Thank you so much for all of your enthusiasm for our baby announcement on Friday! We had so much fun doing the photoshoot. Let me answer as many questions as I can!
I’m due October 22 – smack in the middle of birthday week! My sister and Thomas’s brother were both born on Oct 18, and I’ll be 36 on Oct 26. It will be fun to see when the baby comes! Mazen was a week late, but maybe this one will be right on time. There’s going to be a blog baby boom that week because Jenna is two days behind me and Ashley is just a few days behind her! I know of a few more announcing soon too! It’s been fun to chat with them during the first trimester. : )
I’m 14 weeks along today, so I’m beginning the second trimester. I do plan to share how the past 12-ish weeks have gone, but I’m saving that for a separate post because there is too much to type! I can summarize it by saying this pregnancy has been very similar to my pregnancy with Mazen: all day nausea, Unisom + B6, a million food aversions, lots of cheese, no salads, and fatigue. Thankfully I’m feeling much better!
Little baby at 10 weeks!
We had ultrasounds at 6 and 10 weeks that showed a healthy baby and genetic testing (because I am now an old lady aka “advanced maternal age” and it was covered by insurance) and that’s how we found out the sex. We had the doctor write “boy” or “girl” and put it in an envelope and took it to Sarah Cramer’s studio. After Mazen and I had had so much fun with confetti there a few years ago, I knew confetti was the perfect gender reveal! I bought these cannons online and we arrived with both pink and blue. Sarah opened the envelope and handed us the appropriate color. It was such a wonderful way to find out! I honestly did not care if we had a boy or girl since I would be equally as excited to have a brother for Mazen and re-use all of my boy stuff and to try out all the new stuff with a girl. But Thomas and Mazen were both on Team Boy, so when the confetti came out blue, we were all thrilled. I’m happy that they are so happy!
We had one cycle in between our miscarriage and conceiving this baby, so we were very lucky to get pregnant again soon. I’m sorry if it feels like I shared the miscarriage not too long ago. Honestly I didn’t feel mentally ready to share about our loss until I had another baby on the way, so that’s why the timing feels a little smushed. I had to follow my heart on when to share, and I wanted to share that story separately instead of putting it at the beginning of this one.
Because of our miscarriage, we were both very guarded this time around. I refused to let myself get too excited until our first ultrasound at 6.5 weeks, and even the weeks after I tried to focus on other things (aside from feeling like crap all the time). We didn’t tell Thomas’s family until 8 weeks and we told my family at 11 weeks on Bald Head. Of course, I can’t keep a secret, so many of my friends knew early on, especially those who know I love a glass of wine. By the time I shared the news with you guys, most of Charlottesville knew (or could tell by my rounded belly, which has started getting double-take looks).
When I told Thomas about the baby we lost, I shared the news with a book of dad quotes. (This one!) He gave it back to me “for next time” when we went through the miscarriage, and I had it tucked away. So, when my test turned positive this time around, I could not contain my excitement so I simply put the book on his pillow at bedtime. He figured it out right away, but like I said, we were both more guarded having been through an early loss, so we just hugged and smiled and said “Let’s hope this time we bring home a baby.”
We told Thomas’s family when we had dinner at their house a while back. Yes, it was the night of the “Family” cake, but no, that had absolutely nothing to do with a baby! Eileen had gotten that cake not knowing. She just loves her family! I was so mad that some of you guessed I was pregnant because of that cake because it was not intended to be a hint! 🙂 Since this is Thomas’s first biological baby, they are all over-the-moon excited.
We told Mazen the morning we left for Bald Head, knowing if we’d told him any sooner the whole world would know. We had been talking about babies for weeks, and one day he said: “Mommy I want a baby brother!” I replied with, “OK, I’ll get to work on that sweetie!” He paused and with a funny look said: “What do you mean you’ll work on it?” Not ready for the baby-making conversation quite yet, I just stalled, during which time he said “Well, I know how babies are made!” Another long pause on my end, “Oh really?” I replied….. “Yes, you pray to God and he puts the baby in there!” LOL!!!
So, he said a prayer and for the next few weeks we would listen to my tummy to see if anything was happening. He told me in the gym locker room that my tummy was in fact growing (thanks Mazen!) And so it didn’t come as too much of a surprise when we presented him with the ultrasound pictures the morning we left for Bald Head and said, “We went to the doctor so he could look inside and there IS a baby in there!” He seemed plenty excited. Since then he’s been talking about his “baby brother” a lot and has been collecting trinkets to give to him when he comes (a free fidget spinner pen being the most recent gift)!
