The “I’M PREGNANT” Story + Videos of Telling Family!

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i know i should have shared this forever and a day ago but after much technological issues, i have finally compiled the videos of us telling our families we are going to have a baby! thank you paula and vivien for asking how i told my husband and keeping this on my radar!

obviously before we could tell our families, we had to find out first ourselves! so here’s the story:

it was actually quite the process. as i shared as part of my decision to have a babythis was a fingers-crossed-antarctica-baby. after we arrived back from our travels to antarctica, it was time for the waiting game to see if aunt flo would be visiting or if tracking my ovulation really worked.

side note: i got pregnant the first month we tried. i am incredibly grateful for this and also pretty shocked because it seems like it often takes people many months or even years to get birth control out of your system. i heavily attribute this to my mom telling me “we are natural breeders” and to reading “taking charge of your fertility.” thank you to sarah for recommending this book in the comments of this article!

i have been recommending it like crazy to my friends who are interested in having a baby (read: someone close to me who is only 5 weeks pregnant behind me) or even those that don’t want to get pregnant because it’s insanely fascinating and super empowering. i had no idea there are all these signs our bodies give us each month signaling we are fertile. in order to track your fertility this way, you have to be pretty darn comfortable with yourself or at least willing to get comfortable. if seeing the words ‘cervical fluid’ freak you out, you will have a harder time but i definitely attribute tracking my cycle to getting pregnant so quickly.  i tracked it three months beforehand with the lens of “no baby” and then knew what to look for when i changed my lens to “okay, let’s do this baby!” read it (and don’t let the size scare you, more than half of the book are appendices about menopause).

okay – back to the story!

even after getting off birth control three months prior, my period has never been late. sometimes it was a little early but never late because we are punctual ladies over here. i took a pregnancy test the day my period was due. my husband and i sat (im)patiently with his phone on the timer, waiting to uncover the test after two minutes. we were really expecting a huge POSITIVE sign but no. it was negative.

i took 5 more pregnancy tests over the course of the next 14 days and let me tell you how frustrating this was. when you google “early signs of pregnancy” they basically align with PMS symptoms (moodiness, sometimes cramping, back pain, breast tenderness, etc). i started getting frustrated by day 10 and had neither a period nor a positive pregnancy test. mostly i wanted to know whether i could be throwing back wine or not.

i even went to the doctor and got a negative blood test a few days before we were leaving to visit our families for christmas. i continued feeling frustrated by knowing something wasn’t quite right but nothing was definitive either. i drank a glass of wine and said to the universe “hey! i’m trying to be responsible here and you’re not helping me out so i’m drinking wine.”

at this point, the negative pregnancy tests were putting on a damper on the excitement of watching the clock together with my husband so i decided to take one more before we boarded our flight that morning to dallas on december 20, 2015. my heart goes out to couples dealing with infertility because a mere two weeks waiting was nothing compared to the sometimes years it can take for others. my husband was still in bed and i groggily peed on the plastic, set it on the counter and then ate some wheat thins (that’s my normal morning routine, minus the peeing on things).

i walked back into the bathroom expecting to say “another negative” but when i unveiled the covered stick, i saw the faintest little vertical line indicating positive. i looked at it for three more long seconds and then bellowed to my half asleep husband “GET. IN. HERE. NOW.”

i shall spare you the tired-eyed photo and share this showered and ready to go one instead:

avery pregnancy

we ran to target the instant it opened and grabbed two little christmas onesies for his family and for mine. we decided to tell them up by wrapping them up as a gift and saying “we brought you a little something from antarctica.”

we had the 3 hour flight from portland to dallas to let it sink in (it has still barely sunk in for me 4 months later) and then play it cool a few more hours with my in-laws until we told them at dinner. i had my husband run out and pick up another pregnancy test while we were there so i could confirm it again and sure enough, i took those two tests over the next few days and the line got darker and darker. apparently the HCG levels (the hormone indicating you are pregnant and what pregnancy tests read) can differ for a small number of women so that’s what was going on for me. then it doubles basically every day for your first month so the lines become darker on the test.

i am SO happy we captured telling our families on video! we did them all sneakily so excuse the shaking quality.

to be honest, i was feeling a little nervous to tell everyone. i suddenly felt like i was 16 and pregnant and got nervous. it was weird. i think it’s because i worked hard to avoid pregnancy for so long that it was a strange thing to say out loud to my parents (let alone myself!)

i think both of our sister’s had the best reaction – good work ashley and kendal!

stay tuned for wednesday’s post because we found out the sex of our baby and i shall be sharing it with you then! any guesses??

