"Home is Where the Heart Is"--NC to VA to FL!

As most of my readers already know we are getting relocated to Panama City, FL.

Well the day Eric called me with the news I didn't really have a reaction because I was in complete shock that we were getting transfered. I know I shouldn't of been too shocked because yes we are a military family and yes that does happen ha! But I seriously thought we would end up getting the 1 year extension here mainly because I was thinking who would request to get stationed in Wachapreaugue, VA....well apparently a guy who lives relatively close to the area that's who! Anyway so my reaction didn't hit until the next morning when Emma and I woke up (Eric was at work) and we were snuggled in the bed until we were both ready to actually get up--that's when it hit me! I realized that she'll have no memories of the house we first brought her home from the hospital, had her first Halloween, Christmas, New Years, Valentines, St. Patrick's Day and soon to be Easter and Mother's Day. So that's what hit me-I cried just thinking about all the sentimental things about this house that we've made into a home-I'm really going to miss it! We have such great neighbors throughout this neighborhood. The summer is always nice here because you can always hear all the kids playing outside, riding bikes and just enjoying being outside. I'm really going to miss them all :( I'm also going to miss my work "family"! Mr. Klein has been so understanding through the changes and by that I mean me being pregnant and always being sick or having doctors appointments to Emma being born and me only working 1 1/2 days a week. He's been such a great boss and his family has been wonderful to us too. We've gone over to his house a few times and they just make us feel so welcomed. I'm going to miss them! Mr. Klein was actually our very first visitor the day we brought Emma home! Then Janie has been so nice and is a great co-worker. She loves to cook so shares recipes with me and has become family to me as well.

I'm not one who likes change much, but I've been with Eric since before he was in Bootcamp in 2003 soooo I've grown a little to the idea of change mainly because I've had to! Nothing is written in stone with the military..except the fact that you are government owned property now! So I knew we'd be getting transfered throughout the years, make new friends, have to say bye to friends, move etc. Eric has already dealt with a move from when he graduated A School in November 2003--his first station was Nantucket, MA and he was there from Dec. 2003-May 2007. Then he got stationed here June 2007-until June 2011. I've only had to move from my mom's house to VA and believe me that was HARD ENOUGH! Leaving all my friends and family back at home, even though it was only a 4 1/2-5 hour drive I felt like that was really far. Now we will be 13 1/2 hours away! Sooo the distance is obviously the worst part of this entire news! But I've definitely got a lot of positives: it's an adventure, we will actually be near lots of shops, restaurants, and absolutely beautiful local beaches! I'm pretty sure we will have plenty of friends and family want to come visit us if not to just see Emma but to see this vacation destination!

Eric's last day at Wachapreague is June 17th and he has to report to FL by July 8th! So yeah the military thinks that's enough time to find a place and move HA! So Eric has taken leave May 15-25th we will leave here May 13th..which is a Friday and then come back here to basically clean up the house, cover up holes (from pictures) and just get the house ready for whoever moves in after us. April is my last month working, but I'll definitely go by there before we actually leave :(

Eric will be stationed on the 87 ft boat called "COHO". So he will get sea time YAY! Why you might ask this is a good thing...well because it helps him be able to get ranked higher :) But since this boat is considered a small boat he'll only be gone like a week at a time. This boat is only allowed to be underway for 150 days out of the entire year! So I'll actually get to see him more in FL then I do here in VA! :) So YAY!

One really cool thing about the military and getting relocated is the fact that they come to your house and completely pack everything for you! If you try to pack some stuff in advance they have to unpack it and then re-pack it themselves because they are responsible for it! Then whenever we find a place and its time to move they actually unpack everything and put it where you want! Ummm AWESOME! I know there are some people who would rather do this themselves but seriously WHY? So we are definitely taking that advantage!

