We have some big news to share!!!

I am 10 1/2 weeks pregnant!!! We are expecting baby collins to join our family around April 25th.  We actually had our first ultrasound today and I couldn't help but to cry.  We saw the baby moving around and waving its arms.  It really made this whole pregnancy feel more real.  I have to say God deserves all of the glory.  He is the One who gives and takes life.  We are so thankful for this blessing and we realize that He is the One in control.  I have to say though that this whole experience has caused my love for the Lord to grow in such a new and deeper way.  

Psalm 89:5-6

"The heavens praise your wonders, O LORD, your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones. For who in the skies above can compare with the LORD?  Who is like the LORD among the heavenly beings?"

Here is the story of how we found out.  It is really long so don't feel obligated to read the whole story...

On Sunday, August 17th, Trav and I decided to take an afternoon nap. Before we fell asleep he asked if I wanted to go to Sonny's Italian restaurant for dinner.  I declined the offer because I had just gone to an Italian restaurant the night before with all the girls who had come down for our CBU weekend. 

During our nap I woke up and thought about taking a pregnancy test.  I thought it was a little early to test, but I couldn't resist and decided to test anyway.  I quietly got up to take the test because I knew if it was positive I wanted to surprise Travis. As soon as I took the test, sure enough a second line started to appear!!! I couldn't believe it.  Really? Me pregnant?  Oh my gosh it was positive...the line started getting darker and darker... undeniably positive!!! I, of course, started to cry and then my hands started shaking and all of a sudden they were clammy.  I didn't know what to do, but I knew I had to get my act together so I could follow through with my plan to surprise Trav.

So, I hid the test in a drawer and climbed back into bed.  A few minutes later Travis woke up and I told him I was starving and I really wanted to go to Sonny's.  He was surprised I changed my mind but hey, I am a girl, I do that a lot.  While I was getting ready he was in the living room playing guitar.  I quickly pulled out of the top of my closet a gift I had bought for him in May of 2007 "just in case".  It was a blue sleeper and a pink one.   

Anyway, I put the pregnancy test in the box and stuffed it in my purse.  (By the way at this point i had probably checked the test at least a dozen times to see if it was still positive...sure enough it was).  We walked down to Sonny's and didn't have to wait long to get a table inside.  I wanted to wait and give him the gift after the waitress took our order so I would have time with him without interruptions.  Before she took our order Travis was saying how we really have to trust God with the timing of this whole "trying for a baby".  During his little chat I had a smile from ear to ear...the kind you can't really disguise, but of course it isn't unusual for me to smile in regards to the subject of babies. 

(The picture below was taken as soon as we were seated...before he knew)

After we ordered, I pulled out the box. As soon as he opened the box he could see the pink and blue sticking out.  He just looked up at me with big eyes and said, "Are you serious? Is this for real? Are you pregnant?"  Of course, by this point I am sobbing.  I began to tell him about taking the test and my plans for surprising him... and continued to sob.  

(I took this picture right after Trav opened the box)

Little did we knew we drew an audience at the restaurant.  The manager ended up coming to our table with a bottle of champagne and 2 glasses on the house.  (Of course, being pregnant I denied joyfully).  The waitress came back to the table and said we were making everyone in the back cry.  

It was such a fun and memorable night.  After dinner we took a picture of us holding the sleepers outside the restaurant. On our walked home, I couldn't help but to scream with excitement.

 

We emailed the picture to his parents right away and even called them at midnight their time in Ohio to get them out of bed to check their email.  Then we had to wait until the following weekend so we could tell my family in person.  We had some onesies embroidered with "coming to the collins' come near you".  We wrapped the onesie along with a book from the perspective of grandparents to their grandchild, and the framed picture of us outside Sonny's.  Everyone was soooo excited and many tears were shed. 

I have definitely had my share of morning sickness...which includes throwing up.  But, I am thankful because it is a reminder that God is doing something inside of me.  So, this is the reason I haven't blogged much.  Between being tired and sick there really isn't much energy to sit at a computer and blog.  The morning sickness should pass in a few weeks, so I will probably begin blogging a bit more regularly.  Thanks for reading if you made it this far.   We will definitely keep you all updated on this new journey.