I (we) am so excited that both
Sarah (late July)and Erin Paige (late August) are expecting their first babies! One of the last lines in our Christmas letter
was: So far all
the kids have stayed too busy to produce any grandkids, so we continue to wait
patiently to spoil our many future grandchildren. I’m glad to see that my “suggestion” produced such quick results! I never guessed that I could be so
persuasive! Maybe I should have said something earlier.....
One of the reasons that I am excited about this public
news, is that it was getting hard to keep track of who knew what, and what I
could say, and to whom! So, for the
benefit of my reader(s), let me tell you
this story about what I knew, and when,
in chronological order.
We love Christmas, as it’s the best chance we have of
getting all the kids and their spouses together at the same time. In 2012, all the kids spent Christmas with
their “in-laws”, we all planned to get together in Edmond for New Year's, and we
looked forward to that.
Jordan and Erin Paige arrived the day before the others,
after visiting Erin’s parents and grandparents.
We were sitting in the living room chatting, when Jordan said he had
some news for us. As the lease on
their apartment is going to be up in June, Susan and I were wondering if they
might be coming back closer to home, so I thought I knew where this was
going. Instead, Jordan surprised and
delighted us by announcing that Erin was pregnant! Of course we are thrilled and excited with
the news, as we know that they’ll be
great parents (and shucks, we’ll be great grandparents. I guess, in this case, my parents and Susan's mom will be great-grandparents, so we'll just be very-good
grandparents). They went on to say that
they were thinking the timing would be late summer, but they requested that we
not say anything or make any announcements until they had confirmed all of this
at their upcoming doctor appointment, back home in California.
Of course, we agreed. Each couple
has to decide when and how to pass on this news, and we were happy to comply. We were, and are, terribly excited for
them!
The next day Sarah and Ryan, and Erin and Hutt arrived the next day,
so we had a houseful! That was also the
day we agreed to do our Christmas gift exchange. So everyone grabbed a seat, and the piles of
gifts grew as Erin handed out gifts, and then gradually got smaller as we each
opened our presents. Towards the end,
Ryan, who is always a good joke teller, announced that there was one more
present, but that it would be delayed until July for delivery. Now, we’ve all had gifts over the holidays
that don’t make it on time, but a July delivery deserved more explanation. To which, Ryan held up a Sonogram picture and
said: “Merry Christmas!”
Of course, you can imagine how happy we all are for
the Rat Pack! Everyone clapped and
cheered and hugs went all around. They
told us that they were thinking that the timing would be late July, and that
they had been saving the news for Christmas as a surprise! What exciting news around the room!
Now here comes th complicated part. Of course, Jordan and Erin Paige had just
shared their news the night before, but had asked to hold off with public
announcement. Susan said she was worried
that I would say something like “You too?” and spoil the surprise, but I
didn’t. Jordan and Erin Paige were great
sports, congratulating and complimenting Sarah and Ryan, but knowing their
announcement day was coming someday soon.
But all of the surprises weren’t out yet
(No, I’m not announcing that Erin and Hutt are expecting too!). Susan, later, told me that she has known
about Sarah’s pregnancy since Erin and Hutt’s wedding, all the way back in
November! I can’t believe that she kept
this secret for so long without telling!
As excited as Susan is about the prospects of grandchildren, it must
have been so hard for her to not leak the news! I’ve underestimated her “secret-keeping”
capability! I won't any more.....
Since Jordan and Erin Paige have returned to California,
they have now had their doctor appointment, and confirmed dates. They have also, now, shared their wonderful
news with everyone.
Make no mistake; I
am very excited about the upcoming grandchildren (and that these two
grandchildren will have built-in cousins the same age)! But, I am also glad that I don’t have to
worry about who knows and who doesn’t. Or, who I can talk to and who I can’t talk to!
Many of us in this part of the country have been
experiencing a long-time drought conditions.
It seems that we all need rain these days. It’s true;
When it rains it pours! All I can
say on the grandkid front, is: Let it Rain!
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