I love to surprise my mom, so we had several phone calls during the first trimester where we talked about *when* I would get pregnant again. Of course she didn’t know I already was! When we got to Bald Head we had a belated birthday present for her to open: a box with Easter Peeps (her favorite) and a dozen of our wedding napkins.
I had the ultrasound photo tucked in between them so when she lifted out the Peeps she saw it and jumped a mile into the air!
BUT the surprise was a little spoiled by – you guessed it – Mazen! When we got to the island I reminded him “DON’T TELL GRAMMIE ABOUT THE BABY!” He went with Grammie and Pea in the golf cart while Thomas and I took the tram with our luggage. My parents said that within a minute of their departure he turned to Pea and said (with Grammie just out of ear shot) “Pea, we have a surprise and we CAN’T TELL GRAMMIE! Mommy is having a baby and it’s coming out in October!” My mom overheard the October part and had a suspicion. But she said she was still plenty surprised to see the ultrasound picture! Sweet Mazen didn’t realize the surprise was for Pea too!
I sent a similar package in the mail to my sister up in NYC, which she received on Easter night after coming home from a weekend trip. She was excited and said she had a feeling because I had been less chatty than usual on voxer.
And now everyone knows! I’m sure some of you guessed, as I have already had friends text me asking because there are whispers in the wind. I’m so relieved that I can blog authentically again, as I always hate hiding anything from you guys.
I guess the last question I’ve been pondering is whether or not to bring Baby KERF out from hibernation or write about everything here. I didn’t take detailed notes like I did with Mazen, and I also don’t intend to do daily pregnancy writing like I did last time, so I think I’ve decided to let BERF be and just write updates here on KERF as they arise. I’ll probably just stick to a first trimester recap and maybe monthly recaps, also writing about topics as they come up. KERF is much more about life than it was 6 years ago when I was journaling every meal, so it doesn’t feel as weird to me to write about pregnancy over here now. I love having BERF to look back on because I wrote in such detail with Mazen, but poor second babies never get that kind of attention. : ) I might update BERF with some photos or posts along the way, but that will be more for future reference than news since I’ll share them here first. Since this post was a million words long, clearly I do still have a lot to say!
Did I miss anything?!
xoxoxox
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog says
Really enjoying these adorable pictures, Kath! The new baby boy will be the greatest birthday present to you! 🙂
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
Andrea says
You’re glowing! Congratulations again, so excited for your little family. Love the chick announcement!
Shana says
SO excited for your family! My birthday is October 22 and I can tell you, its a good one :). Congrats again!
KathEats says
Yay!
Pat Kilmain says
Must be a good day. I have niece and a great-niece born on that day.
Laurie says
This post makes me SO happy for you! Sarah did an amazing job with those pictures. Baby boy will know someday how excited everyone was about him!!!
KathEats says
Thank you! She is so talented!
Mom says
Ah. This post made me cry. Love that Maze is starting a collection for the baby. I’m too superstitious to start yet but will soon!
KathEats says
🙂
lexi says
Congratulations!! I’m due October 18th with a boy too 🙂 I am really looking forward to your pregnancy updates again! I still look at BERF sometimes.
KathEats says
My sister’s birthday!
Lisa C. says
I personally love all the life content, so bring on all the baby stuff! I also love babies. 😉 🙂
emma says
Congrats, that feeling when the secret out feels sooo good!
Sara says
Congratulations Kath! You look beautiful!! Best wishes for a happy and healthy pregnancy. Having two boys is so much fun!! XO
Tonya says
You look beautiful and so happy! Ok, since you mentioned it yourself, the cheesy food, no salads, and no wine gave it away. But when you had those virgin cocktails in Bald Head I knew. There’s absolutely no acceptable reason to not drink on a beach vacation barring pregnancy or rehab! LOL
KathEats says
Haha but how did you know they were virgin? The one I had on BHI was a virgin Painkiller made with a mix of fruit juices – but it sure looked and tasted real! I had a few virgin margaritas too (Spice-a-Rita). And I had some non alcoholic wine and beer here in there in photographs!
Tonya says
haha I’ve just been following you for toooo long 😉
KathEats says
I’m not surprised you had a feeling then!!
