Hey there, my long lost friends!
It’s been a grip since I had the time to sit down and write about what’s been going on with this wedding of mine. There have been a LOT of changes in recent weeks so let’s start with the first things.
- I had to terminate my agreement with my wedding planner. It simply was not working out. Luckily, we (my fiancé and I) had already done most of the work ourselves, so it didn’t end up being a total wash, as we held the contracts and relationships with the vendors and locations.
- That said, we had to move the wedding up 2 months from September to July because”...
- “...we found out last Saturday that we’re having a baby! (due on Christmas Eve no less). Since “Lil’ Gwen” (that’s what I’m calling her until further notice. Yes, I am pulling for a girl. Way too many little boys in our families) won’t be here until December, we really could keep the wedding in September, but for my comfort and not wanting to walk down the aisle with a baby bump, we think it’d be best to jump the broom a little earlier.
So, basically, with all this stuff going on, I’ve been a little frazzled, but I was able to re-plan the entire wedding in a day and a half. (Endion tells me all the time that I am Superwoman.) It was a real blessing that the date for our locations was able to be easily moved. Vendors were another story. Most of them were able to shift their schedules. Only a few couldn’t. So, I took a day off work and researched a few new vendors, as well as completed some other things that we hadn’t done to begin with, like securing the chair order for our outdoor wedding and getting our floral arrangements together.
I’ve been very reflective throughout all of this, thinking about how great of a guy I have in my fiancé and how beautiful the concept of marriage truly is ““ especially black marriage. I can think of few things more alluring and enchanted than two brown people who are marrying each other for the right reasons. Such a beautiful thing.
He really does try to do everything he can to make me happy (which is a big change from past relationships), even if it means foregoing his own comfort. I guess that makes me spoiled, but it’s definitely reciprocated and it’s so awesome to know without question that you are loved.
And he’s going to make a phenomenal father. The day we found out we were preggers (by the way”...I was on the NuvaRing when I got pregnant, so be wary, NuvaRing users. LOL) he went out and bought an armload of “new daddy” books and he reads them every night before he heads to bed. Apparently, he has become the authority on pregnancy, because he’s got a remedy for every symptom I am having and an answer for every question I have.
I realize people are going to say we are getting married because we’re pregnant. I can’t lie, it really does bother me that some will think that; I never want to be assumed to be a stereotype, but whatevs. When we gave our wedding invitation to our neighbors, Endion also announced to them we are having a little one. Immediately, our neighbor said, “does the wedding and baby have any correlation?” Maybe it was just me, but that really irritated me. Because clearly, he knew we were already engaged long before we ever had any inclination we’d be bringing a life into the world. (He was invited to our engagement party in December.)
Anyway (as I roll my eyes lol), we had the first ultrasound on Monday, where we were able to see the heartbeat. Pretty exciting stuff. Until then, I had been in disbelief, like, “Is there really a baby in there?”
Now, I’ve never wanted to be a parent. Ever. I was so content playing the “rent-a-kid” game, in which I could borrow my goddaughter or nephews for a few hours, then send them back to their rightful owners (haha) when I got tired. The thought of me having a kid was absolutely preposterous. But once I became preggers, my whole outlook instantly changed. And it changed before I even thought that I might be pregnant.
I had a dream about a month ago that I had just delivered a baby girl and, in my dream, I was so happy and peaceful. Although I thought it weird, I just wrote it off and kept it moving. Right after that, I started feeling uber-maternal. Again, something that was very strange for me. I started thinking that it might not be so bad to have a munchkin running around driving Endion and I crazy J. So I took two home tests ““ one came back positive, one showed up negative.
A few days later, I had an initial Ob/Gyn appointment to confirm the pregnancy. As I was cleaning out my purse just a few hours before the appointment, the thought crossed my mind, “What if I’m not even pregnant?” Just as I thought that, I pulled out a fortune from fortune cookie I had eaten a couple weeks back. On one side it read, “You are about to embark on the most delightful journey”; on the back side, it read “Girl” and included instructions on how to spell “girl” in Chinese. Now if that’s not a sign, I don’t know what is!
So, back to the wedding. My wedding shoes arrived two days ago and our cake topper arrived yesterday (which can be viewed here: https://www.uniquebridalsupplies.com.au/7103a.jpg). I’m so excited about the cake topper, because it has so much meaning for us. If you’ll recall from my first post, Endion and I met on PlentyOfFish.com. We also went fishing on our first date. How cute and sappy ““ my kinda thing! And anyone who has had a wedding before knows how hard it is to find cute African American wedding cake toppers.
