When I went into the living room ten minutes later I heard a ruckus under the living room window, looked outside and found Erika in the raspberry patch. She told me that she was hoping to find a few last raspberries, which I thought was odd considering the raspberries were done two weeks prior. But, I shrugged it off and we all moved our way downstairs. I did think it was strange that all of the older kids were pushing to start an animated movie immediately and insisting that LeRoy and I stay and watch the whole thing. Later, Erika confessed to having turned LeRoy's phone off and Levi admitted to holding his breath the whole time worried that I would leave the room to get something like I usually do during the previews.
We all sat down for "the movie" which Justin was playing through his computer. We watched the preview for the new Minion movie and then a really odd preview started with bits from Rexburg tragedies (flood of '76, recent shooting near Walgreens) and then it turned to Batman saving Rexburg. That's when I suspected it was an announcement. I could sense Erika watching us and started to grin and laugh. LeRoy was still clueless and couldn't figure out why I was laughing at this silly home movie that had Bret playing Batman and his soon to be side-kick Erika.
When LeRoy did finally get it he started sobbing. We all laughed through the end of the video - because it was funny AND because LeRoy was crying so hard. Nathan and Hyrum just looked confused but soon understood as Erika explained and pulled out some shirts that she and Daymia had made for them.
The news of becoming an uncle was big and took a few minutes for Hyrum to grasp. "I've been waiting my whole life to be an uncle! But, I don't have gray hair" was his first puzzled thought. I told him about my little brother Jared who became an uncle at age two when Levi was born. He accepted that but continued to silently let it sink in. "He's going to have two uncles!" he then expressed and that's when we explained further who would be the uncles.
Justin brought cupcakes from his room and that's when Erika explained that when I caught her in the raspberries she had actually just put the cupcakes in Justin's room through the window.
While eating his cupcake Hyrum quizzed Daymia,
"I keep thinking you're the one that's going to have the baby"
"Why's that?"
"Aren't you older than Erika?"
"Yeah, I am."
"Then how in the world don't you have a baby yet!?"
LeRoy and I also got shirts announcing our new status.
Once LeRoy got his tears under control he called his dad to tell him. As soon as his dad answered he burst into tears again and couldn't talk. That's when he handed the phone to Erika. Erika told Papa that she was going to have a baby and had to repeat it a couple of time because he kept asking, "what?" Erika said it again to which Papa stated in bold exclamation, "I heard what you said but I don't understand how that's possible. I thought LeRoy had the surgery". Erika burst into laughter and yelled into the phone (because Papa is practically deaf), "Papa, it's Erika Jo. I'm going to have a baby". He and Cynthia Darlene were both very excited for her . . . and very glad that I wasn't the one who was pregnant.
LeRoy did the most adorable, crazy shuffle dance and in a high pitch voice squeaked, "I'm going to be a grandpa!!!" Oh, if there was one thing in life I wish we had on camera it is LeRoy's grandpa dance. He hasn't been able to imitate it since but it is safely stored in our long term memories.
His little girl is having a baby!
Bret and Erika make life so much fun!
Erika surprised me for my birthday with an invitation to go to her 20 week ultrasound.
Life seemed to pause as that tiny rhythmic heartbeat announced from the coming of motherhood for my Erika Jo. Though the baby was folded in half the whole time with legs directly over the head, we could see that she was indeed a she.
Baby Girl Hellbusch due March 22, 2016.
I had hidden in my bag a pair of newborn pajamas that Erika wore home from the hospital the day after she was born, just in case she was having a girl. It was worth storing it for 20+ years in my cedar chest to share this moment with her!
Posted on Facebook: In 9 days it will have been 22 years since I dressed my new baby girl in these teeny tiny pajamas. My heart is bursting with joy as I watch her in full blown motherly anticipation as she prepares for the arrival of her own baby girl! You will be a wonderful mother, Erika Jo!
We (Bret, Erika and I) kept our new secret for 6 whole days! It was very difficult to avoid pronouns and I actually avoided talking to anyone who might ask. The boys kept trying to trick me and a couple of times they nearly succeeded. Erika also had a hard time keeping it quiet since people at work knew she had found out the gender.