Some little fun things about Panama City/Panama City Beach, FL:

Panama City, FL is located on the Gulf of Mexico in the panhandle ofFlorida between Mobile, AL, to the west and Tallahassee, FL, to the east. Panama City is serviced by its own international airport (Delta and Northwest) and is accessible by several major highways easily linking this vacation paradise to the cities of the southeast, central, and western states. So we are excited about so close to those other places that we've never been to before and probably would of never visited if it weren't for the military! So some more good things about this relocation :)

Pier Park is an awesome outdoor mall that is almost right on the beach! Not only does it have lots of cool stores but it also has some awesome restaurants. Everything from 5 guys hamburgers to Jimmy Buffets Margaritaville (Yes daddy there is one and its not in the airport!). This is one of the coolest places at Panama City Beach.

Well readers (family and friends) that is our big news! I know I've rambled on this post--but for those that know me know I love to ramble on e-mails so why not on my blog too :)

Nursery and memories :)

This post is to show Emma her first bedroom (nursery) in her first house she ever lived. This home will forever be in my thoughts even after we move, because it was the place we first brought Emma home from the hospital on Tuesday October 19, 2010 (around noon).

So this is why I'm wanting to create this particular blog post--For Emma. Because by the time she turns 12 she will most likely have at minimum 4 other homes. That's saying that we will be stationed for 4 years at each station until Eric can retire (at age 37). I will take pictures of each house and each room as we move. Below is Emma's first Nursery :)

We live in Exmore, VA

Eric works at the Coast Guard Station in Wachapreague, VA

Chelsea works at a Law Office (Mapp, Mapp & Klein) in Keller, VA

We have some very nice neighbors who live directly across from us who have 2 young kids, another family at the beginning of the street who have 4 kids also and then a young couple who live down from us. Its a great neighborhood and during the warmer weather you will see and hear all the kids outside enjoying themselves. Such a wonderful place! :)

Overview of your room: I didn't want to do the pink theme just because you were a girl. Not because I don't think it looks good but I'm just not a "pink" girl. I love the blues, greens, and browns. So when I found your bedspread online I KNEW it was the one I wanted instantly. It had the perfect colors and had paisley for a girly touch :) So the entire theme came from those colors.

The box below was given to me by my old boss and his wife (Mr. Thompson and the late Mrs. Thompson)in Morehead City as a wedding gift. It matched perfectly with the color theme and I hold all of your memorabilia such as your bracelet from the hospital, your "It's a Girl" card from the hospital and all sorts of other little wonderful things. You'll also see a small bracelet on the dresser that is your first piece of jewelry and it was given to you by our landlord for Christmas 2010.

The canvas painting was painted by your Aunt Carly :) The picture of you hanging up is when you were 1 month old and Amber Willis took your photos--she did a WONDERFUL job! :)

The mobile above your crib is from Kathryn :) The monkey on your changing table is from Aunt Carly!!

The puppy on the left is my puppy that was put in my crib before I was born. It was from my godfather Scott Glenn. So your granny Juju thought it was only necessary to get you your own "gund" puppy like the one I have. So hopefully when your my age you can still have your first stuffed animal still around :)

The 2 photo albums are from the day you were born through present day--the blue album is completely full and that was just with pictures from the day you were born until the end of December!! What can I say I LOVE pictures :) The table has a mini album, which your granny Juju bought before we knew we were having a girl so that is why its yellow--it holds all of your ultrasound pictures! The picture frame in the back was made by your great grandmother Naegelen as a gift to me and Eric, it has one of our wedding programs in it and flowers from the wedding! The blue and white frame is one of your ultrasound pictures--where we could already tell you were going to have some ADORABLE cheeks :) Then the accordion picture book was a gift from Amber with some of your one month photos in it :)

The sign below with your name was created by Aunt Macy and was given to me at the baby shower (exactly 2 weeks before you were born!)

The molds from below we did for your first Christmas 2010! We created them originally for ornaments, but now I use them as decoration in your room. We have your footprint framed, then we have your hand print and the other small mold is of your fist, haha yes your fist! You were always clenching your fists when you were first born. It wasn't until you started noticing different textures around you that you now love to keep your hands open or of course in your mouth :) So Eric only found it appropriate to make a mold of your tiny fist :)

This ends the tour around your room and all the wonderful things in it! Also you should know that you are almost 5 months old and I still can't bring myself to let you sleep in your room at night. So you sleep next to mommy and daddy's bed :) I'm not quite sure when I'll be big enough to let you sleep across the hall from me...as for now you are doing fine and so am I :)

MommyHood :)

I know I know it has been FOREVER since I've posted something...August of 2010 to be exact! I'm going to try to do better at posting.

