The Sunday before Easter started out like any other Sunday, except that Luke and I didn't make it to church. We rolled out of bed around 8:30, lounging around our apartment in tee shirts and underwear, devouring three blueberry muffins a piece in an effort to liven up a free breakfast at home. I continued my DVD player's love affair with the third season of Sex and the City, initiated the day before while Luke was in Michigan for work, while he surfed the Internet for potential city parks to visit later that afternoon. We talked about Easter and how nice it would be to relax in Indianapolis in lieu of a six-hour round trip to visit family and friends scattered throughout the Chicagoland area. We debated over the dinner menu for our cozy little holiday, lazily wondering if we were in the mood for turkey or ham.
Since it was the first of the month, Luke updated his "Walking America: A Year on Wilderness Trails" calendar that hangs above the computer station in our bedroom, and it reminded me that my own Peter Rabbit masterpiece needed flipping as well. As I tacked the new page to the wall, I noticed I was on day thirty-nine of my cycle. There was nothing particularly alarming about this, seeing as the last few months have followed this same pattern, so I figured I was due the next day. However, after studying all my not-at-all-inconspicuous date circles indicating Luke's and my...er...special marital time, I thought, hey, I've still got two First Responses left. Why not pee on a stick?
So I did. And two minutes later, I almost peed again, this time all over myself, out of pure, unadulterated shock. For the first time in my twenty-seven years on this planet, I saw a second pink line. It was faint, but it was there.
"LUKE!" I yelled, arms shaking as I held onto the bathroom sink, my lower lip already beginning to quiver. "THERE ARE TWO LINES ON THIS TEST OH MY GOD OH MY GOD."
"What?"
"JUST GET IN HERE AND LOOK AT THE TEST. IT SAYS I'M PREGNANT, RIGHT? YOU WOULD CALL THAT A SECOND LINE, RIGHT?" And I kept talking just like that, in all caps, while pestering my husband for his non-medical opinion regarding the actual existence of the life-changing second pink line.
"I think so, honey."
"SO THAT MEANS I'M PREGNANT, RIGHT?"
"I think so, honey!"
For the next thirty seconds we kind of just stood there, dazed and confused with this unexpected piece of information, and then he sauntered over to the kitchen table and started flipping through yesterday's mail while I exploded all over our bathroom.
OK, so that didn't really happen, but by that point I was a dry-heaving mess. It's probably safe to assume I lost all concept of rational thinking at the same time I lost my urine.
"WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS? DO YOU THINK I'M PREGNANT OR NOT?"
"I would say so, honey," Luke said for the third time in five minutes, poor guy, totally wanting to reassure me before I lost my already-fragile grip on reality and totally not knowing how. Luckily, I had the perfect solution.
"GO TO WALGREENS AND BUY MORE TESTS. RIGHT NOW. WHY AREN'T YOU PUTTING ON YOUR COAT." (Nope, no question mark there. NO TIME FOR QUESTION MARKS!)
He was gone in eight seconds. Meanwhile, I decided to occupy myself by making the bed and taking the second test. Thank the Lord for bonus packs.
And there it was again. A second pink line, only this one was dark enough that I started to think maybe, just maybe, the universe wasn't filming a special April Fool's edition of Candid Camera.
Now that I had two sticks confirming my future presence on the Mother ship, all I could do was sit and sob and pray to God not to take away my baby before Luke returned from the pharmacy and I could pee on two more.
He returned. I peed on two more. Positive, each one. (You don't say, Frema!) And that's when we both cried and Luke kissed the second of my two gut rolls as a "hello" to the newest member of our family. Before the day was out, we had celebrated with pizza and a trip to the bookstore, where I purchased The Girlfriends' Guide to Pregnancy and The Real Book of Birth, because I am already terrified about pushing this miracle out of my special place. Last Monday I only made it through a half-day of work because I came in to discover an army of ants crawling all over my desk and the facilities manager decided to spray my office and I skidaddled the hell out of there as fast as my legs could carry me because OH MY GOD I WILL NOT ALLOW MALICIOUS INSECTS OR THEIR DEATH JUICE TO KILL MY BABY.
