Monday, August 08, 2011

It's A Boy!

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Laying out these little clothes which we purchased on the way home from the ultra sound appointment made it a little more real for me. There will be a baby body in those clothes in 4 months.

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I have been trying to hide my pregnancy a little bit in the last two blogs. I'm sure it has driven some people crazy that we haven't announced this yet (you know who you are), but A) it has hardly felt real, even still B) we have health reasons to be cautious C) we have enjoyed "incubating" this new bit of family life and keeping it for ourselves.

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Todd and I have enjoyed being together here in our tiny apartment in Connecticut this summer. It has reduced our family life down to the bare essentials. We have some clothes, some dishes, a sewing machine (that needs using), a couple of friends, and ourselves. Oh, and a 17" TV. We share a car and all of our free time. There are no callings that distract us, and even Todd is done with work when he gets home, which is very fortunate this time of year.

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We were lying in bed and talking the other night about how we wouldn't change the timing of this. Of course, we wish it had happened a little sooner, but we still wouldn't change it. I have had time to be with nieces and nephews as they have been little and have loved being the "available" aunt. I have loved my callings and my job. I have loved having ten years to be with Todd, to love Todd, to really get to know Todd, to become a team. Our relationship is so much stronger now than it was ten years ago when we began "trying" for a family.

There is a lot to be said for having children young, before you know too much about what you're getting into. Believe me; age and experience breeds fear. The older I've gotten the more apprehensive I've become about being a mother. I even reached a very comfortable level of accepting that we WOULDN'T have kids. That's a peaceful, quiet, enjoyable realization that not everyone can accept. But those of you who were fortunate enough to begin younger than 36 should also feel good that they had the energy and enthusiasm of youth! Good on you! Having your youngins young is the natural way to go!

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So just to answer some commonly asked questions:

1) I feel great.

2) This was an in vitro (meaning "in glass"... yes a test tube, or rather a petri dish) I did have some of the same ovarian complications that I had last time, but that and the nausea passed by the 11 th or 12th week and I feel fantastic. In fact, only my growing stomach reminds me I am pregnant. I feel very "normal".

3) Yes, we have a name picked out. We've had 11.5 years of marriage to work out baby names. He will be Oliver Kent and you can call him Ollie or "OK Rhodes" until he asks you to stop. Oliver because it is classic and has a cute little kid nickname and I am a fan of Charles Dickens, AND if he is an only child he will be spending a lot of time with cousins and we thought it was an appropriate nod to the "Brady Bunch" that the only-child cousin would be "Cousin Oliver". That in itself is very Dickensonian. And Kent because that is both Todd's father's name and my father's middle name. It is a solid and masculine middle name and has the air of Superman about it. If you knew a kid named Oliver that you hated, or who was fat, or rude, or mean, or gay... we don't care.

4) Yes, you can babysit.

Even though I really thought this baby was going to be a girl, during the process of writing this I am getting more and more excited about having a boy. I mean, OF COURSE I am trilled to have a boy, but I was just really sure it was a girl and I am having to wrap my head around it a bit... buying some boy baby clothes has helped. But as a friend pointed out to me, "the world is in need of good men right now." And I cannot think of a better role model than Todd. This is the luckiest little boy in the world to have a dad who loves to camp and fish and skate board, and who will always have candy in his suit pocket when they go to the Priesthood Session of General Conference.

I feel really lucky. I am lucky to feel so good. I am lucky to be pregnant. I am lucky to have so much support for this little baby and so many people to love him. I am lucky that he is healthy. I am lucky to have a lot of favors to call in... just kidding, I won't be obnoxious. I will probably post more about this on the Baby Rhodesbud site, so check it out later. Meanwhile, I will continue to bask in my pregnancy "glow" (it's a tan).

24 comments:

Emma Jo said...

I am so happy. And I want to snuggle little Oliver in that adorable sweater, right now.

Suzie Petunia said...

I still want to pinch myself to make sure this is not all just a wonderful dream! I love Oliver Kent! (And his name, too!) Am I using too many exclamation point?! I just can't help myself! I am so excited!!!! And omg those clothes are so cute! Could you die??!

YAY!!!

Emily said...

