One of my 2009 goals was to be a better gift giver, and this past Christmas was quite a success, I thought, particularly because Bart and I really planned ahead and weren’t frantically buying gifts at the last second. We had time to think about what to get various family members and I was really pleased with some of the things we chose.
But, without question, the gift we were most excited about (and which came as the biggest surprise to our families) was this one, which we gave to Crawford:
TheMoncurs says
I like how people are going to puzzle over this. Like, "Wait..is she…? Is this…?"
Am so glad I can stop pretending ignorance. Yay baby!
Jenny says
OH!
(really?!)
That's so clever of you!
(I mean–)um, CONGRATULATIONS!
xo
Melinda says
AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! And what a fantastic way to share the news!
Packrat says
Congratulations! (Gosh, I'm crying!) Surprise, huh? Giggles
RA says
Holy crap! Congratulations! I am bowled over!
Operation Pink Herring says
Wait… really? CONGRATULATIONS!
lacie tidwell says
WAHOO!!!!! Congratulations!!!! that is so exciting!!! I hope you are feeling ok and all is going well- btw I LOVE how you broke the news! wooooweee! congrats again! It's so much fun!!!
Stephanie says
wahooo! congrats! very clever.
Señora H-B says
CONGRATULATIONS! Such a cute way to share the news.
Crystal says
Yay!! Congratulations!!
Carly Jane says
SO EXCITING! I'm all smiles. You will both be fantastic parents.
Lady Susan says
I totally didn't get this until I read the comments. Hurrah! Congratulations! So excited for you guys.
I hope you are feeling o.k. The first trimester can be a doozy.
Heather says
Oh Janssen – I am just thrilled! Huge congrats to you and Bart – and I just adore the announcement method ~ fantastic!
Have you been very sick?
Kristy says
Heehee! What a good gift!
Kristi says
Very creative and cute, how long did it take Crawford to piece it together? We're sure happy for you!
Kristi says
Wait wait wait, now I am curious. Is this a stolen date due card or is it specially crafted by you with family members birthdates on it or something? Clever either way!
Julie M. Smith says
CONGRATULATIONS!
Strong Family - says
Congratulations! What a cute "announcement."
fluentbrittish says
Wait a minute! You're having a baby and giving it to your brother???
Just kidding.
Congrats!
Janelle says
Congratulations! That is so exciting and such a super cute way to break the news. That's one of my favorite things; thinking up a creative way to tell everyone! 🙂
I hope the pregnancy is treating you well!
Melanie says
!!!!!
My reaction was just was Kayle wrote.
Merrick says
Hooray Hooray Hooray!!
Also am so glad this is in the open!
Allison says
Yayyy!!!!! I'm so happy for you and Bart!!!!! Congrats!
*LaUrA* says
Awesome. congratulations!
Natasha @ Maw Books says
I had to read the post twice and then wondered, is she saying what I think she's saying? CONGRATS!!!!!
Jenn says
Congrats!
Stacy says
Woo!
Julie Anne says
SOOOOOO EXICTING!!!!!!!!!
I love when I have no idea and then am really surprised. I was totally surprised. This is so fun!!!!! Congratulations Janssen and Bart!
How close are you and Merrick?
Post more details!!!!! Are you hoping for one or the other gender? Any names? How are you feeling.
What a creative way of telling. I was like, "what is that?" HAHAHA!!! Was everyone shocked? Who all was there? Like I said, MORE DETAILS! 🙂
I'm so happy for you Janssen. You are going to be the best mom!!! I'll nominate you for Young Mother of the Year;)I can hardly wait to get parenting ideas/advice from your blog, wait, I'm getting a little ahead of myself. I'm just so EXCITED!!!
Tara says
Yea! Did you plan this with Merrick. That will be fun with both of you having kids the same age. Congrats! It is so great being a mom.
Saskia Tielens says
wait, what? Wow, that took me a minute or two to figure out! That's so clever, I'm going to remember that when and if I ever become pregnant. Congratulations!!!
Kim says
Yay! Exciting news! Congrats!
David and Sammy says
Congrats!! So exciting! I know you said awhile ago you were never going to let this blog become a "mommy blog" with endless pics of kids and what not… but you know we all love hearing about your life too much to let you get away without giving details!
Linda says
Congratulations!!!
ellen says
Congrats on your little library book!
Sherry says
Being able to check out a library book until July 15 is awesome. I need to use your library.
Lonica says
what a cute thing for a future mom/librarian to do… Hope you are feeling well…
Mary says
Congratulations! That is so exciting and what a fun way to announce the news.
Merry says
Congratulations!
emandtrev says
Congratulations! What a fantastic and oh-so-completely-perfect way to share the news. I hope you are feeling and doing well. What happy news!
Ari says
Lol, it's a good thing I read the comments or I would have never known what was up.
Congratulations!!
Emily says
YES!!!! Congratulations!! I'm so stinking excited for you!!
