Today is New Year’s Eve, and like every other year I like to
take a little while and reflect on everything that’s happened this past year.
2013 truly was the best year of our lives thus far, I can’t imagine anything
could possibly top it but am very much looking forward to what 2014 has in
store.
On January 1, 2013 I woke up excited to once again begin a
New Year. Brian and I had just gone through a very painful end to 2012 and were
anxious to move past it and begin anew. But when I woke up that morning I felt “off”
and in thinking about it realized that my last period had been in November. I
tried not dwell for too long because my cycle had been crazy since my surgery
but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was different. I looked in our
medicine cabinet and there was one last pregnancy test remaining from the last
box. I remember literally shaking as I took the test out of the wrapper. After
taking the test I put it down and walked away. I went about my morning routine
of making the bed and getting dressed. As I happened by the bathroom on my way
to the linen closet I poked my head in and glanced at the test. I said out-loud
“Rachael, you’re crazy it’s going to be negative” … so when I saw a very faint positive I practically fell
over. I started laughing and then crying realizing that according to the test I
was in fact pregnant. Brian was at work and there was no way I was going to
share that news over the phone. I spent the day pacing up and down the hall, I
went to CVS and bought a second test just to “make sure” and when that one was
also positive I couldn’t contain my excitement. When Brian returned home from
work, I told him I had a present for him. I made him close his eyes and handed
him the test. He looked at it then at me and slowly a smile spread across his
face. I could tell he was cautious about his excitement but at the same time I could
see in his eyes how happy he was. It wasn’t until a few days later when I had
my first ultrasound and we saw the tiniest little flutter on the screen that we
could breathe! It had happened! We kept the secret to ourselves for two weeks
and even then only told our immediate families. We met my parents for dinner
and told them we’d found a Christmas present that we’d forgotten to give them.
I pulled out an envelope and the moment my mother opened it she started to cry.
She literally jumped out of her chair! It was the best reaction in the world.
The next night we invited my in-laws for dinner and before they arrived we
dressed Berklee in a “Big Sister” t-shirt. When Brian’s parents saw the shirt
they were ecstatic! It truly was the very best start to a year we’d ever had!
Exactly thirty days later on January 31st my life
changed forever (again) when Sarah gave birth to a perfect 7 pound little boy!
We had been anxiously awaiting his birth for weeks and when the announcement came
my heart burst! I couldn’t WAIT to meet him and hold him. My sister was a
MOTHER! Before C was born, I’d never really understood the love shared between
and aunt and her nieces/nephews. But once he was born, I got it; because I knew
that I would do anything and everything I could to help protect that little boy
forever. I began to look imagine birthdays and events, watching him grow and
learn…being an aunt became the most important job I’d ever had and I couldn’t
wait to get started!
On February 28th, my 29th
birthday after six blood tests and four
ultrasounds we had made it to the “safe zone” and felt ready to announce our
pregnancy to the world. We took some time and called or saw close friends and
some family first so feelings wouldn’t be hurt when we put it on social media.
We tried to come up with a creative way to post it without having to “say”
anything. Brian came up with the idea of using Berklee as our model. So we
stacked two of my pregnancy books – “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” and “1,001
Baby Names” on top of each other and had her sit with them. We took her photo
and then uploaded it as our new profile pictures on Facebook. We left it at
that. Within minutes our phones were blowing up like crazy with people texting,
calling, commenting on our “announcement” – some people were a bit confused
(which I found funny) and thought we were announcing Berklee’s pregnancy! It
was a really fun way to put it out there for the world. At the same time, Brian
and I had a very long conversation
about how much we were going to share throughout my pregnancy. Up to that point
I had been very active on social media, so much so that people would often make
comments about not needing to see us because they knew our every move. It was
those comments that made me decide that this pregnancy was going to be ours and
ours alone. I vowed I would never
post a picture of my ultrasounds online (I feel like that’s taking the whole
sharing thing a bit too far for my
liking) and that I would keep my pregnancy related posts to a minimum. Having
gone through what we did, we really wanted to have my pregnancy be a personal
and private journey between us, our child and our families. And we stuck to it;
yes we posted some minor events and talked about our due date and gender reveal
party but I wasn’t posting every move he made, or about every appointment I
went to – it just wasn’t something I was going to share with the world in that
manner.