Erika wanted to do a fun reveal party on Sunday with everyone so we put together some games. First, each person chose either a Batman or Cat Woman symbol to represent if they thought Erika would be having a boy or girl.
Pee in the Cup Game
We stuffed balloons in our shirts so that we all had big bellies and put a ping pong ball between our legs (to force us to do the knee clenching "I need to pee" walk) and tried to drop the ball into a cup.
The older boys started us off with athletic skill and competition.
The younger boys couldn't quite get the hang of it. After three unsuccessful tries Justin pulled a plank and Hyrum followed suit. Nathan wouldn't give up and after his fifth try he made it.
The girls hopped their way to the finished line and did their best with split squats. Those prego bellies were adorable!
Erika raced with LeRoy and I and she totally made it first try. Her doctor visit training paid off to win the Pee in the Cup game.
To finally get to the reveal Erika pulled out silly string cans that she had covered in blue and pink. Those who thought she was having a boy took a blue covered can and those who thought she was having a girl took a pink covered can.
The result was a room full of pink silly string.
It's a girl!!!
Erika is rocking this pregnancy business! My admiration for her grows daily as I watch her cheerfully handling the waddling, hip pain, rib aches, and sleepless nights. She is spectacular! I am in awe of her strength and positive attitude.
"Aren't you older than Erika?"
"Yeah, I am."
"Then how in the world don't you have a baby yet!?"
LeRoy and I also got shirts announcing our new status.
Once LeRoy got his tears under control he called his dad to tell him. As soon as his dad answered he burst into tears again and couldn't talk. That's when he handed the phone to Erika. Erika told Papa that she was going to have a baby and had to repeat it a couple of time because he kept asking, "what?" Erika said it again to which Papa stated in bold exclamation, "I heard what you said but I don't understand how that's possible. I thought LeRoy had the surgery". Erika burst into laughter and yelled into the phone (because Papa is practically deaf), "Papa, it's Erika Jo. I'm going to have a baby". He and Cynthia Darlene were both very excited for her . . . and very glad that I wasn't the one who was pregnant.
LeRoy did the most adorable, crazy shuffle dance and in a high pitch voice squeaked, "I'm going to be a grandpa!!!" Oh, if there was one thing in life I wish we had on camera it is LeRoy's grandpa dance. He hasn't been able to imitate it since but it is safely stored in our long term memories.
Erika surprised me for my birthday with an invitation to go to her 20 week ultrasound.
Life seemed to pause as that tiny rhythmic heartbeat announced from the coming of motherhood for my Erika Jo. Though the baby was folded in half the whole time with legs directly over the head, we could see that she was indeed a she.
Baby Girl Hellbusch due March 22, 2016.
I had hidden in my bag a pair of newborn pajamas that Erika wore home from the hospital the day after she was born, just in case she was having a girl. It was worth storing it for 20+ years in my cedar chest to share this moment with her!
Posted on Facebook: In 9 days it will have been 22 years since I dressed my new baby girl in these teeny tiny pajamas. My heart is bursting with joy as I watch her in full blown motherly anticipation as she prepares for the arrival of her own baby girl! You will be a wonderful mother, Erika Jo!
We (Bret, Erika and I) kept our new secret for 6 whole days! It was very difficult to avoid pronouns and I actually avoided talking to anyone who might ask. The boys kept trying to trick me and a couple of times they nearly succeeded. Erika also had a hard time keeping it quiet since people at work knew she had found out the gender.
Erika wanted to do a fun reveal party on Sunday with everyone so we put together some games. First, each person chose either a Batman or Cat Woman symbol to represent if they thought Erika would be having a boy or girl.
Pee in the Cup Game
We stuffed balloons in our shirts so that we all had big bellies and put a ping pong ball between our legs (to force us to do the knee clenching "I need to pee" walk) and tried to drop the ball into a cup.
To finally get to the reveal Erika pulled out silly string cans that she had covered in blue and pink. Those who thought she was having a boy took a blue covered can and those who thought she was having a girl took a pink covered can.
The result was a room full of pink silly string.
It's a girl!!!
Erika is rocking this pregnancy business! My admiration for her grows daily as I watch her cheerfully handling the waddling, hip pain, rib aches, and sleepless nights. She is spectacular! I am in awe of her strength and positive attitude.
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