Pregnancy Reveals

The shadowbox I made to tell John Vince was coming!

Nope, I'm not pregnant and it's doubtful I will be anytime in the foreseeable future.  However, I came across a brilliant photo announcement today that absolutely made my day.  Plus, several of my buddies just announced their news in thoroughly entertaining ways and made me think back to my own announcement regarding Vince!

Mom-to-be was holding her ultrasound photo against her belly while her husband stood next to her, holding a photo of a cheeseburger against his.

Ha ha - brilliant.

I had gotten pregnant with Vincent the very first time we tried.  I almost didn't believe the results when a week after our first try, my chest was super tender and my period was late.  I pretty much took the pregnancy test to prove to myself that I was insane, but don't ya know two little pink lines appeared!

I remember sitting there looking at the stick in disbelief saying, "No way!  Oh my God, no way!" all while tears of joy welled up in anticipation for the child I've longed my whole life to hold.

Since that first line was barely visible, I thought for sure my mind was playing tricks on me.  So after taking another dozen, I waited a week to try the digital tests.  All this time I kept the secret to myself, incredulous and scared out of my mind that I might be wrong.

Anyway, after all the digital tests ('cause you can never be too sure) came back positive, I scheduled an appointment with my family doctor, just to make a million percent sure.  I could barely contain myself at this point.  As soon as he confirmed, I set my plan into motion.

John was going to be visiting his Nan that night.  Thus, I had about three hours to purchase, create and set up everything.

Immediately after work, I went to AC Moore and purchased a shadowbox and materials.  I painted the whole box white and gave it a green background.  I'd already decided that we'd do a neutral color scheme, and light green and white seemed perfect for a boy or a girl.  So since I had wanted the shadowbox to go into the nursery, I wanted it to match!

Anyway, I embellished it and created a special spot inside from one of my many, MANY pregnancy tests.  I chose a "line" version as opposed to the digitals, because digital ones would die out.  The lines, however - they remain!

After I finished putting everything together, I went upstairs to what would become the nursery to set up a video camera which would capture John's reaction.  Just as I set everything up, I heard him enter the house.  I can't even express to you how nervous I was!  I can only assume this must be the feeling men have when they're about to ask their future bride to marry them.  AH!

Of course, John made me wait forever and a day.  He needed to use the bathroom, wanted to clip his toe nails, get a drink... I was going out of my mind!  Finally, he came into the "spare room" and I held up the shadow box (that housed baby stuff and the positive pregnancy test), and asked, "Do you think this should go here... or here?"

He looked at it, completely dumbfounded for a minute, and said, "There."

I said, "Really?  Here?"

He said, "Yes.  Sure."

I responded, carefully, "John are you serious?"

And he replied, "Are you trying to tell me you're pregnant?"

I could've died.  I honestly thought he was unhappy with the news, but it turns out he was just as incredulous as I was.  As soon as it sunk in a few minutes later, he was going bonkers telling his friends.

We waited until this next day to tell our families.  I wanted to do it in person, because I wanted to really see their reactions.  By far, my favorite reactions were from Nicole (John's sister) and his father, John Sr.

I had wanted to tell Nicole first of all.  I was dying at this point (having kept it a secret for about two weeks).  Since she's crafty like me, I said, "Hey Nik, wanna see what I made last night?"

She said "Sure" and I handed her the shadow box.  It took her all of two seconds to realize what she was holding and then looked up at me and John with astonishment.  She was barely able to utter a "OMG, are you guys...?" before she started crying, hugging us and saying, "I'm so happy for you!!!"

Next, we had to wait for John Sr.  Nicole was now JUST as anxious as we were to see his reaction.  Considering how much he gives to all of us, it was exciting to finally be able to give him something back. 

Anyway, the night before, I had made a "Valentine" for him.  When he finally came in that morning, I had John hand him the card.  On the outside, it looked like a real Valentine's card.  Hearts, gorgeous red trimming, all that good stuff.  I cut out and pasted the words "Will you be my..." in big letters on the front.

When he opened the card, he saw that instead of the word "Valentine" I'd pasted the word "Pop Pop" in big letters.  I created a "baby border" of strollers, storks and baby faces, and pasted little pink and blue baby booties around the interior.  At the bottom, I pasted a stork carrying a baby bundle.  I wrote on this "Arriving September 2009."

It took him a split second to realize what it meant, and that look on his face will never escape my memory.  He looked first at John with this... this utter amazement.  He said, "Get outta town."  Then his son smiled and said, "Yup!"  John Sr. then immediately grabbed me in a hug, and Mike D (our office manager) must've realized what had just happened because he got up from behind his desk and said, "You guys pregnant?  Congratulations!"

Ha ha - every time I think of that moment, I can't help but smile.  I must look like a darn fool right now, but it was such a wonderful, wonderful moment!

Anywho, Vince's shadowbox now resides on the wall above his changing table.  It serves as a shelf for his statues of Our Lady and a Guardian Angel.  It's even got his little baptismal candle inside!

But yeah - I love, love, love "reveal" stories.  They're always so great!  So if you have one, please share!!!  Give me something to smile about today!  :)

---

The closed shadowbox / shelf - you can just make out his baptismal candle inside!