Telling Ty

I didn’t tell Ty right away. As I sat there and tried to comprehend that my body was now housing our first son or daughter I couldn’t for the life of me figure out how I would tell him. The options were unlimited! It struck me too that I had a secret, a really good secret, and I wanted to hold it in for just a little while.

We had Bible study that night. It was still a fairly new group, but we felt ready to involve them in our personal lives. Ty and I had not discussed our prayer requests before going to Group that night, and when he prayed for conception I ducked my head and smiled. I felt a little sheepish that I had not told him yet and my heart swelled with love for this man who prayed aloud in front of a new group of people for a child. Our friends were excited for us that we wanted to start a family, and prayed along with us. My secret felt warm in my womb and I felt motherly already.

The next morning I still could not figure out how to tell him. I wanted it to be memorable and creative. I wanted to see tears. I imagined him sweeping me into his arms-never mind that I weigh more than he does- and twirling me around the room sobbing happily. All day long I grinned absurdly thinking of various romantic moments that could occur. Night loomed and we decided to watch a movie. My creativity was failing me wildly and all I could think was that I absolutely had to tell him now. I ran upstairs, grabbed the positive pregnancy test and slipped it into my back pocket and ran back downstairs to rejoin him on the couch. After the movie – I could not tell you what movie it was! – I leaned over and asked him in my sweetest voice, “Would you like an early Christmas present?” He cocked his head inquisitively and smiled. “Close your eyes,” I directed, reaching into my back pocket and pulling out the test. He closed them. “Open your hand,” I said. He opened one and I placed the test in it. He opened his eyes and looked down blankly at the test. He held it up closer to his eyes and examined it. “What is it?” He finally asked, knowing but not trusting. Excitement pushed tears out of my eyes and I said quietly, “That is a positive pregnancy test.” He gazed up at me and asked, “We’re pregnant?” I nodded, squeezing my lips together tightly. He looked back at the test and let it sink in.

I didn’t get twirled around the room, but I did get tears and a bear hug. Better yet, for the first time in over a year, I felt like a woman. A woman who could bear her husband children.