After a lot of talking back and forth, and a little
convincing on my part, Brian and I decided we were going to jump on the Gender Reveal bandwagon. We started coming up with ideas and plans on how and where we
were going to do it. We decided it was going to be an intimate gathering at our
house with friends and family. We had to keep the gender a secret for almost
two weeks after we found out because my parents were away on vacation and we
wanted to include them in the party. On April 17th, a chilly day, 25
of our nearest and dearest descended upon our house. We went with a “mini” food
theme and made all small bite appetizers and desserts. We used white linens and
scattered pink and blue touches throughout. We put up a chalkboard and had
everyone put their guess on the board. At the end of the party we brought out a
big white box for the reveal. When we cut open the box a bunch of balloons were
released and our families finally knew we were expecting a little boy! We
couldn’t have been happier with how the party turned out and were even more
excited to welcome our little guy later in the year.
The weekend of May 17th Brian and I embarked on a
mini “baby-moon.” We’d spent some time discussing taking a tropical vacation or
heading to the beach somewhere, but decided to be more practical and stay close
to home. We had gotten a Groupon for a cabin resort in Vermont and decided it
would be perfect. My cousin Ryan and his wife joined us and we spent the
weekend hiking, eating, having s’mores and just hanging out. We took Berklee
and their dog Camilla with us and just had an amazing time. It may not have
been extravagant by any means but it was the perfect baby-moon for us.
Adding even more excitement to our 2013, Brian’s brother was
also expecting a baby boy at the end of July! He and his wife Jacyntha live in
California so we see them very rarely. She had been unable to join us the
previous December for Christmas as she was too early on in her pregnancy to
travel safely so it had been a year and a half since I had seen her. I received
an invitation to her baby shower and knew immediately I wanted to go. I
secretly contacted my brother in law and told him of my plans. I knew I wasn’t
going to be able to fly out to see her when the baby was born as I would be too
far along myself and she wasn’t going to be able to come out when our baby was
born as she would have a newborn so this was the perfect and really only
opportunity for us to see each other before we became mothers. Because of my
work schedule I was only able to go for the long weekend so I jumped on a 5pm
flight out of Boston on Friday May 24th, I arrived in Los Angeles at
10pm and the surprise went off without a hitch! My sister in law had NO idea I
was coming! The next morning was her shower, and I had the best time. It was
wonderful to really spend time talking to her sisters and cousins and they made
me feel like I was part of their family. Sunday morning we went to breakfast
before they dropped me back off at the airport – it was a whirlwind weekend
resulting in a total of 38 hours in California. I didn’t care how tired I was,
I was just so happy to have seen her and to have been able to celebrate with
them!
Brian and I celebrated our 5 year wedding anniversary on
July 12th this year. We once again had discussed varying options of
trips we’d like to take, but at that point I was 32 weeks pregnant and in no
condition to really travel anywhere far. We had our traditional anniversary
dinner at Café Escadrille where we were married on July 11th and the
next night (our actual anniversary) we opted to see one of our favorite country
singers, Jason Aldean, play at Fenway Park. It was by far the most fun concert
we’d ever been too. AND to top it off, Brian in his infinite wisdom knew
diamonds wouldn’t hurt. So he took my engagement ring and had it reset into the
most spectacular halo setting I’ve ever seen. He loves to spoil me and every
time I’m more surprised and grateful! He really is the best husband!