41 Comments

  1. Rachel @ Countdowns and Cupcakes

    April 11, 2016 at 11:59 am

    This is so cute! And I’m still guessing girl!
    Rachel @ Countdowns and Cupcakes recently posted…Cinco de Mayo Care Package Inspiration

    • chelsea

      April 11, 2016 at 2:01 pm

      warms my heart this little one is already so loved!

  2. Lindsay

    April 11, 2016 at 12:16 pm

    I CAN’T WAIT TO FIND OUT!!! I’m with Rachel ^ and I’m guessing girl. 🙂 🙂 🙂

    You know, Lindsay is a great name. Just throwing that out there.
    Lindsay recently posted…Take 10 Tuesday: Fort Worth Zoo Edition

    • chelsea

      April 11, 2016 at 2:02 pm

      haha thanks for the name suggestion, lindsay! 😉

  3. Elyse

    April 11, 2016 at 12:20 pm

    Seriously so sweet! My guess is a boy!
    Elyse recently posted…Respect

    • chelsea

      April 11, 2016 at 2:03 pm

      i am so happy we captured them!

  4. Audrey

    April 11, 2016 at 12:27 pm

    I LOVE that video! Your mom’s pure happiness almost made me cry!! And I love that you, your mom, and bavery were all matching that day!!
    How funny that your sister was so close to being in your shoes, too??! It’s something in the water! Haha!

    • chelsea

      April 11, 2016 at 2:04 pm

      haha wasn’t that too funny with all the stripes?! i didn’t even notice until i watched it later HA! i know – i literally gave her the book and then bam – pregnant!

  5. Holly Duckworth

    April 11, 2016 at 12:32 pm

    Sorry love… I’m guessing boy.

  6. Nina @ Hugs and Lattes

    April 11, 2016 at 12:51 pm

    Oh my goodness – how precious!!!! My guess is a girl 🙂
    Nina @ Hugs and Lattes recently posted…So You’ve Had a Bad Day

  7. amber thomas

    April 11, 2016 at 2:15 pm

    oh my gosh STOP because I just LOVE these videos and could SERIOUSLY watch them all day long.

    • chelsea

      April 12, 2016 at 9:59 am

      hah glad you enjoyed them amber! i feel you – i could watch people telling their parents this news all day long too! still hard to believe we fall into that category now 🙂

  8. Monika

    April 11, 2016 at 2:16 pm

    Omg this made me tear up! Congrats again!

  9. Kate

    April 11, 2016 at 2:57 pm

    This video made me tear up!!! We had the same experience with a blood test–those things aren’t always as accurate as they say!

  10. Brittany Lee

    April 11, 2016 at 5:57 pm

    Well.. that was just adorable. Congrats again! So excited for you guys.

    • chelsea

      April 12, 2016 at 9:52 am

      hah thanks brittany! i am so grateful we captured our families’ responses – i have watched the video like 37 times.

  11. jennifermckennasays

    April 11, 2016 at 6:14 pm

    Hey lady!! So nice of you to share with everyone- We did a few cards to share “aunt/uncle” status some people cried and some people said- “You were glowing, I knew it” -Something I noticed and posted about/ some people were more excited/emotional than I was/am- Nothing wrong there. An observation. 🙂 I still am having trouble wrapping my head around it- I am sure as I expand- It will feel more real- We are having a girl- I don’t know why but my instinct is that you are having a boy- (based on nothing)
    I can NOT wait to find out though! Are you doing a big gender reveal party?

    • chelsea

      April 12, 2016 at 9:54 am

      aww that’s a great idea to share cards, jennifer! glad you brought up the point about some people reacting more emotionally or more excitedly than others or even ourselves. great point – we all experience and express things differently!

      awww baby girl is growing inside you! how exciting!

      i half wanted to do a gender reveal party but ravery wasn’t loving the idea and we were way too excited to wait and tell everyone so i will be sharing a post 🙂
      chelsea recently posted…The “I’M PREGNANT” Story + Videos of Telling Family!

