The Cake Message

This is the cake I made my mom for her birthday. She and my dad came over for a special meal in early April and the Hooks came along too (boy is it convenient that our parents are great friends with one another). We brought it out to the living room after dinner and we sang happy birthday to my mom.

I waited an entire five minutes (or so it seemed) before cutting into the cake. I wanted everyone to decode the message on top of the cake. Can you figure it out?

My mom turned fifty-three and her birthday is April 3rd, so the numbers had nothing to do with her. Wouldn't she think it strange? Apparently not. Finally I said something like "Weird. What do those numbers mean?". Only then did someone say, "no? Is that your due date? Are you pregnant?!!" I was expecting them to come to that conclusion in seconds. But they did get it, in the end. It just took them a bit longer than I had predicted.

So yes, we are pregnant. And really really excited, of course.

I was a little off on my due date, though. After our first ultrasound, it looks more like early December (the 4th). Maybe I was just pulling for the thought of an 11/ of 11 birthday ;). Who knows. If this little one debuts a bit early like his/her older sister, it will be November. Or if I follow in the footsteps of a few friends, I'll have this baby past my due date. We shall see! I'm fifteen weeks (four months for those who don't think in weeks) and in my second trimester.

I'm pretty sure that these last eleven weeks (since we've known) have been some of the slowest moving in my life. I suppose it's to be expected. I've been praying often against fear. And even if I haven't lived victoriously in that arena at every waking moment, I am learning a lot about trusting the Lord and giving up control. Because honestly, I don't really have control, do I? And I don't really want it. God knows the exact story he has for our family. And I'm pretty certain that it is infinitely superior to the plans I have (even when I think my plans are best, right?!).

Will this little bundle be a he or a she? We could find out in a just a few weeks but I think we're opting to be surprised again. I know. Most days I think we're kind of insane - but we'll be thrilled either way, so we're excited to experience the crazy moment in the hospital, yet again.

I'm sure I'll be writing more in the coming weeks. But just to document these past three months of pregnancy, I can summarize easily: exhaustion, nausea, whacked-out digestive system (to put it nicely), and more exhaustion. I'm anticipating the day I can make it from morning to night without a nap. I will accomplish so much more when that day comes. But I'm not complaining. I'll take it. Really, I will :).

And in case you're wondering, we have told Clara. She says the baby is a boy and we should name him mommy. She also holds up her shirt and tells us she has a baby in her tummy. Hmmmm. Going through pregnancy this time around (with a two year old) may prove quite interesting.