This Labor Day weekend started out like any other long weekend. Steven had four days off, so we planned to travel with some friends. The location? Vienna, the capital of Austria.
Before we left on Friday morning I took a pregnancy test.The test was negative, as usual. And I promised myself I wouldn't think about it anymore this weekend as we walked out the front door to leave.
The city was clean and beautiful. The architecture was lovely and the people were friendly. We saw palaces, gardens, capital buildings, and even took a class on how to make an austrian apple strudel! The boys of course sampled the local Austrian beer. I remember eating a lot of German food and feeling tired, but I contributed this to all the walking we did. Keeping my promise not to spend another weekend worrying if I had conceived or not. Our friends kept us busy, and vice versa. We had a wonderful weekend and I got to mark another travel destination off my list!
September 1st, on our way back to Italy, we stopped at a rest station and I remember seeing some spotting. Confirming what I had already known, I thought, "Oh, well. Better luck next month!" I was slightly disappointed, but I had felt little cramps on Saturday that prepared me for the inevitable arrival of my period. So when we got home that night I was a little surprised to realize that nothing more had come from it. I made dinner, snuggled with our cat Maggie, got comfortable, and passed out on the couch. I didn't give my fatigue too much thought. Then Monday morning happened.
When I woke up on Monday morning it was still early, especially considering we had no where to be that day (Around 6:30 AM). I noticed that "Aunt Flo" still hadn't arrived, and that is strange for me. Deciding that taking a pregnancy test wouldn't be a complete waste, I tested my luck yet again...
"Pregnant!"
I couldn't believe it, but there is was. "Pregnant" written across the screen. I didn't sit alone like most women do, contemplating what this meant, how it would change everything. I had been imagining all those things for months, so all I wanted to do was tell tell Steven. ASAP!
He was still asleep, and I bounced on the bed asking him to turn the light on and look at me. I think I worried him at first, and in retrospect I should have been a little more calm when waking him up, but I couldn't help it! He saw the test and looked surprised, then skeptical. It would take 2 more tests, one with him sitting in the bathroom with me and watching it with his own eyes change from an hour glass to "pregnant," before he really began to believe it.
We were both filled with excitement and I bounced once again off the bed and into the other room to celebrate. That is when the first of many commands happened, "Don't bounce around like that! You'll hurt the baby!" Followed by, "Get ready so we can go get you some good things to eat." "Did you take your prenatal vitamin today?" "Have you had any water yet?" I LOVED it. It was the first sign to me that he cares just as much about this pregnancy as I do.
The rest of the day was a little bumpy. Our trip to the commissary ended as soon as we got there and realized it was closed for the day, Labor Day (Duh)! The day was saved momentarily when we decided to eat at Burger King and discovered they had chocolate milk shakes now (Which was perfect for dipping my French fries in). Yum!! We were feeling good and talking babies on the ride home when Steven accidentally rear ended the car in front of us. Maybe we were both a little distracted with everything else that was happening. The good news is that there was barely any damage to either car and we have insurance! After an hour of broken Italian and translator apps we had everything squared away and made it back home in one piece.
Overall, I think today was one of the most exciting days of my life. I have been given a blessing that only God could give... I am carrying a beautiful life and it is with the person I love most in the whole world. I can't really explain what it feels like... I just know that I have never felt so complete or so close to Steven. I've never felt so happy or favored by God in my whole life.
After 6 months of thinking and planning and hoping... Baby Blair is here and growing inside me. It is truly a miracle from God!
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