Precious Time

The story of our little sweetheart is a joyous yet heartbreaking one. We met her the same day we had to say goodbye. Our lives will forever be changed by her short and beautiful entrance. Here's her story, from the beginning.....

When David and I got married last year we thought we'd wait about a year before starting to try to have a baby (September). Then I figured it may take some time to get that baby here, so we figured we'd start about 10 months after getting married (July). Then one day we were in Stake Conference (March) and while listening to one of the speakers, David leaned over to me and asked, "Does July feel too far away some days?"....I knew exactly what he meant. And THAT meant that our waiting was over....it was time! It still took several months, of course, but we were excited to get that positive pregnancy test!

The 4th of July~right before we found out about our pregnancy

We'd hoped and waited every month and were disappointed when it didn't happen but also knew that someday it would. The end of July came and with it, hope and anticipation that THIS would be the month our wish would come true! But I started spotting a bit one day and thought that meant the inevitable period....cue disheartening organ music...but that night during my sweet husband's prayer, he prayed that the Lord would watch over me during this "precious time" and that all would be well with my body and our baby. I tingled all over and teared up hoping that he was right! He had looked at me earlier that day and said, "You're pregnant. I know it." I tried with my weak logic of an immanent period and he just shook his head. What did I know?!?!

It was a few days later, on a Sunday morning, that I finally believed him! Funny thing though, I had purchased several pregnancy tests in the course of those few months and had one ready and waiting for Sunday morning, if in fact I hadn't welcomed a visit from dear old Aunt Flo. So earlier than anyone was up (we had Aspen as well as David's parents and sister's family staying with us) I quietly took my test. Problem was it wasn't the same brand I had used earlier and I got those stupid test windows mixed up and ended up gently squeezing my 3 drops of urine in.....the WRONG window!!! CURSES!!! David just laughed as I grabbed my keys and headed to Smith's for another one. And that one was the magic one....it showed me a + sign!!! Hugs and kisses and a few tears of joy spilled over for us in our little bathroom. And of course an "I-told-ya-so" from my wise and handsome husband :).

July 31st~first pregnancy pic!

Since we had a house full of family, it was hard to hold it in, but we were only 4 weeks and 5 days according to the powers that be which is WAY too early to alert the world. Tuesday morning, 5 weeks on the button, the nausea and exhaustion hit me like a ton of bricks. Now THAT made it especially hard to keep a secret! We celebrated David's bonus with dinner at the Market Street Grill.....you know they pretty much only serve fish?? Not the best choice for a newly pregnant woman! We decided to tell David's mom that week because she stayed in town for a conference, so we drove down to Thanksgiving Point and stalked a bunch of women filtering out of a building until we saw the right one and surprised her with our good news. She was the first of some very excited people :).

MomMom getting the great news :)

On August 12th, my Mom's birthday, our branch of the extended Wilson family was hosting a family reunion. We had almost burst not telling anyone else in our families except Carol but we were going to be strong until some time had passed. But as David and I pulled up to my Mom's house on the way to the park, we noticed a black Tahoe with Kansas plates parked in the driveway.....no way, Steve and Amber had surprised our whole family (and all of their kids!) by showing up unexpectedly for our reunion! David looked at me and said, "We've got to tell the family now!" So after the reunion, when most of us were back at Mom and Dad's we decided to spill our little bean. But no one could sit still in the same room for long enough! So my brilliance took over and I suggested a family prayer so everyone would gather. Smart, I know. Just after, and before everyone could scatter, I told Mom that David and I had a birthday gift for her....but that she'd have to wait until April for it, and I rubbed my belly for added effect :). That's when the squealing and tears started....very good moment.

Look who gets to use these parking spots!

On August 29th we had our first baby-mama appointment with the good Dr Ollerton in American Fork. We discussed several possible health issues and were able to hear the most beautiful sound in the world.....that baby's fluttery yet strong, perfect little heartbeat. Immediately there were tears (I had told the Dr there would be) and I turned to David and said, "That's our kid, baby!" It was the most wonderful feeling in the world to me and I'll remember that moment forever.

Baby Gartner's first photo...that little peanut is so tiny yet so loved!

The next few weeks were very fun for us, as we talked about our family expanding and how much love we already had for that little one! We started buying diapers and a few baby outfits cause we just couldn't help ourselves :). It was a fantastic time, even though I didn't feel awesome, but I realized every day that I was carrying OUR child...my husband's and mine...and that the discomfort wouldn't last forever but that this amazing child would. It definitely was precious time.

This is my favorite~ David loving my baby-belly.

Great news came on Sept 14 when we got a letter from the First Presidency giving us authorization to be sealed for eternity, FINALLY! We had to wait until our first anniversary, which is September 23rd (Friday this year), but any time that day or after, we could schedule our sealing...woohoo! We only had a week until our anniversary and debated about when we wanted to be sealed....if we did it right on the date, we would miss some family members who couldn't get here by Friday and some other family members were having conflicts getting there within a week....so do we do it on Saturday or do we wait and try to make it more convenient for more family members to attend??? It would have been quite a long time because the first weekend in October is Conference, the second weekend was a conflict, the third was David's birthday weekend ...etc. If we waited, it would have been late October before we could be in the temple together! After lots of discussion, David and I decided that we had waited long enough and that we were going to be sealed on Saturday September 24th. Those who could make it would, and those who couldn't would be missed but their love would surely be felt. We felt strongly about our decision and felt peace that it was the right one. So we called the temple 5 days before and requested a time.....unfortunately it was the same day as Women's Conference at the Conference Center so all the temples in Northern Utah would be closing early...and the Salt Lake Temple (that I've wanted to be married in since I was a little girl) would close at 10 am! I was devastated until the nice lady told me she had a cancellation in one of the largest rooms at 8:20. I gladly volunteered for that ridiculously early time and was grateful it was available.

David wrote this (upside down) on the table at Macaroni Grill the night we got sealed

At our sealing, the Sealer kept saying that although we didn't have children yet, we would, and kept making references to our children over and over....I smiled as I rubbed my belly, knowing that we were a step ahead of him! Those words and repeated discussion about our children were to be of great comfort to us in the coming weeks, although at the time we (and some of our guests) just found it interesting that he kept talking about it... . The sealing ceremony was beautiful and I could feel very powerfully the presence of our children as we looked into the Eternity mirrors. I knew this was the most important day of our lives and of the lives of our children up to that point, and was so incredibly grateful for a loving husband who I WANT to be with forever and know that through Heavenly Father's mercy and grace, we were given that opportunity starting that day. It was amazing and powerful.....another day I will never forget.

The day after promising to love each other forever, my newly acquired eternal companion left for Denver on a work trip. I missed him terribly! A whole 5 days?!?! Way too long to be away from that guy! On Tuesday that week I had my second baby-mama appointment and since my David was away, I asked my Mom to go with me. Dr O couldn't get baby's heartbeat on the dopler, which he said was only successful 50% of the time at 13 weeks, so we got to get more pictures of our tiny through ultrasound. There was the sweet perfect little heartbeat again, and some arms flailing about, seeming to wave at his or her mom and my heart melted at the sight of that precious little bug. By the time the Dr got pics though, that little turkey had turned so only the spine and bum-side were showing! Gotta be David's stubborn kid.....

Notice how peanut turned away from us after waving to Mom!

To be continued.....