the {Big} Annoucement to the Girls

it felt like weeks since we'd found out we were having a baby. we'd talked in code around the girls. we'd told family and friends and made sure no one else's kids knew so they wouldn't tell ours. We'd hinted around about babies in tummies and what ifs.

and finally we were 8 weeks and ready to officially share the news.

except then we all got strep but paul, and we had to put everything on hold!

finally everyone was semi-well. we ordered a cookie cake online, and i strangely had butterflies in my stomach!

we told the girls we had a cookie cake to celebrate our surprise; and (on January 15th) they were waiting with bated breath...for the cookie cake, not so much the surprise news!  

addie wasn't quite as dramatic as this picture portrays, but she was dramatic.  we talked about that sometimes we have cakes to celebrate, and that's why we got them a cake: mommy was craving cookie cake to celebrate this wonderful news!

we announced that mommy has a baby in her tummy and that they would all be big sisters!!!

and addie looked me straight in the eye and said: no you don't! that a way to be argumentative. well, what you must know is that as we'd hinted around a few days before, i'd asked her what if mommy had a baby in her tummy? her response: you can't have a baby in your tummy mommy! it's too flat! well, thank you sweetie; but that's so far from the truth!

addie's next response: i do not love that! i want cookie cake!*

when we asked Anne Perry what she thought...she said she would change his diapers and snuggle it!

and audrey kate's response...cake, cake, cake! and then she finally said she would hold the baby!** ;0)

and just like that...they all found out they'd be big sisters!

...and we all ate cake to celebrate!

*i wasn't really sure exactly where addie stood on things. she started asking a few questions about the how and when the baby would get here. then i found out she'd announced in children's church that her mommy had a baby in her tummy! i asked her one day how we could maybe keep the playroom (our smaller 3rd bedroom) and still have a place for the baby to sleep. she said, i know mommy! the baby can sleep with me! ...and i knew she was excited to be a big sister again! 

**the little girls will crawl up next to me and ask, you feel ok mommy? you feel sick mommy? and then talk about the baby in my tummy as they rub it. as i was fixing audrey kate's bed today, i told her we had to take care of it so the new baby could sleep in it when we got her a new bunk bed. her response: brother sleep in my bed? well...

and they've all three really stepped up to the plate: from letting finn out so i don't have to get up to addie bringing me ice water one morning when i didnt think i was going to make it off the side of the tub after a shower. they've started to take their plates/bowls/cups to the sink (without being asked!) and putting pullups in the trash and hanging up pjs. they are certainly by no means perfect, but they've worked hard to love on mommy in more ways than just hugs and kisses these past few weeks!

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

I Corinthians 13:13 

...and let me know how the new blog design looks on your computer. works on mine, but its the first time i've actually used blogger to format things and not html. happy tuesday!