I don't know you (I kind of know Sarah, not in person though), but I'm so excited for you. I have a good friend who waited 12 years for her girls and she's the best mother I know. While I'm aching for a break each day, she WAKES HER GIRLS UP in the morning because she can't wait to be with them. Congratulations!

Also, those are the best baby clothes I've EVER seen.

Abby said...

OK! Let's get this party started! Oh how adorable AND adored he will be--IS. I am excited for your peaceful quiet home to have a sweet sleeping Oliver baby in it, wearing mushrooms...

My other comment option was going to be, "What!!?? You're pregnant?!

Lucky Mommy said...

It's just one of those miracles that leaves you speechless. We also feel like we're grateful for the time we got to cement our relationship before kids, or as we like to say "when we were single." SO VERY HAPPY!

Heidi Totten said...

Yay! I am so happy for you! Wonderful news!

FeLog said...

I am extremely happy for you Carrie. It "only" took us 3 years to get pregnant, but once it happened, it was an amazing feeling to FINALLY be pregnant and to be a mother. I enjoyed every pain pregnancy brought, and every sleepless, stressful moment with the new baby - because it was such a BLESSING just to have her (and still is of course!). I love the name too.

Theresa said...

yay!! I'm so excited for you Carrie Ann! I was wondering what the latest status was. I've had to wrap my head around this one not being a boy,.. we're having a girl and I was so sure this one was a boy. lol. At least we don't have to buy new clothes yet. Not sure we could afford it. :) yay! yay! yay!! and I love the name,.....I know you don't care but I really do love it! it's perfect!

kacy faulconer said...

What mother wouldn't want her daughter to marry a son raised by you and Todd? I am so thrilled.

Amy Lynn said...

I'm wondering who I have to fight for babysitting privileges? And are you going to be those parents that NEVER let me babysit because you just can't stand the thought of leaving your little bundle of joy??? That's OK...I know where you live. So excited...so excited...so excited...want to meet him NOW!!!

Boy-oh's Mommy said...

Carrie and Todd,
We're so very happy for you both.
I feel a extra tender spot in realizing that Carrie is the same age I was when I was pregnant with our little guy. But, then I've always had a spot in my heart for the two (now 3) of you.
We love you both and are thrilled for you. Please let us know if we can do anything for you.
Michelle Caringella

mo said...

Well I am still reeling. I was sure it was a girl and I am seldom wrong on these things. It's okay, I'm over it and thrilled. Love the name. Love the clothes. Love you two and I know I'm gonna love little Ollie.

Brittany said...

Teary eyed reading this post... I have to admit, I really really thought it was going to be a girl but you can't imagine the hapiness Tyler feels that he and Todd can now take their "boys" out fishing together. We are so happy for you guys and can't wait to meet Ollie!

Megan said...

Oh my goodness how happy I am with your news! It's such a blessing to finally get to have the experience yourself of pregnancy, birth, and motherhood. There is no greater joy. So so excited for you guys. Love the clothes, totally love the name, and he's going to be the coolest kid on the block. Love you guys!

wendys said...

We are thrilled for you guys!

michaelstubbs said...

This is good news. I am happy to hear it...and really, you know you picked a cool name. It's ok to know that.

the wrath of khandrea said...

i am all warm inside right now. thanks for sharing, i needed a little warmth tonight. this is really great stuff, poo.

Rynell said...

I'm so happy for you!

Melody said...

I could not be more happy for you. congratulations! I look forward to reading your lovely story as it continues to unfold.

J said...

I loved every word of this post!!! I am so happy for you.

Julie said...

I am soooo happy for you both! I love the name-- wonderful name! You are going to be such fantastic parents.

Scott and Athena said...

YEAY!!! Congrats!!! Love and miss you! (I'm due also in Dec.!)

Tyanna said...

I know I am super late in the game, but I just wanted to say Congratulations!! Nothing makes me happier than good things happening to great people. And the grey booties are adorable...his little wardrobe is darling. It must be nice having a genuine sense of style..even for baby clothes ( :

Anonymous said...

Really, Carrie, I am trolling your blog for Ollie pictures and I stumble across your post with a picture of me COVERED in spit-up and drool?! Life is evolution indeed...yegads. But it was a delightful visit and I miss you so much.

Susan