(Get used to the caps-lock voice. It's probably going to stay with us until my November 29th due date, as estimated by my ob nurse, who also informed me that I needed to adjust the lower seat belt strap when riding in the car so it doesn't tighten around my belly in the event of an accident. "Just like Kyra Sedgwick in Singles," Luke offered helpfully. Thanks, dear, for easing my troubled mind.)
(Also, I'm pretty sure she was recommending this for when I'm actually showing, but that hasn't prevented me from hooking a thumb through said lower strap and pushing it away from my stomach, you know, so the baby can breathe. I am such a good mother already.)
To this day we've taken six tests, bought three books (and two magazines to boot), purchased Baby's First Onesie, and started an official list of names; I've also taken it upon myself to start combing through Amalah's pregnancy entries in between projects at work. We waited an agonizing five days before telling our families so we could deliver the news in person, which involved presenting each set of grandparents with an Easter basket and a commercially manufactured Hallmark greeting introducing the future tiny object of their affection. My mother's reaction was straight out of a sitcom, pulling the card out of the envelope and waving it around dramatically for three minutes before finally reading out loud "You're going to be..." and then stopping mid-sentence, dropping her jaw, and turning to the kitchen table for emotional support. (Like mother, like daughter.) As for my father, well, he had to lie down. At six-thirty. For the rest of the night.
And now, in the middle of my sixth week of gestation, finally I have permission to tell the Internet.
Internet, we're having a baby.
Those EPT readings were both positive, I swear.
I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO happy for you! What a terrific feeling! I compared every week of my pregnancy with Amalah's, it's oddly comforting (ESPECIALLY WHEN OVERDUE).
Am I the only person who checks blogs early in the morning? Because "What're you lookin' at?" is far down on my alphabetical favorites list and I've been the first comment 2 days in a row!
Posted by: Erika | April 10, 2007 at 08:12 AM
Yippee!!!!!!!
Congrats and I can't wait to read all of your caps lock posts for the next eight months!!!
Posted by: roxanne | April 10, 2007 at 09:10 AM
Yesterday, after reading your Big Announcement post, I cracked up when I saw that you had already created a "Baby on Board" category.
So glad this dream is coming true for you!!
Posted by: Liz | April 10, 2007 at 09:10 AM
Friend, you are the peeingest damn thing I've ever met! Nice work with your new second line trick!
Posted by: Molly | April 10, 2007 at 09:17 AM
I'm so excited for you! I'm about 3 months ahead of you. I'm not sure how much you appreciate unsolicited advice, but I'll give mine again anyway:
1 - "homebirth midwives rule, hospitals drool (even for first-time moms)"
2 - I would also recommend Mothering magazine as the best pregnancy/mothering magazine :-)
Posted by: Katie | April 10, 2007 at 09:24 AM
Katie: I will be sticking with a hospital, so as long as you don't judge me for that, we're cool. :)
Posted by: Frema | April 10, 2007 at 09:28 AM
CONGRATS!!!!! I'm so excited to start hearing about all you're experiencing, as I'm hoping to not be far behind you! Can't wait to hear what you're having! And the multiple sticks? Cracks the holy crap out of me! CONGRATS!!!!! (I can't say it enough!)
Posted by: Jessi | April 10, 2007 at 09:36 AM
The way you told your parents is priceless. I'm hoping to be able to do something similar when the appropriate time comes.
Posted by: VirginiaGal | April 10, 2007 at 09:43 AM
When I got pregnant with my first daughter, the line was so faint on that test I thought it was negative. Only when I went back a few hours later and looked a little closer did I notice it!
Congratulations, again, to both of you!
Posted by: Rachel | April 10, 2007 at 09:45 AM
Yay for Frema!!!! Weren't we just emailing about this subject last week? Did you already know then you sly little minx?
I have been picking out my baby names since I was a kid. They have changed over the years, but it's so much fun!!!
Posted by: Carrisa | April 10, 2007 at 09:50 AM
All I can say is "Wow, you must pee a lot." I like Luke's post too. He sounds a little pressed for time though. Only 7 1/2 months to go! :)
Posted by: Marriage-101 | April 10, 2007 at 09:54 AM
In between making shmoopie noises for you, I also wondered how you managed to pee so frequently.