So lets start with my latest role in life.....I'm a MOMMY :) It is the greatest joy I have ever felt.

Lets see....my water broke around 1:30 a.m. on Sunday, October 17, 2010! We had gone to bed around 11 the night before and I was woken up thinking that I waited to long to get and go to the bathroom, just to discover it was my water breaking. I finally stood in the bathtub, yes the bathtub and starting yelling for Eric but due to having the ceiling fan and the table fan blowing towards the bed (I was VERY hot natured!) he didn't hear me sooooo I banged on the bathroom wall and bless his heart he came running towards the bathroom eyes barely open and a look a fear in his eyes! Once he realized what was happening we called all the parents..or tried to call them all nobody answered when we called and of course my mother had her cell phone turned OFF! Eventually everyone was told and was shortly on there way to VA! It is about a 4-5 hour drive for everyone. So I'm still standing in the bathtub refusing to get out because I'm waiting for the big "waterfall" of my water breaking like you see in movies, but that never happened to me. But I'm still waiting for it so I probably stood in the bathtub for at least 30 minutes as Eric is running around trying to pack stuff..cause yes we did NOT have our hospital bag packed! I was not expecting to go 2 1/2 weeks early and I had just ordered stuff from Old Navy to put in our hospital bag and it was due to arrive that Monday! Anyway so Eric's trying to run around and pack stuff and trying to convince me to get out of the bathtub at the same time ha! He put like 2 towels on the front seat of my car so I could sit and not destroy my seat. We arrive to the hospital get checked in and then its basically sit and wait after that. They wanted to get movement from Emma but she was refusing to wake up that early the nurse even gave me a pepsi thinking that would wake her up, especially since I don't drink soda (mainly water) I thought it would definitely wake her up, but it didn't! She didn't wake up until around 6 or 7a.m. Oh well! :) Eric kept trying to fall back asleep on the couch in the room...oh and the room, we lucked out and got there in time to get the "big room" as they call it! Its the only maternity room that has the bathroom/shower in the actual room! I was excited for that because it would SUCK to have to walk down the hall every time I had to pee or wanted to shower! Anyway so by 8 or 9 a.m. all of our family had made it to the hospital. Not much going on just sitting and waiting for Emma to arrive. By this point my contractions were barely there and were very manageable. Then they wanted to give me pitocin (sp?) to induce contractions. So around 11-12 I started to notice the contractions were coming quicker and more painful. Of course everyone said I was doing really well with them...because all of our family was in our room while I was contracting. They said that every time I was having a contraction I would curl my toes! I don't remember that, but I do remember holding on to the bed and closing my eyes! After a few hours of this and the doctor/nurses coming in and checking on how far along I was by 5 p.m. I was only 4 centimeters!! Dr. Reason told me Emma was still sitting very high and that it seemed that the best thing right now was to get a c-section! I was VERY nervous because I had gone in with all intentions to do a natural birth. But after what 15 1/2 hours of contractions and very little sleep I decided if the doctor thinks its best than I can manage. So I was prepped and ready for surgery, it felt so weird to be sitting there holding Eric's hand and then hearing Emma's cry! I was soooo HAPPY!!!!!!!! They brought her to Eric and he put in my face so I could see her and kiss her! :) The greatest moment in my life!

Emma Faye Lawrence

Born: October 17, 2010

6:51 p.m.