  12. Vivien

    April 11, 2016 at 6:47 pm

    Yay thank for sharing chelsea!

    Somehow this reminded me of something Tom Bergeron said when he was hosting America’s Funniest Home Videos. Something to the effect of “when you were young, you parents always warned you against having sex, and then once you are married all those years of abstaining are over…they are sending you cheap wine and Barry White albums!” Haha!

    P.S. I vote for a boy or girl, I don’t care as long as it’s healthy. Unless you are going to reveal you are actually having twins, then I think that throws a wrench in everything. 😛 Just kidding.
    Vivien recently posted…Why I Almost Vowed to Never Enter a Tall Tales Contest

    • chelsea

      April 12, 2016 at 9:55 am

      haha that is funny about the host saying that – it’s definitely true from my mother-in-law, she has been so ready (as you can tell by her reaction!) 🙂

      oh man, ravery kept saying “i bet there is another hiding behind the one we saw in the ultrasound the first time we got one!” i am pleased to share there is still ONE baby in me – i don’t know that i could handle twins!

  13. Paula Howley

    April 11, 2016 at 11:22 pm

    That video made me cry! Awesome. Loved that your shirt matched baby’s onesie too. Perfect. Your mom and Ravery’s mom are hilariously different. Ravery’s mom- obviously a Texan. lol
    I’m going to guess it’s a GIRL.

    or a boy.

    One of the two.
    Paula Howley recently posted…Where’ve you been?

    • chelsea

      April 12, 2016 at 9:57 am

      haha ravery’s mom has been ready for a grandbaby since the moment she found out we were dating!!! she has been patiently waiting 9 years…ha! my mom of course is excited but has always known my feelings around not wanting to rush into it so i think she was super duper shocked (as we were really – it happened fast!)

      i think you’re right – it’s definitely one of the two 🙂

  14. Sonya Klassen

    April 12, 2016 at 2:00 am

    Thinking it is a boy! If the two of you ever get back up to Vancouver, BC, Canada bring that little one so I can babysit, please.

    • chelsea

      April 12, 2016 at 10:00 am

      ha you got it sonya! this baby will be well traveled so we will definitely want to be back in BC soon enough!

  15. Courtney {Alkeks Abroad}

    April 12, 2016 at 2:51 am

    Aw I love the video!!! I onl recorded my mother in law and my students finding out. I wish I did for everyone now! You’re mother in law screaming was my favorite though. I vote boy ☺️. Also maybe one day the stats will align and we will be in Texas at the same time and Baby A and Bavery will get to meet!
    Courtney {Alkeks Abroad} recently posted…Weekly Wrap Up

    • chelsea

      April 12, 2016 at 9:58 am

      fun though that you have your students recording – how sweet!!

      that would be SO fun – both baby As playing in the texas sunshine while we drink sweet tea and bourbon (or whatever boozy drink we desire once they are outside of us!) 🙂

      • Courtney {alkeks abroad}

        April 14, 2016 at 4:59 am

        Ah now that I know it’s a girl this mental image is even better! Baby A’s will be so cute with their unique names and adorable but not tacky outfits.
        Courtney {alkeks abroad} recently posted…Weekly Wrap Up

  16. Sara

    April 12, 2016 at 10:14 am

    Oh boy, that video made me cry. Can’t wait to hear whether it is a boy or girl!
    Sara recently posted…He Proposed in a Parking Lot

    • chelsea

      April 13, 2016 at 7:33 am

      🙂 yay happy tears! i’ve cried all 57 times i’ve watched it 🙂

  17. Amberly

    April 12, 2016 at 10:51 am

    Telling family is so fun!

    • chelsea

      April 13, 2016 at 7:29 am

      it really was!!!

  18. Amanda

    April 15, 2016 at 9:18 am

    OMG how precious is that! I totally asked my mom the other day if she would be mad if I didn’t call her right away and instead did something else, but she’d have to wait a little longer. Luckily she said she’d be ok waiting.
    Amanda recently posted…Design Reveal: The [NEW] Rambling Llama

    • chelsea

      April 18, 2016 at 7:54 am

      glad she’d be okay waiting! it was hard but thankfully i only had to wait 4 days to tell my mom in person and that was the highlight of it all! so grateful i got to see most people in real life to share our news!

  19. Emily

    April 15, 2016 at 6:26 pm

    Love it Chelsea!!!!!

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