night to prove my dad wrong. I even slept with it on occasion all the way until I got married to your dad. I gave the monkey to your daddy on our wedding day and told him I was trading out sleeping partners. I also told him to keep the monkey for sick days. Anyway, I thought it was quite funny that the first thing I remember my parents telling me no on that my grandparents bought me was the very first thing they bought you. Haha!!!

Telling the Osbornes

From Dad...

Immediately after we told the Hopkins, Carrie and I frantically drove over to my parents house. We had just left their house not 30 minutes before, so we thought that the family would all be there still eating dinner. Mom was the only one home. I quickly came up with a "reason" to be back at their house--I told my mom we were looking for my wallet. It worked. We looked around for a little while and left the house.

Meanwhile Jacklyn and Pops were shopping. Carrie and I parked a couple of streets over and waited for them to get back. We waited like 45 minutes--It was so nerve racking. As soon as they pulled in, we followed and snuck in the back door. Watch the video for the detail. I ran in the back and held up a pair of diapers (symbolic of all the dirty work forthcoming or just because babies poop). Everybody was really excited, especially after it all sank in (not on video). As we left Pops was jumping up and down. Even once he stopped jumping Moms had him jump up and down again for her (Moms was recovering from surgery a couple days before).

Telling the Hopkins

From Mama...

I could no longer take it. After avoiding phone calls and any type of contact for that matter as long as I could, it was FINALLY time to tell the parents. My mama and I wanted to bring the Osborne's dinner, since Mrs. Leesa had had surgery. I asked that morning that my dad come along also. We met at the Osborne's and I felt like I was going to explode. As we left, my mama said we should go eat. I said that we needed to go by the house first. She said that we should eat first since we were right by lots of places to eat. I could not wait, so I said I wanted Oyster Bar, which is by our house. She agreed to run by our house to see what we had painted upstairs. I rode with my mama back to the house and as she talked I heard NOTHING except my heart beating so loudly!! Everyone went upstairs to look at the paint. After two seconds, I was ready to come back down. They kept talking and I tried not to jump up and down and say "Come downstairs!" I said that I needed to change clothes before we go. They sat down and I grabbed a poster that your daddy made (yes, he is better at making that kinda of stuff than me). I will never forget their faces when they read the poster. As you can see in the video, my mama screamed and continue to do so the rest of the night. To be honest, I am not sure she has stopped screaming. Everytime I call she squeals as soon as she answers! My daddy's response was hilarious to me. He didn't not say a word. We all knew he would cry, so that was no surprise. However, my dad is never at a loss for words and this news was too much for him. He was stunned and excited and could not process it all! When he called an hour later, his words were back! He then had so much to say! SO FUNNY!

P.S. As soon as my parents figure out what they want to be called, those are the names I will use. So far the options are Bon and Bella or Dewey and Gabbe.

Two Lines

From Dad...

I had no idea how two little lines would change my entire day--life. It's a boy. Well at least that was the first thought in my head. Carrie had taken one of those pregnancy tests a couple of weeks before and I really didn't give it much attention. I just figured this getting pregnant thing would take a while and I would be completely ready when it got here. IT'S HERE. Still don't know whether or not I am ready for it, but here it comes.

Back to the story. So, Carrie went into the bathroom to take the test, then I walked in, two lines and here we go. It happens that fast. From one moment you are headed to work and the next you are planning a college fund. For real. I know I'm thirty and I should be ready for this, but are we ever ready. God uses idiots, why not me.

Utter Shock

From Mama...

All I can think now is... I should have known. I should have known due to the pure exhaustion I have felt. I should have known because of the nausea (but truth be told, I have been nauseated 85% of my life, so that is nothing unusal). I should have known when I woke up Saturday morning March 5th and the only thing I wanted was a Chick-fila chicken biscuit (I got up and drove to get it.) I should have known when I woke up about 10:00 that Saturday and needed a nap at 1 after cleaning the house. I definitely should have known when I ate 9 (yes, 9) chocolate chip cookies that same Saturday. I should have known, but I didn't, which lead to my complete and utter shock on Tuesday, March 8th.

I had taken a pregnancy test earlier in the month and it had come back negative. I went to the doctor a few days later. They drew my blood. The results said everything was good, but no sign of pregnancy. I thought nothing about it again. When I decided to take another test on Tuesday morning, I was half way still asleep. I took the test and waited for the one line to appear. It did. I was getting read to continue with the rest of my morning routine when Jared walked in. I glanced down and thats when I saw what I should have known. Another line had appeared. I was in such shock. Excitement filled me instantly. I made a doctor's appointment for that afternoon at lunch. For the very first time in my life, I was not scared and didn't even care if the doctor was going to have to take blood. (They didn't!! YAY!!) When they gave me the positive results, I hugged E.B. our doctor exclaiming, "Your the only person I know!!" The nurses all came and giggled with me. I felt like I was going to bust at work since I couldn't tell anyone. I went to Rite Aid after work to buy diapers to fill your dad's drawer to let him know you were on your way. While Jared had seen the results that morning, he didn't know the doctor had confirmed it. When I got home he had already looked up all kinda information on you. He knew about how much you would probably cost in the first year and that you were only about a millimeter long. He wanted to go shopping so he was going to bust me with the diapers. Therefore, I threw the diapers all over the living room while he grabbed a jacket. We were so excited! My favorite part is when your dad says, "I love yall!"