The next morning, July 13th was my baby shower. It was hosted by my
sister at my mother’s house and it was exactly what I would have done if I
planned it myself. It was a Beatrix Potter theme, based off Lucas’ nursery and
it was beautiful. My in-laws are florists and there were white flower
arrangements everywhere. The tables were set with white linens (an obvious
favorite of our family) with baby blue, light green and yellow touches spread around.
We were “showered” by 40 of our closest friends and family and we couldn’t have
been more grateful at all the incredible gifts we received. Lucas was spoiled
long before he was even born!
C’s christening was the weekend of July 20th in
Maine. And I was blessed and honored to be asked to be his godmother. Since the
moment he was born that little boy had stolen my heart so when my sister asked
me, I knew just how special that was. I promised to always be there for him, no
matter what, to bring him up in the eyes of the church (whatever church that is
for him) and to be his friend forever. I also promised to spoil him rotten and
buy him “extra special” presents on his birthday and Christmas!
Just two short days later on July 22nd the call
came that my second nephew, Ethan, had been born in California! It was a
bittersweet moment for me, because even though I was literally over the moon I
was so sad that I couldn’t rush right to the hospital and see the newest addition
to the Novello family. I immediately counted the days on the calendar until
Christmas, when we would finally meet him! But mommy and baby did great and
Ethan was born at a healthy 8 pounds 10 ounces!
For the next seven weeks Brian and I anxiously awaited the birth
of our own son. We took a short trip to the Cape, did some organizing and
decorating of the nursery, spent time with friends and family and began to
realize how much our life was going to change.
And then it happened – on Thursday September 5th
at 8:51am we welcomed into the world the most incredibly perfect little boy we could
have ever wished for. Our little Lucas Joseph was 20.5 inches and 6 pounds 13
ounces. He captured our hearts in a way that can never be described and from
the moment I laid eyes on him, I knew
I would literally die to keep him safe always. I had a fairly easy birth so was
really able to bask in that “new family” glow. I don’t think I took my eyes off
him for even a moment that first day. All I wanted to do was stare at him,
amazed at what Brian and I had created and how truly blessed we were to finally
hold him in our arms.
Over the course of my maternity leave it became clear to
both Brian and I that I could not return to work in Boston. Within just a few
days I was on the computer looking at my options. I was very lucky to stumble
upon a job that was right up my alley and on the day my maternity leave was to
end with my prior employer, November 4th, I started my new job with East Boston Savings Bank.
The timing couldn’t have been better and I have never been happier in a job!
That very same day, we listed our house for sale. I had also realized while
pregnant that living in Bradford was no longer what I wanted. I wanted to raise
Lucas close to my parents and ultimately in the town we grew up in. Brian and I
had discussed a five-year plan, which meant we’d be back in Danvers before
Lucas went to kindergarten but that plan was fast tracked and the decision was
made to sell the house as soon as possible. In less than a week after putting
it on the market we had an accepted signed offer and we officially closed on
December 27th. In the meantime, Brian too realized that going back
to work at Enterprise at Logan was out of the question. The hours he was
putting in left very little time for our family and he didn’t want to miss a
thing when it came to Lucas. So, he started looking and like me the perfect
opportunity arose and on December 9th he too started a new job that
he loves! He travels now every other week which is a new type of adjustment for
our family but one that amazingly enough works very well for our current
situation. We are living with my parents until our perfect house is either
built or comes on the market. So when Brian travels I have the extra hands to
help with the baby when/if I need it and I’m not alone when he’s gone – it’s
the best of both worlds!
Looking back over this past year I am amazed at everything
we’ve been blessed with. We are so lucky to have the life we do and I don’t for
even one second take it for granted. I have an awesome husband, a son I can’t
imagine life without, family that supports us and incredible friends that make
every day worth having. I would live this year over in a heartbeat if I could, and
as amazing as 2013 was, I am looking forward to what 2014 will bring us! We
start our next chapter tomorrow – I hope you’ll keep reading!
Wishing you all a blessed and magical 2014!
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