Lindsay says
When I saw this in Google Reader, I almost just went on to reading the next blog post because I thought the picture was just about some inside joke only your family would get! Then, something clicked in my head and I thought I'd check the comments. Congrats!!!! I hope you have a nice, easy pregnancy!
Ben says
Woot! Congrats to you both! 🙂
Chrissie says
Congratulations! Such a clever and appropriate way to make the announcement. Adorable!
Meredith Shatzer says
Oh goodness…I hate to admit how long that took me to get. I did (although not obviously) graduate from college. That is SO exciting!! I hope you're feeling good! Oh I'm just so excited!!
Elizabeth says
OMG. CONGRATULATIONS! WOO HOO! I am so happy and excited and thrilled. WOO HOO AGAIN!
I cannot WAIT to see what you guys name this kid, you and your brothers and sisters have the best names.
janet says
Okay I admit, it took me a second. How very clever, lady!
But really, congratulations. Very, very exciting!!
Parkers says
Congratulations! That took me way longer than it ought to have to decipher 🙂
Jennifer Lee says
I am SO thrilled for you! Congratulations!
Kimberly F. says
Congrats Janssen! I have the same question someone else had – are those random dates or other family members' birthdates? You are going to be such a great mom!
Science Teacher Mommy says
Yeah! I hope you are soon over that happy-go-pukey stage.
Jodi says
Wow, I didn't get enough sleep last night. It took me a few minutes of staring which then led to my jaw hanging open for a few minutes. Congrats!
Alison Stewart says
Wow! Was it planned? How exciting!
Laurie says
I may be delurking, at least I don't think I've ever commented before:) Congratulations! You made it sound like maybe it was a surprise to you guys? That's how it happened for us but I'm so glad because otherwise I'm afraid I would have just kept putting it off until I was well into my 30's. There's no such thing as perfect timing & I'm certain you will find that motherhood is AMAZING! Also, what a cute and clever way of sharing the news!
Rachel says
You are going to have so much fun being a mom…and you will be great at it! Welcome to the club girl!
(I was going to make a comment about how you have your own little book worm but that seems kinda gross and I do not want your baby to look like that so I put it in parentheses instead 🙂
Tristen says
congratulations Janssen! You will love having your kids close in age to Merrick's! Cousins are the best!
Kathleen says
That is the best way I've ever seen to let people know!!! Congratulations to you! How exciting!
Lisa says
OH YAY!!! How exciting!
When is your sister due? That's gotta be one of the best parts. Tho, I don't think your brother is QUITE old enough to have a child of his own yet. Maybe a puppy for him?
Jeanelle says
Ohhhhhh Janssen! I am SOOOOOOO beyond thrilled for you. I'm even welling up here at my desk at work!! Congratulations to both you & Bart!!
Kelly J. says
woot woot. Glad you finally shared the news with the world!
Lexilooo says
ohhhh!!!! this is so exciting, so many congratulations to you!
(it took me a few reads to figure this out, I will admit!) 🙂
Gretchen says
Congratulations!!! I'm so excited for you but sad I don't live near you anymore to see you as a cute mom.
So is the title referring to the announcement or a certain time of the month???? 😉
Angiegirl says
Just awesome news, Janssen! So happy for you and Bart.
Steph says
Yay!! Congrats to you!! That will be one cute baby!
nancypearlwannabe says
Cutest announcement ever!
BrittWilk says
ahhhh!!!!!!!!!!! i'm SOOOOOOOOOO excited for you. you guys will make beautiful, adorable babies! congrats. hope you're feeling good. being pregnant is so fun (most of the time. ha.). and that is, without question, my favorite baby announcement i've ever seen. you're too creative and hilarious, you little librarian, you. 🙂
Katherine says
Wow, congratulations!!!
alisonwonderland says
So clever! Congratulations!
Monica says
OHhhhhhhhhh!!!!
That's all I can say!
stegersaurus says
Aww, congratulations!
Sheyenne says
Wow! Congrats to both of you! I also didn't figure it out until I read the comments. So excited for you guys! And I just had to yell down the stairs to Dario, so he could know RIGHT now.
Miriam says
My gosh, there are 71 comments here – guess I'll just have to add my congrats to the hoards!!!!
bethany says
ohmygoodness YAY!!!! Congratulations!!! I was totally like, wait…is that what i think it is?! I can't stop smiling. I am so so happy for you guys! And I couldn't be more excited because it looks like i'm going to BE THERE for the remainder of your pregnancy and meet you guys and your precious bundle!!! (i was going to email you but i'll just tell you now, hehehe. we found out last night.) I can't wait!!! Yay you guys!!!
Katie says
Sincerest Congratulations to you and your husband! And what a fantastic way to tell!
tootie says
Congrats!! What a cute announcement card!
hollyhs says
it took me a minute… but OH MY GOSH! congratulations!!! that has to be one of the cutest things i've ever seen!