Congrats!!
Posted by: culotte | April 10, 2007 at 10:08 AM
People, a peeing machine I am not. You have no idea how much juice I drank that morning to make sure I was ready for those tests!
Posted by: Frema | April 10, 2007 at 10:12 AM
Wow, 13 comments...a few moments ago there were six. As you know, the Daddy D/MJD household is overjoyed with the news. The Easter Basket surprise was perfect. I waited for your two posts; then, of course, I had to blog about your big surprise. You and Luke will be such good parents.
Posted by: mjd | April 10, 2007 at 10:20 AM
Your first real pregnancy post was just as I expected it to be....fabulous! You crack me up. This is going to be so much fun Frema!
I also peed on many sticks with my first pregnancy. I saw the line, I knew it was there, but my husband insisted we get one of those that said "pregnant" or "not pregnant." So, off we went to the drug store around the corner to pick some more tests up. I made sure to grab the biggest glass of water I could to down on the way so I would be ready to pee the second we got back home.
Congrats again!!! I can't seem to say it enough.
Posted by: Silly Hily aka The Hilarazzi | April 10, 2007 at 10:31 AM
You are bringing back so many memories! Enjoy this time...your first is so special and everything is so new.
Congrats again, November will be here before you know it!
Posted by: Debbie | April 10, 2007 at 10:39 AM
I think I must be the only one who only peed on one stick. Of course, there was no doubting it was positive. The + was there. Oh, just wait Frema. I'm only 2 1/2 months into this mommy thing and I love it. Now, my pregnancy, ugh. I felt horrible 85% of the time. Hope you have a good one!
Posted by: Lucky | April 10, 2007 at 11:59 AM
Eek! I am so very excited for you! This post cracked me up, and took me back to the excitement I felt when I peed on multiple tests and saw those multiple lines.
Wishing you a very happy and healthy 9 months!!
And yes, Amalah's pregnancy archives are awesome to read during this time! :)
Posted by: Kelly | April 10, 2007 at 12:02 PM
Congratulations! I am so behind on blog reading and so absolutely shocked and happy to read this!
Posted by: dee | April 10, 2007 at 12:21 PM
YAY. I think maybe caps lock fever is contagious because I just WANNA GO SQUEEEEE! Congratulations, AGAIN. It cracks me up that you found out on April Fools' Day; what a great story to tell the Fremling.
Which reminds me: thought up an unbearably cute Internet Moniker for the little-one-to-be yet?
Posted by: Fraulein N | April 10, 2007 at 12:22 PM
Congrats! I really needed the laugh today - that was a great post! My coworkers probably think I'm insane, I'm laughing to myself and rubbing the tears out of my eyes because I'm laughing to hard.
Posted by: christine | April 10, 2007 at 12:33 PM
You are friggin' hysterical Bree.... HYSTERICAL!!!!!!!! So glad you didn't in fact explode. :-)
Posted by: Diane | April 10, 2007 at 12:37 PM
Squee! Congratulations to you both!
Posted by: MLE | April 10, 2007 at 12:47 PM
I think I have a new career as a fortune teller. The SECOND I read your post title, I said, outloud since I clearly am not all together here, "Bree is pregnant". And lo, I was right.
We did multiple sticks too as that darned second line was always so faint I knew it couldn't be true. Congrats on your special marital times working so quickly!
Posted by: CPA Mom | April 10, 2007 at 01:02 PM
I love the picture of all the pee sticks. And I love that you took so many of them. I don't think I took more then one when I was pregnant with Babboo. But it was a ghetto one from the dollar store that I had to mix and shake and dude, it was just ghetto. And I don't think it was very "positive" and like Rachel I looked at it later and it was more postive, so I was sure I was prego.
So exciting!! I am going to stalk you even more now.