7.7 pounds

20 inches

Shore Memorial Hospital, Nassawadox, VA

This picture below is her first trip to the doctor's office

Side Note: I only had "morning sickness" around week 12 through 16, which sucked! I didn't need to be sent to the hospital but I came close during one week the doctor almost wanted to send me for dehydration! But I forced myself to eat and drink. It was probably the HOTTEST summer EVER. Pre-Pregnancy I was already hot-natured--ask any of my friends and family, but last summer was just unbearable! Towards the end of the pregnancy it was really uncomfortable to sleep at night, never could find a good position, it seemed no matter which position I got in my throat and stomach would start burning-heart burn! Around the last month I had allergic reaction to something (not sure what) but caused a major rash and crazy itch that lasted like 2 weeks--it was HORRIBLE! But luckily it wasn't that pregnancy rash that some women get and the only cure is giving birth!! That's just ridiculous! Oh also another wonderful thing that happened to me in the last month....CANKLES! Oh that was attractive! After birth my legs and ankles were completely swollen and it was painful! I kept telling Eric that I could deal with the recovery of my surgery, but the stupid swelling was unnecessary! The doctor said that would go away anywhere between 2-4 weeks after surgery. Well it finally went away around I think the 3rd week! I was SOOOO thrilled to look down and see my actual ankles! It almost made me feel like my legs/ankles were skinnier than pre-pregnancy but it was just due to seeing them soooo big for so long ha! Well I gained a total of 30 pounds exactly during the pregnancy and by my first visit back to the ob for my check-up (3 weeks after Emma was born) I had lost ALL the baby weight! Yes be jealous! BUT don't get me wrong just because I lost the weight doesn't mean I lost the belly! That is just a little bit about what was happening with me during the pregnancy!

Picture is from January 2011

January 2011--visiting Eric at work :)

Now we are at present day! Emma is almost 5 months old...WOW the time has flown by! She is such a happy baby! She LOVES her daddy and everything he does makes her smile! I could do the exact same thing but for some reason its funnier when he does it :) Lets just say that Emma has her daddy wrapped around not just one but all his fingers!! We have also been very lucky to not have sleepless nights. Emma LOVES to sleep! She started sleeping through the night around a month in a half! She goes to bed by 11 p.m. and wakes up anywhere between 6-8 a.m.! Told you we are very lucky! Plus she likes to nap during the day! She has learned how to grab a hold of her ear and YANK! She has a little grip too! She loves watching tv and listening to music! I like to think that her favorite movie is Beauty and the Beast...its one of my favorite and she focuses on that one more than she does with the other movies I've put in. But I think she likes it when there is music in the movies. She has also been able to hold her head up for quite some time now. Even when she was just a month old or so you would hold her on your chest and she would lift her head up to look around...I called her a little nosey buddy :) She loves to stand--of course not on her own, but when she's standing her little legs stiffen right up! She is also a great traveler! After she was a month we took our first trip back to Carteret County and we only stopped once and we were only 30 minutes away from home! Even now at almost 5 months we either have to stop once or sometimes not at all and that's a 4 1/2 hour drive! Ohhhh and on a funny note you will almost always know when she's pooping..yes I said poop! Because she grunts and turns red in the face HAHA! So lady like! She's very gassy too :) She loves for us to make farting noises with our mouths..for some reason that will almost always make her smile :) Which is the best! When she smiles you can't help but smile!

Oh and I swear she's never going to go without love.....both of our families are totally wrapped!! They all love her SOOOOO very much and hate that we live as far away as we do. I hate it too!

Well I think for now this is going to be my post. I will leave you with one of my favorite lyrics in a song and a couple of pictures:

"Everyone that sees you always wants to know you,

And everyone that knows you always has a smile

You're a standing ovation after years of waiting

For a chance to fall and shine

Everyone calls you amazing, I just call you mine."

First Valentines Day :) It was also BEAUTIFUL outside so we sat outside :)

March 2011--she was helping me with laundry :)

Also have to give a shout out to a couple of my best friends: Kathryn and Lauren CONGRATULATIONS! Baby Rosado due at the beginning of September and Baby Hancock due at the end of September! :) :) :) :) I'm SOOOO THRILLED for both of them! Can't wait for you guys to enjoy all the wonderful moments. Even when they don't seem wonderful at the time you still will want to cherish every second! :) Time flies by! Love you both!

Recap....

