"Charlie"

"Her name is Charlie!" Benjamin told me when I asked what the baby's name should be.

A very faint blue line... 

We found out on December 23 that we were going to have a baby. I meant to wait until Joshua came home from work to tell him, but to be honest, I was such a sobbing mess of excitement and terror that I simply couldn't. One second I was laughing alone on the couch, and the next second I was alone on the couch sobbing my guts out. 

I don't really know why I couldn't control myself... I had known for days that I was pregnant. Or at least my hand did. The crazy thing kept wandering to my tummy, rubbed a few circles, and then I noticed and stopped it. I kept telling myself my hand wouldn't know...

So I waited as long as I could...and took a pregnancy test about a week and a half before it's guaranteed to work. That little blue line was so faint I almost thought I imagined it...but I knew I didn't, so I began sobbing on the couch. (I still had to do another one a few days later to "make sure.")

A few hours later, I took a box of poppy seed muffins to a bewildered Daddy for his lunch to show him that "our baby is the size of these poppy seeds." He kinda didn't know what to say. And now, a week later, he is still trying to figure it out. It's ok. He'll get it ;)

"Your baby is the size of these poppy seeds."

We decided that our "baby announcements" for family would be little board books with a note written in the cover of each. "Dear Grandma and Papa," the one for my parents began. Dad opened it and read a bit... "Who are Grandma and Papa?" he asked. Then, "No way..." And soon after that, "They're having a baby!" Then Mom realized it...and we had quite a  bit of excitement around the table. 

Benjamin has been kissing and cuddling my tummy every time he sees me. He is certain "she" will come out of my belly button and keeps trying to see if "she" is coming yet. Maybe the child is right, maybe it is a "she", but maybe it's a "he". Wouldn't Ben be surprised? 

Anyway, we all have a while to wait. We can't know until April at least. 

Girl or boy? Not sure, but everyone is very excited!

As for how I'm doing, no morning sickness yet, just a strange sinus flu and terrible fevers and practically living in the bathroom. Lots of hearing excitement from people who love us, and entreating them not to tell the world before we get a chance to. Who knows how long that will last... 

"Charlie" is going to be one preciously spoiled baby. First grandbaby on either side, and first great-grandbaby. First niece/nephew. And the child already has a "surrogate grandmother" as a dear coworker had already named herself in November. 

Welcome to the world, Baby "Charlie" Falk. I love you so dearly and I can't wait to hold you in my arms come September.