Brigid says
Congratulations on the big news! So exciting and I love seeing the smiles on everyone’s faces. I remember being so sick for the first four months of all my pregnancies. The only consolation was that being sick was a sign that things were going well. Glad it’s passing now that you are in the second trimester. Wishing you a healthy and happy pregnancy!
Kori says
I cannot wait to follow along and hear about your experience this pregnancy! So very exciting! I guess I’m just oblivious, but I didn’t realize. So you fooled me! 😉
polly says
This was an awesome post! Keep em coming! And two boys will be SO fun! sweet fam. XOXO
Kaci says
What a fun way to do a photoshoot, & I’m so glad you are feeling better!
Erin says
Mazen hugging your belly….sooo sweet. Wish I could insert heart eyes emoji. 🙂
Kirsten @ little bites of my life says
I love the Easter reveal kits that you made for your Mom & sister – so thoughtful and sweet!
I am looking forward to reading all of your updates!
Kerry Haslam says
You fooled me!
And what a clear ultrasound pic! Amazing to see the development of the tiny child. Excited to follow your journey again. My middle child is about Mazen’s age and we have a 5.5 year gap between my oldest and my 2012 child. I do t know if you are wondering how that is bc many people don’t have a gap that big but my irks are best friends and worst enemies all at the same time. I do have to honor that my older child is quite a bit older and not just do little kid things w her but otherwise it is fine. And an older kid is helpful! And remembers neat memories!
KathEats says
Good to hear! I’ve heard a lot of people with a large gap say they have a great bond, especially when older.
Kerry Haslam says
Kids not “irks”! Hahah
Ali says
So exciting, I remember re-reading you and Emily’s pregnancy posts religiously as I was pregnant with my first, and Jenna’s 1st and mine are a week apart. So exciting to be live with the three of you again!
Liz says
“2nd babies never get that kind of attention”
Ain’t that the truth!! I joke that my babies were born in the wrong order because my oldest didn’t demand a lot of attention as a baby but she got it anyway, and my youngest is much more demanding but still gets ignored a lot more, poor guy 🙂
So happy for your family! And you look amazing by the way! Your skin looks so good in all those IG videos you’ve been posting I think I need to go back and pay more attention to that skincare post you did. I WANT!! Haha!
KathEats says
haha!!!
Jordan says
Long time reader, and I’m so excited for you Kath! And doubly excited because my husband and I are moving to Charlottesville over the summer, and I am 13 weeks pregnant today (due the week after you). I’ve been looking through your old BERF posts to find info about being pregnant in Cville, and I look forward to reading updates now, especially about local OB’s and hospitals. 😉
KathEats says
How exciting! We will have to meet up for prenatal yoga when you get here : )
Jordan says
Absolutely!!
Jennifer Valdes says
I just love how you shared the news with both families and how you explained it to Mazen. Very creative. ? I didn’t realize that the reveal was for all of you, too. That’s cool! Such a wonderful and exciting time. I can’t wait for all the updates.
Jennifer Valdes says
That question mark after “very creative” should have been a smiley. 🙂
LMM says
So very excited for you! I also LOVE BERF and often refer friends who are newly preg or delivering soon to specific posts. It is a wonderful to have as a resources; for yourself and others!
BRIDGET says
Can’you address how Matt handled the news?
KathEats says
He’s happy for us – there’s no other way to be!
alan says
Mazal Tov as we say here. Your boy Mazen sounds just so vivacious and sweet!! Always happy to read good news about personal stuff from my blogger 🙂
Sara says
Congratulations! I spent a long time away from KERF (busy with life–I think I probably stopped reading regularly in 2015!) and have been having fun catching up! I peeked in here or there, but wow. Caught up on the wedding and now the baby.
Random comments–we recently got a Great Harvest Bread near our house in Midlothian, Va. I always loved reading your posts about the bakery. Now I make a special stop there every week for bread. My family loves it. We had a bread bunny for Easter this year too! So fun!
My second son was born at UVA in March 2016 (see? It’s been a long time!) and was there for a long time, so we got to experience a lot of Charlottesville trying to make hard days brighter.
And I love your product reviews–especially skincare! I love trying all the things. Whew, this has been all over the place!
But Charlottesville and you hold a special place in my heart, and I’m happy for you 🙂 Seems weird to type to a stranger, but I was a longtime follower and feel like I “know you.”
