Valentines Day. (An e-conversation twixt friends)

Claire’s Story…

So my husband left roses in a coffee can half-filled with water on the seat of my car this morning for me to find when I was getting the kids ready to go to school. I have mixed feelings about this.

1. He got me flowers without me telling him to – good, right?
2. They’re in a coffee can with water on my seat in the car in the garage – ???
3. I had to leave them in the garage – what was I going to do with them – drive around with a coffee can of water? Go back in and make
everyone tardy?

and then later….

DH was very concerned that I tell you what a nice Valentine’s Day we had. He’s right.  He arranged for my parents to babysit so we could go out to dinner (planning points!). We went to our favorite restaurant which had this amazing 5-course menu for the occasion. In addition to the flowers, he got me a nice musical card (“I Can’t Fight This Feeeling AnyMorrre!”) a nice stuffed gorilla (you know I love the
toy primates) and a nice (now almost gone since I am grading) big bag
of Valentine’s M&M’s. So even though we were both somewhat under the
weather – very nice. He thought you should know!

Lisa’s Story:

DH got me two dozen roses from whole foods, which, if i want to be all claire-like, i would respond to as follows:

1) he bought me flowers because i told him Claire’s husband did.
2) he put them on the car seat because i told him Claire’s husband did.
3) he had to do SOMETHING because the card my son made at school was addressed only to DH. (don’t get me started.)

we were supposed to go out for dinner, but got signals crossed with my parents. we may do something this weekend.

Bethany’s Story:

DH got me flowers and cheese.  He asked for the best sex he’s ever had. Well, due to lack of martinis in my diet, he basically got the most Average sex he’s ever had. (Is that possible?)

I’m Telling!

When one finds herself knocked up, one is immediately confronted with the immeasurable task of deciding who to tell, in what order, and when. It is truly an art that I admittedly am not very good at.  Because I am a person who generally likes to be open and honest with everybody, I am not used to keeping secrets. I am horrible at it. I want everyone to know my opinion, my past, my advice and/or what is going on with me, now!

When I was pregnant with my son, I couldn’t wait a day!  NOT ONE DAY. I called my friend Lynne right away. Then my husband and I were going to wait until we went to the doctor to tell our parents, but I couldn’t wait then either.  I told everyone immediately.  To some, it may have seemed like the longest pregnancy ever, because they knew about it from conception. I will never forget Jeff’s grandmother’s response when we told her, I think I was maybe 8 weeks along, and she said, “Well you can’t be so sure yet.”  Thanks Ruth! You are the sweetest.

So when I discovered that I was pregnant on December 1, I was again hit with the big question. Who do I tell, in what order, and when? This time it was not so easy. I am seven years older now. The chance for complications is a little bit greater. Also, Christmas was coming! What a great time to tell our parents! Could I wait until Christmas to tell everyone? That was the plan anyway, and again I failed miserably.

Of course, I told my husband right away. The next day I told Lynne. Then I was good for a while, but felt guilty that I hadn’t informed my other friend Megan yet, so I told her after a week. On December 12th, I told my other friends Claire and Lisa.  On the 15th, I told a random person at work.  I don’t know why, it just came out.  We told our son on the 18th, because my husband, who is WAY better at this than I, wanted to tell his best friend that night when they went out for drinks. He refused to tell anyone before he told our son. (Again, he is much better at this than me!) And finally on Christmas day, my parents and my husband’s parents and brother & sister-in-law were informed. On New Year’s Day, I told the one friend I was putting off telling, mostly because she is trying too and because I actually felt guilty about BEING pregnant before her.  All this activity before my first doctor’s appointment in January.

Not telling people at work has been the hardest. This is because, currently all I do at work is yawn. I am SO tired. Exhausted! I want to tell people, “Well in my delicate condition, I can’t help but be tired.” Then all would be forgiven. I might even be able to nap! People would perhaps bring me my very own cot! What bliss. What complicates things is that my boss is also a very good friend.  So I WANT to tell her, but don’t want to tell her.  I’ll tell her the day after my appointment, which is finally tomorrow. Wish me luck.  (Oh and Carin, if by some extremely odd chance that you are reading this before Tuesday, I’m sorry you had to find out this way!)