Well lets start off by saying sorry to my readers...all possibly 1 of you haha. I just always forget to update my blog.

June 12th Marianne and Dwayne got married!!! Eric and I were SO thrilled! They are such a great couple and SO meant to be together. We absolutely LOVE having Marianne in our family! She is soooo good to Dwayne and he loves her so much. We've never seen Dwayne sooo happy :)

Well a couple of days after Dwayne and Marianne's wedding we found out the sex of the baby! On June 14th we were told we are having a GIRL and we couldn't be happier! When the tech. person told us that "its a girl" Eric and I were both a little shocked! I seriously had thought they were going to say "boy" and of course Eric's dad had a theory that all the men in his family had boys...even though he's the only "man" that has children haha. But still we were both shocked. I am SO excited that its a girl because of all the bows, ribbons, polka dots, dresses etc all that fun stuff. Eric will learn to love it too :) Our daughter's name is Emma Faye. Emma is just a name I've loved since high school and Faye is my middle name, my grandmother's name and Eric's Aunt's name. So I just felt it was good to keep that name. Although we have discovered that when we get things monogrammed her initials spell out "E.L.F." haha. But its ok I think its cute!

Eric and I celebrated our 1 year wedding anniversary in Washington, DC! We left our house that Saturday (6-26) and drove back home that Sunday (6-27). I can't believe that we've been married for a year already! Time has flown by and there is nothing I would change! Eric has been the greatest husband anyone could ever dream for. We stayed at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.

Back to Emma :) Once we told family and friends the news of Emma we instantly started receiving clothes, stuffed animals, sun glasses and lots more! Her closet is already jam packed! I need to get another bar to put in her closet so we can continue to hang up stuff. Emma is the first grandchild in both of our families so she is going to spoiled rotten! But I love it! My mom bought Emma's diaper bag--Vera Bradley and I'm totally LOVING IT! I at first wanted a black and white print and put Pink initials on it but once I saw this print I knew it was the one I was wanting! We got it at Harbor Specialties in Beaufort and they monogrammed the bag for free and then they even put Emma's name on the changing cloth! Soo cute! Thanks Mama!!!

On July 18th we had a baby shower for one of my best friends Karli! It was held at Kahla's house and was so nice to visit with all my girls! I miss them so much! When Karli found out she was having a girl we were soooo excited! But then when we found out we were having a girl me and Karli instantly started talking about how they will be best friends and we'll have to get matching outfits and get their pictures taken together! Maybe by the time Allie and Emma reach middle school they can be in school together! :)

As for me....I am 27 weeks along as of today. I can't believe that in 3 months Emma will either be here already or making her way into our lives! I am so ready to meet mine and Eric's daughter! We already are guessing that she will have red hair! Because when Eric was younger he had RED hair, its gotten to a brown color as he's gotten older. When I was younger my hair was strawberry blonde and then brown with natural red high lights. To this day its still brown with a hint of red high lights. So that is why we think she'll have red hair! Unless she takes after someone else in the family! Also we are not sure if Emma will come early, on-time, or late. Her due date is November 4th. But if she takes after her daddy she could come 4 days early or if she takes after her mama she'll come on her actual due date (very rare--but yes I due what I'm told haha)! So who knows!!!

We've already picked out the bedding for Emma's room and now I can't wait to get it! I have to first start off by saying that yes I know I'm having a girl but no I'm not one of those ones that LOVES the color pink! Sooo Emma's colors in her room are based off of the bedding! Its still girly but its not pink haha. I can't help it I've never been one to like the color. I'm not saying I won't buy her pink clothes or bows and things but I just didn't want her entire room looking like bubble gum haha :)

Well this isn't everything that has happened over the past few months but this is some of the big things that's happened! I'm not going to promise that I'm going to do better at keeping up with my blog because I just can't :) haha. But even if I don't updated it every week or whatever I'll at least update it with an overview of what's happened :)

16 Weeks!!

From thebump.com my weekly updates :)

you're 16 weeks pregnant!

