Love At First Sound

Matt and I had found out early August 2010 that we were expecting the newest addition to Team Goldin (side note: we call ourselves this because my clever husband wrote this into his vows the day we were married - May 16, 2009).

Lil G - 8 Weeks

My, clueless to this news, brother-in-law Ryan and his wonderful, pregnant wife Abbey were going to find out August 23rd what the gender of their third baby would be...but fate had an even sweeter idea for us in store. That day came and past for them as the baby was not cooperating and keeping its little legs crossed for no peeking please. They'd have the same results the next try around as well.

My doctor's office sent us to a specialist for the sequential screening we opted for on September 7th. My husband wanted to come along for this appointment since we knew we'd get to see our little sweatpea on the ultrasound. They'd surprised me at my first (8 week) appointment and did an ultrasound to confirm the pregnancy, but this time would turn out to be even more special. We were both anxious in the waiting room. The nurse finally called us back after what seemed like forever, took blood for part of the screening and then walked us to a room where we'd be seeing our Lil G(oldin). Every ultrasound we went through I could hardly blink the entire time as I was in awe and amazement. I was totally shocked on this day when all of a sudden the nurse said 'ok, let's listen to the heartbeat'. It was like I was the Grinch my entire life and in this moment my small heart grew three sizes that day.

It was LOVE at first sound as my heart turned into mush just listening to that tiny heartbeat and watching this line on the screen jump up and down, up and down. This was really the first slap yo momma in the face moment that was like wow this is really happening! Time stopped during that minute or so on that day because I remember it like it was yesterday - it was the most vivid and joyous memory I have of my entire pregnancy. As we walked back to the front of the office to check out the nurses and doctors were congratulating us on becoming parents, which was a strange feeling too since we hadn't openly talked about it with anyone yet.

I was grinning from ear to ear as I drove back to work. I swear I probably looked like the Cheshire Cat the rest of the day! I think we were both about to pee our pants trying to keep this secret much longer. We had to devise a plan to tell our families both fairly. Since my family lived in FL, VA and WV and his was here in Atlanta with us, we decided to send announcements to everyone through the mail. 

"We're Welcoming the Newest Addition to Team Goldin. Expected Meet and Greet is March 24, 2011! Love - Autumn & Matt"

As we rushed to get these cute magnets to our families and a very small number of close friends, a few short days later I discovered my little sister had been in a horrible car accident and was in the intensive care unit. I hated that what seemed like such a happy milestone in our lives would now be a weekend of roller coaster emotions for my family. I prayed my mom wouldn't get the announcement before she left FL to by my sister's side in VA. I didn't want her to feel like she had to be happy for us when my sister needed her undivided attention. However, she did find out at the same time she was rushing to the hospital...talk about draining experiences for her to deal with simultaneously. Hopefully it was a small ray of sunshine in a gloomy thunderstorm for all of us.

We sent her sunflowers to cheer her up since Matt & I couldn't be there.  Thank goodness my strong willed sister eventually pulled through fine.

Everyone was esctatic for us when they heard the new baby news. I remember I was in the car that weekend with my husband when I realized my cell was buzzing and it was one of the friends that we had sent an annoucement. I answered expecting a big shrieking congrats, but heard a sweet and confused voice on the other end. She mentioned that they'd gotten something in the mail and that her fiance thought we were pregnant but she had told him 'no way, it must be for a baby shower for Ryan & Abbey'. She giggled nervously expecting me to back her up and confirm that her man must be coo coo; instead I quietly said SURPRISE as she continued chuckling but abruptly stopped. Of course she was thrilled yet probably not too excited to have to tell the finance that he was right. It definitely was my favorite response and it'll be fun to look back on when we're old and grey.

Now the next unknown leap...is the baby a BOY or a GIRL?