Bittersweet Gender Reveal

Date: Feb 4th

A couple weeks ago I got the privilege of setting up

a Gender Reveal Photoshoot

for one of my besties Tessa and her adorable family.

This is their final baby and we wanted to make it special!

Tessa and I met years ago when she had first moved to Anthem 

and I was first learning how to live as a single mom.

We were both standing awkwardly alone at a basketball clinic for our kids.

Although I knew tons of people in that gym,

I desperately needed a "friend" to lean on that specific day

while I was navigating this tough stage of life.

I saw this cute new girl standing next to me and so I started up a convo.

We immediately clicked perfectly.

She had just moved here and needed a friend too.

Before I knew it we had exchanged phone numbers.

(I think she might have been the first to get my digits in my single life! haha)

From there her oldest daughter Xaida and Taylee 

have been on the same soccer teams every year!

So we get to spend many days a week together cheering on the girls

while having babies and chasing kids!

Tessa got pregnant soon after I did with Eastlie.

We were so excited to have babies yet again together!

(Laiklyn and Ezra are 2 mos apart)

Well she ended up having a miscarriage early into the pregnancy.

It was heartbreaking and something she hadn't experienced before.

It was a tough one for me too.

Especially since I still was pregnant.

Well they took some time and then eventually got pregnant again!

We were SO happy for them!!

The second Tessa suggested wanting to do something 

similar to what I did with Eastlie's reveal,

I immediately told her done and done.

I was honored to get to set it all up for them!

She had the blood test done and then forwarded me the email with the results.

I was proud of her for not peeking....because I know I would have! haha

Then I got everything ready and few days later we did the big reveal!

Here's their adorable family!

Ready, Set, Go!

  

I wrote this post last week and didn't get around to publishing it until today.

Tessa is now 17 weeks along!

Well last night Antoine, her hubby, had called Ryan to ask him to help him move a couch.

(they just bought a house around the corner from us!)

I hadn't talked to Tess yet that day so the kids and I piled in to cruise over with him.

Her bubbly smile wasn't at the front door to greet us like usual

So I hollered her name upstairs.

She didn't answer.

I figured she was upstairs working on painting the nursery still.

Her cute 4 year old daughter told me her mommy was up in her room

and wanted me to come up.

So while holding Eastlie I headed on up there.

I found Tess laying in her bed completely distraught.

My heart dropped.

What's wrong?!?!?!

Through tears she told me she lost the baby.

I was floored.

Like punch in the stomach shocked.

So I held her and we cried.

She had just gotten home from her regular OB check up

and they couldn't find a heartbeat.

How could this have happened yet again?!

She had 3 healthy normal pregnancies before these last 2.

There I was holding my perfect little 4 month old baby while holding my sweet friend

that lost yet another baby.

I felt guilty and humbled and heartbroken all at once.

We ended up taking their 4 year old for couple of hours 

to pick up dinner & dessert for them.

It's the least we could do.

I had such a heavy heart all night and still today.

Tessa had already told everyone that she was pregnant.

But I really debated whether to still post these pics/video to my blog.

I know it'll be a sweet memory to cherish

although bittersweet right now.

I know so many friends that struggle with the heartache of infertility and miscarriage.

I feel so humbled that I haven't had to endure those types of trials in life.

It takes a special type of person to patiently wait for their family.
Tessa is one of those.