Zillah says
Congratulations!
amber belmonte. says
HOLY CRAP! oh my gosh! i'm so so thrilled for you guys! you two are going to be amazing parents! and how awesome that you + your sister will have babies so close in age together! congratulations + hugs your way!
Jessica says
congrats, lady 🙂 time to stock up on picturebooks!
Sherry Ashford says
Congrats! That's exciting!!
Bean says
That is an AWESOME idea! And also my hubby's birthday! CONGRATULATIONS!
Sarah says
Congratulations! How exciting! some random thoughts…
Claire was born June 27th – it's a nice time of year to have a baby in the northeast.
-I don't check my google reader for day and this is what i miss – figures!
Cool, Cool, Cool
This is going to be the cutest baby EVER…
kristen says
that is the perfect way to break the news! so does that mean i was one of the first ones to know after you asked about OBs and used my bathroom 30 times in one night? i had a hunch…
i'm SO EXCITED for you guys!
Jenae says
they've said it all but I wanted to throw my two cents in there. ahem:
– cute and totally clever announcement and LOVE that you gave it to your brother
– you guys are going to have the cutest kid of all time… and brainy too. of course i meant brainy.
– congrats. this is fantastic.
jj
Rachel says
What a clever idea! Congratulations Janssen, so exciting!
Camille says
Love it!
Becca says
Woah Woah Woah Woah
YAY!!!! 🙂
Best announcement ever! So perfect.
AAH!!! 🙂
Sara says
What a wonderful event to look forward to! Congrats Janssen and Bart! You guys are going to be such amazing parents. Now make sure to post some prego pics as you get farther along for all of us who don't get to see you here in TX….
Emily says
Congratulations!
Megan says
Um, so EIGHTY-NINE people have already commented on this post. Janssen, you should feel very loved and supported! I can't think of a more appropriate way for a librarian to announce a baby to their family!
Ashley and Dave says
Am I seriously the 91st comment? well crap. Sorry no internet 🙂 But dont worry, tara called me as soon as you posted this so I would know 🙂 CONGRATS! Its about stinkin time 😉 Your lucky little parents…two in three months! What a fun thing to share with a sister especially when it is both of your firsts!!
Amy Sorensen says
SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
BIG CONGRATS! Hope you are feeling OK!!!
Amy Sorensen says
ps, as a sorta-connected sidenote: when I imagined myself as a librarian, one of the things I looked forward to was stamping due dates. Except my library doesn't stamp due dates. Sadness!!!!
Carole says
Janssen should reveal how and where she procured this due date slip. . . 🙂 It's a fun part of this whole story.
We're so excited for you both!!
jeannette says
Yeo i agree with all 95 oathe people who have said it all . . . about how cute your kid will be and how intelligent and all the rest of the stuff. and of course the very cute way that you announced you being pregnant. l thank you for sharing so now we can all wait for the event with baited breath.
Blessings go to you both.. get plenty of sleep now because . . .
Kelly says
Holy crap, congrats!!!
Heather says
OMG!!!!! Congratulations! What a great way to share the fantastic news!
Katie Rich says
Congrats! So exciting! Both you and Merrick!
S says
I love this!! Congratulations!
KT says
Congrats! Your announcement is super cute (and I love the story behind it too). I hope you're feeling well.
craftyashley says
Huge Congratulations to ya, Janssen! And how cute that you and Merrick are around the same time! Love the coordination, there girls!
Ang says
Congrats to you and Bart. That is great news! What a fun way to share with family.
Shelly says
Wow, congratulations! That is so so awesome!
Shelah says
excellent news!
Jess says
Yay! Congratulations! I'm so thrilled for you! Can't wait to read all about your experience!
EEEEE. So excited!
Sara says
Congratulations! You're due a couple weeks after me. And to be pregnant with a sister is so fun! I bet your parents are so excited for two grand babies!
La Petite Chic says
Oh, HOORAY! I'm super behind on blog reading so I'm sorry I missed this! So, so happy for you!!
Rhiannon says
1. HURRAY!
2. Cutest way to announce a pregnancy pretty much EVER.
Erin says
Wow – I'm the 110th comment! Well, um, this may seem a bit redundant but, you know, congratulations.
Brad says
So cool. We love you guys.
smalldog says
Classic Janssen! Using books to announce her pregnancy! Congratulations!
Sharma says
Janseen, you always leave me smiling. I read your announcement in Marlee's email from Bart actually, but I loved seeing it out here (since he didn't mention your clever announcement anyway!) Best of wishes to you and Bart.
Julie Allen says
Yup…just not got it cause Mark was talking about it. I am sooo happy for you guys! Cannot wait to hear what you are having:)
heidikins says
A ha! Found it! Congrats, even deplorably belated congrats.
xox
LeAnne says
So I am wayyyy behind in blog checking. (Having a teething 3 month old will do that to you.) So a belated congrats to you but a very happy belated congrats! What a cute way of sharing the news with your family.