Posted by: Isabel | April 10, 2007 at 01:13 PM
I am still just bursting with excitement for you! The very first thing I did when I woke up this morning was run to my computer (okay, maybe I stumbled sleepily, but still) to read this post. (I'm finally getting around to commenting now, after reading it a second time.) I can't wait to hear all about your pregnancy and the new lil' Frema (or lil' Luke)! And am I the only one who wants to see a picture of your Baby's First Onesie? Because I do. Want to see it, that is.
Also, I know this is far less exciting than those six positive pee sticks, but I nominated you for an award over at my blog. Check it out when you get a chance.
Posted by: Audrey | April 10, 2007 at 01:21 PM
Oh, and one more thing. The fact that Luke gave a hello kiss to the newest member of your family makes me postiviely melt with the cuteness of it all.
Posted by: Audrey | April 10, 2007 at 01:24 PM
I'm de-lurking to tell you that I did exactly what you did. Peed on a stick, and then another, and then another, and then went out and bought more, and peed on them too. I TOTALLY understand that mindset. You simply CAN'T believe one little stick. Or two. Or six. Anyway, congratulations!
Posted by: Brillig | April 10, 2007 at 02:23 PM
Wow. Congratulations sweetie, that is great news! Also? Quite the impressive collection of pregnancy tests... are you starting a museum?
Posted by: PaintingChef | April 10, 2007 at 02:27 PM
WOOOO! WHEEEE! YEEHAW! I AM SO FREAKING EXCITED...LET ME JOIN YOU IN CAPS LOCK VOICE! Congrats to you both...this is going to be the most special time you've ever experienced...seriously. I must let this sink in for a while before I come back to catch up on TLF. But I am expecting detailed documentation of this entire pregnancy. And I'm posting my firstborn's birth story soon...do not let it scare you. :)
Posted by: Stacey | April 10, 2007 at 02:38 PM
oh my... I started sniffling a bit, remembering seeing the 2 pink lines for our little baby!!! Such a crazy day that was... and it happened a lot like yours- I just thought, why not take a test? I was only like 2 or 3 days late and REALLY didn't think I was pregnant, but I had 2 extras in the cabinet so hey, why not? Boy was I shocked!
And honestly- don't be too scared about pushing the little miracle out of your special place :) My only advice is to gather as much info as possible so you'll be ready for any situation... and be flexible. It's not an easy process but it's only temporary and soooo worth it!!!
Posted by: Jen | April 10, 2007 at 02:44 PM
Congrats! That's a lot of tests! :)
Posted by: mel | April 10, 2007 at 03:14 PM
Congratulations on your wonderful news. I still remember those days and my daughters are almost 21 and 17. It is a very special time; enjoy it!
Posted by: Margaret | April 10, 2007 at 06:48 PM
I think I kind of started to hyperventilate reading this post. Only because I would freak out too at a moment like that!
Posted by: Lindsey | April 10, 2007 at 07:43 PM
Marvellous news on all fronts (visiting you from MJD's site). I was extatic when I tested positive with each and every one of my children.
May your pregnancy be wonderful and smooth and you enjoy everyday of it.
Bets are you aren't sleeping well beacuse you are sooo excited :) I know it, because I was just like that!!
Posted by: Cazzie | April 10, 2007 at 08:22 PM
Isn't science wonderful. One test and then another as a check. In the old days, there was not such positive tests. May, the time between now and then be smooth sailing.
Posted by: daddy d | April 10, 2007 at 09:53 PM
Oh my Goodness - Congrats!!!
How exciting for both of you. Now just sit back and enjoy the ride. Hopefully it's a smooth one!
Will you find out the sex???
Posted by: Cindy | April 10, 2007 at 09:55 PM
Fluttered over here from MJD's blog. Congrats on the new addition to the family!
Posted by: Tink | April 11, 2007 at 08:36 AM
I just thought of two questions:
1) Will this affect your blogging class this fall?
2) Will you change Wednesday's title to "Weight Gain Wednesday"? lol!
Posted by: Katie | April 11, 2007 at 11:44 AM
CONGRATS!!!!!!
Posted by: jodifur | April 11, 2007 at 01:09 PM
congratulations!!! What a wonderful April Fools (no foolin'!) for you! Enjoy the adventure ahead...
