Originally written in April, 2012.

I am writing quite a while before I'm willing to post it because I am nervous nellie in the early weeks of pregnancy. I typically don't want to announce it until I can't hide it any more or until a foot comes out, whichever comes first because I am just nervous about it all.  But the feelings are fresh and so it makes sense to write now and post later.

We have a full household with 3 kids age 3 and under and a dog as well. Our house is maxed out with little people and all the stuff that goes along with the those little people. So, it would make sense that we would want more of that great chaos that comes with child rearing, right ? Right, so we started thinking about having just one more Battles. As most of you know we don't have free babies so we started seeing our fertility doctor. I felt a little strange driving to my appointments in a minivan with 3 carseats in the back, but whatever--we were pursuing #4. We didn't have much luck for several months and just when I had mentally adjusted to 3 and the benefits of sticking with only 3, on our last try, it worked and this is the story so far . . .

It was 6:30 in the morning and Ben woke up earlier than usual crying. I chucked a sippy of milk into his crib, hoping to buy a few more minutes, but remembered I had a pregnancy test that I was going to take . I had bought it last night on my way home from work which was a debacle in and of itself because they keep it a glass case front and center by the pharmacy with all the other embarrassing paraphernalia. The case looks like it is locked but apparently it just sticks which I found out when I finally swallowed my pride and asked the not so friendly girl behind the pharmacy counter to get it for me. So I struggled with the door, it finally squeaked open and I grabbed my embarrassing purchase. I quickly covered it with the grapes that I had put in my basket to dilute the purchase of only a pregnancy test and used the self check out (which is a little gift to anyone purchasing something awkward). As I left the store the alarm was set off for some reason but I just walked very quickly without looking back to see if the Kroger manager was chasing me and got the heck out of there. ANYHOW, I digress, back to 6:30. So, I decided to take the test and just get the disappointment over with and lo and behold that holy grail vertical line slowly appeared!  I then broke the news to the then sleeping Ryan which obviously woke him up quicker than smelling salts and that is how we started our day.  The girls and Ben later climbed into our bed for some quality family hangout time to start the day which made me think that adding another to the litter will be perfect . . . we just need a bigger bed.


Today I had my first ultrasound and thankfully it is only one (Ryan was rooting for two, his tag line is 'go big or go home, singletons are so common').  It is a little anxiety producing to think of juggling 4 age 4 and under, but I couldn't imagine it any other way.