About what Mama will be experiencing :)

Thanks to increasing blood flow, it's time for some major cash and prizes. Enjoy quick-growing hair and nails, smooth and firm skin, and a healthy glow. One bit of bad news -- your eyes might be feeling a little dry these days.

About what Baby is is developing!!!

Baby's now the size of an avocado!

Watch what you say...tiny bones forming in baby's ears mean she can now pick up your voice. A few more minuscule changes: Eyebrows, lashes, and hair are starting to fill in, and taste buds are forming.

How EXCITING that the baby can now hear us talking to him/her!!!!!!!!!!! My mom has instructed me that I must say "Grandma Juju" at least 10 times a day haha :) We have an appointment on Friday and I can't wait to see how much the baby has grown.....its soooo fun!

Today at work a client came in for her appointment and had her 4 month old little girl, my heart just melted! She was sooo cute with big brown eyes! I got to play with her for just a few minutes but it totally made my afternoon!

Well that's all for now :)

15 weeks!

So I am 15 weeks along in my pregnancy and the morning (all day long) sickness has not subsided yet! They claimed that the 2nd trimester will be the "honeymoon phase" which means that I should be out of the feeling nausaeted most of the time--but they are wrong I'm still feeling that way and throwing up at the very least once a week. Which I shouldn't complain because 1. They say that being sick is a good sign that the baby will be healthy--but I know plenty of people who said they weren't sick and their babies were just as healthy as could be--so I think they just tell you that to make you feel better! 2. It could always be worst! I had a friend who was in and out of the hospital with both of her pregnancies, I am thankful I haven't been put in the hospital! I did come close in the beginning, but I with the help from my wonderful husband buckled down and made myself eat and drink stuff. I'm noticing that my energy levels are still very low--I am constantly wanting to take a nap--but never can because I'm working full time (M-F 8:30-5). Some mom's have the luxury of being able to stay home and get the rest they need--but I have to work. I am also noticing I am getting headaches a lot more than normal-which they claim is normal. Also whenever I refer to "they" its either http://www.thebump.com/ or other mom's who have told me about their stories. Just a little side-note for all my readers :)

Speaking of thebump.com they send me their weekly updates about what I am expecting and how the baby is growing. Which I find rather interesting :) They compare the baby's growing size to different fruit each week :) Below is my weekly update:

Your gums may be red and swollen (thanks, hormones), so it's extra-important to take good care of your mouth right now. Brush often, floss gently, and see your dentist if you haven't already. Also, your now-cramped chest and abdomen (baby's growing fast!) might be making you a little short of breath.


your baby
Baby's now the size of a naval orange!Continuing the march toward normal proportions, baby's legs now out-measure his arms. And, finally, all four limbs have functional joints. Your fetus is squirming and wiggling like crazy down in the womb, though you probably can't feel the movements just yet.

Well this is all for now :) I'll try to remember to keep updating each week as I get my weekly updates :)

Baby Lawrence :)

Well as most of my readers know by now Eric and I are expecting our first child. We are so blessed to have this miracle of life. I am almost 13 weeks along (Wednesday), Baby "L" is due November 4th (tentatively).


The story of how we found out and how we told the family :)