My dress fitting will be next week. Luckily, I was savvy enough to buy a gown with a corset back, which will work really well in the event Lil’ Gwen wants to begin showing up a little earlier than expected.
And now that I think about it, I don’t recall ever showing you guys my engagement party photos! (silly me). Here’s the link if you want to take a gander: https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=203179&id=1221465235&l=c08b8a6f6e).
Cheryl says
Congratulations on your little one! It sounds like you more than have a handle on the changes that have come along with your wedding (and family) planning! God bless and best of luck!
p.s. My darling little 2 year old daughter is also a Nuva ring baby.
Sharee says
I LOVE the cake topper!!! TOO adorable! CONGRATS!!! God bless your new family!
Sharee says
Oh… I almost forgot. My youngest neice is also a Nuva ring baby. ;0)
Tara @ The Young Mommy Life says
Awww, congrats Gwen! What an exciting time for you! 🙂 Please don’t worry about people who insist you’re getting married because you’re pregnant. Just let it be about you, Endion and “Lil Gwen” (I’m pulling for a girl, too! LOL). No one else matters.
Let me tell you, though, I did the whole “having babies in the first year of marriage” thing, and while I think it put a strain on our relationship initially (I won’t lie), we came out a MUCH stronger couple. We had to work as a team even harder, because there was a little one that was depending on us. I know you and Endion will be fine – just look forward to a much deeper connection as time goes on. How awesome, right? 🙂
.-= Tara @ The Young Mommy Life´s last blog ..Rewind: Give me strength =-.
Tara @ The Young Mommy Life says
Okay, so I looked at your engagement party pics and can I say (this is going to sound weird) but Endion looks like a husband. I can usually look at guys and say, “Yup, he’s a good one,” and Endion has that look! LOL. Go ahead, call me crazy!
.-= Tara @ The Young Mommy Life´s last blog ..Rewind: Give me strength =-.
Nsharin says
Definitely sounds like you are very organized and you two have a firm handle on this planning. And most women freak out with the timeline but you are even able to push up the wedding that is amazing, you are superwoman. Your engagement pics were so cute love the venue and seems like you had a lot of fun with family and friends. Love the caketopper very unique and silly but I love that its personal and symbolic. Congrats on your little one and I can’t wait to see wedding pics and of course pics of Lil Gwen!
Staycee2 says
GGGGGGGOOOOOOOOOOOO GWEN!!!!!!!!!!! First I would like to say CONGRATULATIONS on the news regarding your bundle of joy, GGUUUURRRRLLLLL I love that cake topper!!!! That was very nice of you to share your photos with us (complete strangers)!!!! I already know from viewing the picutres that marriage & family is going to look GREAT on you guy! May god continue to bless you & your family!
busybodyk says
Congratulations!!! You guys make a cute couple! I wish you the best in your life journey together.
Note to self: stay away from nuvaring and stick to the pill (LOL)
Anna says
Thanks for updating us and for the pics. I was scared that you terminated the wedding altogether when I read the first part of the post. Congrats on “baby Gwen”. I do know what you are talking about with too many male babies in the family. Nothing wrong with wishing for a girl. We get what we get and moms fall in love with all their kids. Happy Mothers Day to you Gwen. Are you doing a “Half and Half” thing right now? Dee Dee named her daugher Dee Dee but did not want to name her son “Charles” after her husband. LOL.
Happy Nappy Bride says
Fun engagement party pics!
.-= Happy Nappy Bride´s last blog ..kid accessories =-.
micwedding says
wedding planning is really hard working thing…..
Chandra says
Congratulations! Enjoy this overwhelmingly exciting and busy time of your life. The planning will stress you, especially the closer you get to the actual wedding date, but remember to stop and take a deep breath and collect your thoughts. As easy as it is to say don’t worry about what others say about the wedding/baby correlation- just keep in mind that people say stupid things for lack of knowing what to say. A simple congrats would have been too easy. Good luck to you and much happiness to you and your fiance’.
Gwen says
Hi all! Thanks for the comments and well-wishes. I’m so relieved some of you share my failed Nuvaring sentiments. My Ob fails to believe I was using the thing right. LOL
@Tara – I told Endion a long time ago that he looks like a dad. I dont’ think he knew how to take that. Haha, but I agree with you. He does have that “husband/daddy” vibe going on. 🙂
@Anna – We are thinkin about naming the baby after us (if he’s a boy, naming him Endion; if she’s a girl, naming her Gwen). Not set in stone yet, but my mom’s name is Gwen and she is begging for a Gwen part 3. lol