Finding Out

In the spirit of all these end of year re-caps, and in the spirit of failing my second-born so far with my promise to be just as dedicated and diligent about him as I was with his brother's growth, I figured we should rewind a little lot now that I'm well past the halfway point and on the brink of my third trimester.

The first time around, after the nap in the car and a few instantaneously positive home pregnancy tests, we were stunned, taken aback, stopped cold in our tracks. I decried the saying that "a woman knows" because I was completely symptomless, my pregnancy was so easy, and I tossed out ice cream and pickle craving jokes like a sloppy deck of cards. By the time I peed on the sticks, we were I think 8 weeks along. A woman doesn't always know. Not this woman.

But, BUT, that was then. Three years ago. And like I mentioned before, everything about my pregnancy with Little Pup has been different. This time, I knew. Obviously, having been familiar with the symptoms from last time, it didn't stop me cold, but it was no less surprising. How did I know? A nap. I never nap. Just like I never like surprises. Alas, the two go hand-in-hand in my life like peanut butter and chocolate.

A nap will always be my "tell" for pregnancy, my main culprit, my Miss Scarlet in the Billiard Room with the Rope. So if you ever see me catching some zzz's in the middle of the day, run to Target and get me a box of Pampers Swaddlers.

First to soak up my surprised tears. And then I guess I'll use them on the baby.

Sorry, where was I: we were on our way to Grandma Huske's 90th birthday, and somewhere between Yakima and Benton City and Micah making up songs about going to GreatGrandma's house, I dozed off. (It wasn't the singing, Micah, promise. You're very entertaining.) One minute I blinked, the next, I was wiping drool from the corner of my mouth. David said it was only a 20 minute cat nap, but I had a sinking feeling that it was more than just the road putting me to sleep. I don't really like road trips. I'm fidgety and whiny, and I don't sleep. In fact, last time I fell asleep in the car was between Vancouver and Seattle after visiting Rob and Karen, when I was shockingly pregnant with Micah. I'm a logical person (shut up, Rory), so this time around, this woman just knew.

Of course, I chose to freak out in my head for a few days before letting David in on the secret and sounding the alarm. But I sure was exhausted. And I seemed to be late. And ow, my boobs. My moment of surrender? My best friend and his wife had a baby girl. An anxiously-awaited lesson in patience, perseverance and passion, a little blonde bundle of secret names and snuggly love who would change their lives in the best way. And we were getting ready to meet her at the hospital when I couldn't stifle my emotions and excitement anymore, and I had to blurt it out. So we met Quinn, and as soon as we got home, I took two instantly-positive tests. And we knew.

And it was early. We flipped through our mental calendars and laughed. Just four weeks along, if that. We decided to start trying when Micah turned two, figuring it would take awhile. Forget trying, how about one try. Apparently all David has to do is breathe on me after we bench the goalie so to speak, and boom: baby. 

And even though it was a ROUGH first trimester (and second one at that), even though it happened the week I went back to my old job full time and was dealing with a whole lot of life being thrown in my face at once and didn't think I could handle anything else, even though I thought it was a girl and we're having another boy, we're so excited. So grateful. So curious to meet Little Pup, who has already made it known that he is his own person, is coming into the world in his own way thankyouverymuch, and will be a different piece that completes our family puzzle. My boys constantly surprise and correct me and have me adjust what I expect from and hope for in life. Just wait till they're both on the outside, my Huske Pups.