Surprise!

So, I'm going to try and be very consistent with this whole blogging thing. I love reading other people's blogs, so maybe it will motivate me to continue....
We have exciting news....

Tatum's going to be a big sister! :) This has been such an answer to prayer, and God has been really working on my heart during this whole process.
At the end of January, Benjamin and I really felt that God was telling us that it was "time" to expand our family. It was a little scary for me. However, after a lot of prayer and talking, together as a couple, I was so excited. I am such a planner (ok, a controller), so I had everything all set.... I was ready to get pregnant right away (like what happened with Tatum). We would have a baby around Thanksgiving time (perfect time for family to visit, a little less than 2 1/2 years between children, I wouldn't have to be pregnant at Christmas, etc. Everything was perfect! Plus, a good friend of mine shared that she and her husband were on the track to becoming parents, again, as well! We would be pregnant together. What could be more perfect?!
After a few disappointing months, I started to become worried. My "plan" was not happening. My good friend because pregnant right away (which was so exciting!) I felt like every time I would log onto Facebook, I would find out that someone new was pregnant! I started to think something was wrong with me!
Meanwhile, I kept telling myself (and convincing myself that I believed it) that God was in control and that His plan was bigger than mine. It was easy for me to say, but (humbling to say) I didn't truly believe it. I kept thinking that I needed to do things differently, eat different foods, drink less coffee, track more dates and temperatures, exercise more, exercise less, etc. Talk about control issues! It was exhausting!
Finally, after 5 (I know that many people have tried for WAY longer, but it felt very long) months, I decided that it was truly time to give it all over to the Lord. I was no longer going to control. Thankfully, many close friends were praying and encouraging. I'm so thankful for them. God really transformed my heart. My mom said (in a nice way) that she was so happy to hear that I was finally giving up control... apparently I've had that issue for a while....??? :) God was just trying to get my attention, and I'm so glad that He is faithful in wanting to transform our hearts!
On July 29th (our 5th wedding anniversary), I decided to take a pregnancy test. Benjamin had purchased a bottle of wine for our anniversary, so we decided to make sure that it was ok for me to drink it. Benjamin was gone when I woke up in the morning (he had an early morning meeting), so I took the test before he got home. I had such low expectations (I had been so disappointed in the past... I got used to those negative tests). I had to check and double check probably 8 million times.... sure enough.... POSITIVE!! I had no idea what to do. I ran around the house opening all the curtains, emptied the dishwasher, cleaned the kitchen, and who knows what else. I was so excited, and I had no one I could tell! When Tatum woke up, I put her in the "Big Sister" tee shirt in the picture, and waited for Benjamin to come home. Finally (ok, drama, it was probably only an hour later), he came home, noticed Tatum's tee shirt right away, and was in shock!! It was an awesome moment!! We thanked the Lord and shed some tears.
I'm so thankful to God for this process. His timing truly is perfect!