An unseasonably warm December rain fell the day I found out you were coming to us. I was doing laundry, preparing for our upcoming ski trip, and watching Christmas movies in bed. I got to keep you a secret...all to myself... for hours that day. You see, I planned to tell your daddy a special way, and I had to be sneaky to do it.
A long time ago, he was sneaky first. He asked me to marry him with a stuffed cat. That sounds silly, right? Well, it's not. It was perfectly calculated just like everything else your dad does! Grandma, Papa, Aunt Michelle, and Uncle Dustin were in on it too. Dad let me think I was planning his birthday surprises, but he secretly knew them all! At dinner on his birthday, he got a very special present. You guessed it! The cat.
He just sat there, frozen like a statue, holding the cat inside the gift bag... until I said, "Chase, just take the cat out of the bag!" That's your mommy... BOSSY! Thankfully for you, sweet angel, it's not hereditary.
Underneath the cat was an engagement ring! Mommy said, "Yes!" because mommy is no fool. I knew your sweet daddy was the only one who would put up with me.
Pristine and white, that little kitty sat on our entertainment center alongside pictures from that night until we started trying to have you! Sneaky Mommy stashed it away in her closet until she could tell Daddy! I was so excited to tell him! I had the kitty all wrapped up in a bag, stuffed with paper, and sitting on the kitchen counter. He opened it as soon as he got home, and he knew right away that you were on your way to us. Wrapping me in a big hug, we were both a little emotional (so emotional that I didn't take any pictures!). We knew you would change us forever, and we couldn't wait to meet you!