My sister and her friend Elizabeth came to visit me in Virginia the last weekend of February, because Eric was working that weekend. Once they left on Sunday afternoon, I took a pregnancy test and it read positive :) I was SO excited and nervous all at the same time. Eric and I had actually been trying to get pregnant since the beginning of January (so not long at all!). So when I read the pregnancy stick it took me a few seconds for it to actually register. I got a shower and got dressed and ready and headed over to the Coast Guard station to tell Eric the WONDERFUL news. But of course I didn't want to tell him in front of anyone so once I got there we just hung out watching tv with a couple of the guys in the room. They eventually left and I looked over to Eric and told him he was going to be a dad and that I was pregnant! His eyes lit up and he said "are you serious?!" I said yes I took a test and it said positive! Once I left the station it was all I could not to call family and friends and tell them the wonderful news! But I told Eric I didn't want to tell them until we have confirmation from the doctor. So on Monday (during my lunch break) I called the OBGYN's office and set an appointment. They set it for 9 days after I spoke to them. I didn't think that day would EVER get there! Well it finally arrived--March 10th-- and we were at the doctor's office (I had told my office that I had a regular yearly check-up...ya know the "woman's doctor" haha). When the Nurse Practitioner did the sonogram and we got to see a little LINE of a baby on the screen it was exciting. We were 6 weeks pregnant! She gave us pictures of our "Line" haha. So then after the doctor gave us the confirmation and pictures and our tenative due date of November 4th we were ready to go :) Then we had to figure out how and when we were going to tell our parents that they were going to be GRANDPARENTS! Those of you who know me, know I love to be creative! We weren't planning on going home until March 19th weekend and even that weekend wasn't planned because we were going home the following weekend for Amber and Patrick's wedding, so that made us traveling to Beaufort 2 weekends in a row...obviously we didn't mind because they were both joyous occassions of why we were going home :) I had 9 days to come up with an idea of how to tell our family! Eric and I drove up to Salisbury, MD to meet up with another couple at the movies (The Alice in Wonderland movie) so we decided to go up a little earlier and go to Michael's so I can wonder around there. I had the idea of making picture frames for everyone with possible grandparent names to call them :) Of course the picture would be our "first picture" :) So I got the unfinished frames at Michael's along with scrapbook supplies to decorate the frames and I (with the help from my wonderful hubby) stained the frames. We stained the frames that Sunday and I let them dry for so long, because I was still undecided on what to put for the names on each of the frames. This is when I decided to call my sister and tell her the wonderful news! Actually I believe I called her prior to buying the frames! So yes my sister Carly kept the secret for such a long time and that in itself was a miracle :) She would text me or call me and tell me times where she came close to slipping up and telling either daddy or mama! But I am thankful she didn't! Also I should mention that my step-sister Allison is expecting her first child in July! So that made things a bit easier for my sister to be able to cover up some of the things we were needing to find out haha :) Such as figuring out a name to call my father and Kimberly. My sister would just bring up to them "oh so have you guys figured out what you wanted to be called for Allison's baby?" So we were sneaky finding out names for daddy and Kimberly :) As for my mom we came up with something that we thought was cute. Then for Dwayne and Marianne....well they have been wanting us to have a baby since the wedding so they have told us names they wanted to be called LONG before we were even trying haha!

The names:

Daddy and Kimberly--"Papa" and "Nana"
Dwayne and Marianne--"Papa" and "Mema" yes both grandfathers will be called "Papa" which we thought was cute and if the kid gets confused we can always add "Papa B" and "Papa D" :)
My mom--"Juju" but of course on the frame I put "Grandma JuJu" so she would know what the name was haha :)

See the pictures below

Daddy and Kimberly

Dwayne and Marianne

My mama

Once the frames were made I was SO ready to get home and give them to everyone! We got home that Friday night (March 19th) around 10. We walked in the door to my mom's house and we unpacked, brought the stuff up to the room and then just sat on the couch talking for a bit...it was all I could do not to bust out with the news at first, but I had to contain myself since I worked so hard on the frames :) SO then I said "so mama I got you something" and then I pulled out the frame and gave it to her. She was looking at it and looking at it and it finally registered what she was looking at then she goes and puts the picture under the light so she can better see what she was looking at :) Then her reaction hit and was like "OH MY GOD OH MY GOD ARE YOU SERIOUS" So after a few minutes of repeating those words she asked me if Carly knew and I told her yes and that she'd known for a couple of weeks now and she was like "She didn't tell me!" haha. So that was fun.