FWIW, whenever I've been pregnant I've always been uber-vigilant about my seatbelt placement. And I've always blamed Kyra Sedgwick in "Singles" for that.
Posted by: Marilyn | April 11, 2007 at 01:52 PM
I happen to think that November 29th is a great due date, and I also think that all people born on that date are awesome. Oh, and yeah. That's my birthday. Hence why it's such an awesome day and you should totally have your baby on your due date. :)
Posted by: Jessie | April 11, 2007 at 03:48 PM
Congratulations!! I'm so happy for you!!!!
Posted by: bdogg_mcgee | April 11, 2007 at 09:42 PM
Congrats again! Not only did you make me laugh and maybe even snort a little, but I cried a little too - happy tears of course!!
Exciting times - can't wait to read all about your journey to motherhood!
Posted by: SJ | April 11, 2007 at 10:02 PM
cooooooooooooooooooooooooool!!!
Posted by: Wacky Mommy | April 11, 2007 at 11:13 PM
congrats!!!!
Posted by: butterflygirl | April 12, 2007 at 12:01 AM
YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!
Congrats! And welcome to the underbelly. Or, er, overbelly. Or or all-over-belly!
Posted by: Lena | April 12, 2007 at 02:26 AM
While I am very excited about the test results, I am not a big fan about keeping the pee sticks for an extended period of time. Ick.
Posted by: Luke | April 12, 2007 at 10:00 AM
CONGRATS!!!
Posted by: Amy W | April 12, 2007 at 11:44 AM
Very exciting!! You have my permission to pummel the first person who suggests eating crackers when you are suffering from morning sickness. hee!
Posted by: cagey | April 12, 2007 at 04:10 PM
Yay babies! I also took a picture of my pee-stick when I found out. I didn't even have a blog to share it with! I wanted to keep a record of that crazy-amazing-terrifying feeling. And yeah, go for the hospital. I had a midwife & planned to do it natural, but ended up having an unexpected emergency c-section to save my baby & probably myself. Midwives are awesome though. Hooray for modern medicine! Hooray for babies!
Posted by: May | April 12, 2007 at 11:19 PM
Congratulations! (Delurking here.) And welcome to the mama train. It's a hell of a ride, but the company's great.
Posted by: Lawyer Mama | April 13, 2007 at 09:13 AM
I found you through Amalah over at Mom's Daily Dose. . .
CONGRATULATIONS!!! I'm almost in tears, I'm so happy for you. I remember the moment I finally had a positive pee-test (after 2.5 years of trying to conceive), and I had to take several tests to be sure. I was over the moon, as you are.
My son will be 2 in just under 2 weeks, and I'm STILL over the moon. It just keeps getting better.
So again, congratulations, and welcome to the club. :-)
Posted by: Tara | April 13, 2007 at 10:22 AM
Congrats! I wandered over from MDD, and am expecting a baby Dec 2nd, so I am excited to find other bloggers who will be expending at the same rate. :D
Posted by: Ivory | April 14, 2007 at 08:10 PM
Yay!!!! This is such exciting news for you! I'm SO happy for you! :) I just became an Aunt and have been a sorta step mommy for about 3 years, and have loved every minute of it. I am excited to have kids of my own someday, but for now, I am happy with just being a step mommy in training, and an aunt! :) Congrats, congrats, congrats!!!!! :D From how you've patiently waited and your posts about it, I KNOW you'll be a great mommy!
Posted by: Christar | April 14, 2007 at 10:02 PM
Your posts totally cracked me up, thought I would surf somewhere else on your site and found this, Love the writing in all caps, like i could hear you bellowing to hubby for more tests. It's great. Congrats if I haven't said it yet.
Posted by: Emmakirsten | November 19, 2007 at 01:46 PM
I remember this and it was so sweet. I am happy for you. From what I know of you ,you are a planner. I slop my way through life, always have and frankly I hate that about me.You and Luke seem like such wonderful people. Your babies will only enhance everything you are. I know we should embrace wherever we are in life but I do envy that place you are now living. Thank you for letting us join you in your joy.
Posted by: debi | June 07, 2008 at 07:34 PM