We are so beyond excited to be expecting another baby! The night before I got a positive test Jeremy and I actually decided that I should see my OB soon because we weren't sure if we were going to need Clomid to get pregnant again. I'm so thankful we didn't have to go that route this time! We feel blessed beyond measure!!

We knew we wanted to share the good news with our families right away. We needed prayers for a healthy pregnancy/baby and support just in case something went wrong so we figured the sooner we told everyone, the better. It just so happened that my first OB visit was on Christmas Eve so it worked out perfect for us to share with everyone on Christmas. 

I told my mom as soon as I got the positive test. She was coming to stay with us for a week during Christmas so I needed her to know in case I wasn't feeling well during her visit. She was thrilled to hear the good news and even more excited to visit with us! She never takes vacation so it was a special treat for her to fly to Ohio for the week. 

We shared the news with my dad and stepmom on Christmas morning. We always Facetime with them on Christmas morning so we decided to put the I'm going to be a big brother shirt on Joel and see if they noticed while he was on talking to them. They didn't notice right away.. and when my dad finally started to read the shirt out loud and it took him a minute to get it which was hilarious! They are hoping it will be a girl this time. :-) 

We had dinner with Jeremy's [mom's side of the] family on Christmas night and we thought of a fun way to share with them. Watch the video to see their reaction.. it's priceless!

We tried something similar on Christmas Eve with Jeremy's dad and stepmom. Jer forgot to record and took a picture instead though. The only one that got it when he said "Joel's going to be a big brother!" was his stepsister. {Of course I can't find the picture now that I'm looking for it..} 

I can't believe next December we will be a family of FOUR! 

Merry Christmas!

Baby Nelson #2 is due August 2014!!

Hope everyone had a good Christmas! Ours didn't start out too great.. J was able to call me around 12 AM Christmas morning and I made the mistake of asking about the extension. He didn't want to tell me because he knew it would ruin my Christmas, but he received the official word the day before. So, I can now tell you that he is definitely being extended two more months. We are trying our best to stay positive in the midst of this disappointment, but it's not easy.

After opening all my Christmas presents I couldn't help but laugh a little.. I received a bunch of spa type things to help me relax, and even a gift certificate for a massage. Someone obviously knew I would be needing those things to help me deal with this disappointing news. Some may say it was just a coincidence, but in my heart I know better.

You Might Be a Military Spouse at Christmas Time If You….

• have a yellow ribbon on your front door instead of a Christmas wreath.
• plan on keeping your tree up 2 months after Christmas just so you can celebrate with your husband when he returns home.
• skip holiday parties so you don't have to explain to people why your husband isn't there.
• drive around town looking at Christmas lights and cry the whole time because you wish your husband was there with you.
• have to fight the urge to cry every time you are in a store that is playing sad Christmas music (i.e., "Blue Christmas" "I'll Be Home For Christmas" "All I Want For Christmas is You")
• sit & stare at the beautiful tree in your living room and feel selfish because your husband is in a war zone with only a tiny, cheap fiber optic tree that you mailed him.
• think getting a 15 minute phone call from your husband is better than any gift under the tree.
• promise your husband that you won't check the bank statements to see where he ordered your present. ;)

*For more “You Might Be a Military Spouse” thoughts, go here.