Congratulations!!!!
KathEats says
All cool!! Thanks for sharing all of that. Enjoy the bread and come visit Cville!
Miranda says
My brother and I are 4 years apart. We were good friends until we (I) hit teen years – then we were fighting like siblings do. But we grew up in a small town so our friends were the same group and overall I we remained close. As we have both gotten older (now in our 30s!), he’s my best friend!
Janet says
As I commented the other day, I had guessed. But it wasn’t because of the family cake. I had forgotten about that. Just intuition is the only way I can explain it. I would prefer you to blog as you do now. Day to day life. Not as a new blog like BERF. Although I did enjoy reading BERF. Thank you for sharing your life and nutrition tips with us.
KathEats says
Oh KERF would not ever become all baby – it will always be mostly life, meals, etc. with baby sprinkled in
Philippa says
I must admit I hadn’t noticed all these things you mentioned – I thought the lack of salads was for the same reason they disappeared from my diet these past few months, the freezing weather!! 😛 so your baby announcement was a lovely surprise. The photos are just gorgeous, and what a special way to capture and celebrate the moment!
I enjoyed following along with BERF at the time, and just had a sneaky peek back from the link – Mazen was an adorable baby!! I can’t believe how fast the years have flown 🙂
Thank you for giving such a generous window into your world and including us in these special moments Kath xx
KathEats says
Thank you <3
BRN says
Congratulations, Kath! What a beautiful family you’re creating
Melissa | HerGreenLife says
“It’s Not the Stork” is a great, fact-based book for talking to kids about where babies come from. We read it with my son, who’s just a year older than Mazen, about a year ago, and he took it very much in stride. It’s hard when you’re not mentally prepared to answer questions, but by giving straight-forward, fact-based answers from the start, you establish yourself as a resource — much better than kids going to friends for info.
KathEats says
Oh thanks for the rec! I had to explain to him last night what a uterus was!! His first question: “Do I have one too?” Hahaha.
Melissa | HerGreenLife says
Haha! It’s helped me to remember that at this age they mostly want really basic answers. So you can start simple, and work up to the more detailed, trickier conversations.
KathEats says
I had great advice from a counselor I talked to while I was going through my divorce and he said “Only answer the question they ask.” AKA – don’t go into a long speech about all the related topics you THINK they might want/need to know about.
Chelsea says
It always makes me feel bad when you apologize for things like “I’m sorry if it feels like I shared this too close to my miscarriage.” You are so open and honest with your readers, and you’re a lot nicer than I would be answering sensitive, personal questions! It’s very inspiring. I am so happy for you and your family. Best of luck on this new journey!
KathEats says
I agree – I shouldn’t have to. But I was being proactive based on a few comments on the topic 🙁
Coco says
Big congrats Kath! So happy for your family.
What are your expectations with Tom being Maze step father after having his own child? Have you thought about it?
KathEats says
I don’t think they would change much from now? Lots of love?
Pam K. says
I like this post not so much for all the pregnancy details; but because it offers a bit more glimpse into your personality and thinking. I for one am glad you leave BERF in retirement and think the trimester recaps are enough. I do remember having genetic testing done 10 years ago when I was pregnant with my daughter and I was 26 at the time. And, they never disclosed the sex to me so I had to wait until the 20 week marker. Maybe technology has advanced?
Cynthia says
Congratulations!
I am due almost the same date as you : October 23rd ! I have been reading BERF as this is my first pregnancy and it has been really helpful. Thanks for sharing everything !
KathEats says
Due date buddies!!
Hayley says
Ok, I’m just going to come out and say it. I thought the change in diet was marriage related! Haha that’s bad of me (and I hope doesn’t come across as judgemental). I am sooooo excited that it’s baby related! Congrats, and it’s going to be amazing to have two boys (coming from experience). Really looking forward to all the baby updates, I love all things baby even though I’m done having my own. Cheers!
KathEats says
Haha well T has had an impact on my diet to an extent! There are more sweets in the house now – eek!
Morgan says
CONGRATULATIONS! How exciting! Where did you get your confetti? I love it.
KathEats says
I linked to the cannons in the post – they were great! The site is Superior Celebrations.
Bree says
I’m a little late, but congratulations!
Deepika says
Congratulation Kath. Wishing you a lots of happiness. This will be the greatest birthday present to you! Love.