Saturday morning we were meeting my dad and Kimberly for breakfast, which this story is funny all on its own because we (me and my sister) totally manipulated daddy through this entire process haha! It began like a week prior to seeing Daddy and Kimberly. My sister knew I wanted to tell Daddy in person (because of the frame) but I just couldn't figure out when I would see daddy again (since he lives 2 1/2 hours away from Beaufort). So my sister had text me saying that daddy was talking about going and visiting grandma (aka his mother) sometime during that week before he and Kimberly were heading off to CA for his cousin's wedding. So my sister said maybe I can call him and convince him to wait a few extra days and go down to Beaufort that weekend :) SO sure enough I called daddy instantly and said "so Eric and I are coming to Beaufort this weekend and I haven't seen you since Christmas maybe you want to meet us down there?" his first reaction was "that is so weird we were JUST talking about going and visiting grandma this week" I was trying not to laugh :) So he said "yeah I can push the trip a few days so we can come down there this weekend!" So yay our plan was working this way all the grandparents would know the same weekend instead of saying "don't say anything yet because we haven't told so and so" :) Anyway back to the Saturday morning breakfast. We met them around 10sh for breakfast at the best breakfast place "Beaufort Cafe" I was shaking because I was nervous trying to pick the best time to tell daddy he's going to be a grandpa AND trying to figure out if I should wait until after we ate breakfast or before we ate breakfast. Well we all talked for a little bit put our orders in and were just hanging out. So then I finally said "oh I got you guys something for the remodeling" they have been remodeling their house for sometime so I figured that was the best line to use :) So then I handed him the picture frame. They are both looking at it and daddy so obvlious thought I had handed him a frame I made regarding Allison's baby :) Then Kimberly realized what it was and daddy looked further at it and started reading out loud "Baby Lawrence--November 4th" then he finally got clued in and his reaction hit "WAIT WHAT, WHAT WAIT A MINUTE WHAT" haha then he of course was happy and kept looking at the photo :)

Saturday evening we finally went over to Dwayne and Marianne's house (Dwayne had been working all day and I knew good and well if I went over there any sooner I would of busted and told Marianne right away haha) so when we walked in they were sitting on the couch and me and Eric sat in the big chair. I said "well I have something for you guys" and I took the frame out of my purse and handed it to Dwayne.....well Dwayne just basically saw a frame and instantly just said "Thanks guys" and we all just kind of hesitated and Marianne being a mama knew exactly what that was haha and she said "baby do you realize what your looking at" as he was about to set it on the coffee table :) He finally looked at it further and was like "baby Lawrence" and then had a big ol' grin on his face and looked to Eric and said "you owe me a $100" HAHAHAHA! I busted out laughing! Because it was either the day or day after Eric and I got Engaged Dwayne made a bet with Eric that we would announce we were pregnant within the first year! I of course was not around during this so-called bet so I can not verify exactly what was said and WHY my then fiance would make a bet about our future children haha! But of course guys will be guys! So we thought that was HILARIOUS for his reaction :)

Everybody was so thrilled for our news but I told them all not to post ANYTHING on facebook until I posted something because I didn't want EVERYBODY to find out when I was still so early in the pregnancy. Although lets face it Carteret County LOVES to gossip so even though by the time I finally did post something on facebook the majority of the people already knew, I was just thankful nobody posted anything :) So at 12 weeks I finally let facebook know :)

I have been to the doctor now 3 times; once for the initial confirmation of the pregnancy, second time to meet with one of the doctors who will be possibly delivering the baby and then the third visit I had to go alone because Eric was working and I SO wish he could of gone because it was the 11th week and so the baby finally looked like a baby and I got to see it moving and saw its heartbeat oh it was SO exciting and seemed so real to me then, because the other 2 visits the doctors "claimed" there was a baby but I had no idea what I was looking at and didn't notice the little peanut until the 3rd visit :) So the picture below is our baby at 11 weeks ain't he/she so cute :)

My next appointment is set for May 21st at the OBGYN and then the next appointment is June 14th which is at the hospital where we get to find out the sex of the baby! So cast your vote now on what you think it will be :) My husband and his father are DETERMINED its a boy! We did the Chinese Gender Chart on thebump.com and it claims to be a boy too. So I'm trying to get in the mind-set that its a boy! Now I need to come up with boys names....any suggestions?

Baby Lawrence at 11 weeks :)

I promise I will try to keep this update more frequently regarding the baby and any other activities :)

Sorry for the long and rambling post, my sister says I write exactly how I talk...apparently that's not always a good thing especially with a sister who is an English major :)