Our Big Little Secret: How We Kept Cherry a Surprise (and Why It Was Worth Every Sneaky Moment!)

Okay, so you guys know how much I love sharing everything with you, but for a little while there, Tanner and I had the BIGGEST secret. Like, a secret that was literally growing inside me hahah. Keeping Cherry's pregnancy under wraps was wild, stressful, and honestly, one of the most special things we've ever done. I still can't believe we pulled it off, especially with how many little hints I probably dropped without even realizing it hahah. I love that they didn’t believe us hahah love them so much :,)

It feels like just yesterday we were figuring out how to tell Stella and Ozzy, and now Cherry is here, making our family feel so complete. But before all the newborn snuggles and endless diaper changes, there was this whole secret chapter that was just ours. And I wanted to share all the messy, beautiful, sometimes hilarious details of how we managed to keep our sweet girl a surprise for so long.

The Moment We Knew (and the Decision to Keep Quiet)

I remember that day so clearly. It was just a regular morning, but something felt different. You know that feeling? That little whisper in your gut that tells you something big is happening. I took the test, and sure enough, two lines. My heart just exploded. I immediately ran to Tanner, and we just looked at each other, speechless. It was pure joy, mixed with a little bit of 'oh my gosh, here we go again!' hahah.

We had talked about it before, casually, like 'wouldn't it be fun to surprise everyone one day?' But actually being in that moment, with the positive test in my hand, it felt like the perfect time to actually DO IT. We knew it would be hard, especially with how close we are to our families and how much we share online, but there was something so exciting about the idea of having this little secret just for us, for a little while. It felt like a special bubble, just Tanner, me, and our growing baby. And honestly, it made the early days of morning sickness (which, let's be real, is more like all-day sickness) a little bit easier to bear because I knew there was this amazing surprise waiting at the end.

The Master Plan: Operation Secret Baby

Okay, 'master plan' might be a strong word, bc it was mostly just us winging it hahah. But we did have a few ground rules. Rule number one: tell absolutely no one unless it was absolutely necessary. Rule number two: come up with believable excuses for everything. Rule number three: try not to look too suspicious. That last one was the hardest for me, ngl. I'm not the best at keeping secrets, especially when I'm super excited about something!

My mom was the first person we told, and that was only after a few weeks when I was really struggling with feeling sick. I just needed her support, and I knew she'd be the best secret keeper. Plus, she's my mom, she just *knew* something was up hahah. Telling her felt like a huge weight off my shoulders, and having her in on the secret was such a comfort. She was my confidante and my alibi provider, and I'm so grateful for her. She's the best mom in the world, raised me as a single mom and taught me everything I know about being strong and loving fiercely. I couldn't have done it without her.

Navigating Social Gatherings and Sneaky Excuses

This was probably the trickiest part. We're always with family and friends, and there's always food, drinks, and activities. Suddenly, I couldn't drink coffee, or wine, or go on certain rides, or eat certain foods. It was a minefield! I became a master of the 'oh, I just had a big lunch!' or 'I'm just really tired today' or 'my stomach's a little off.' Tanner was my absolute hype man through all of it. He'd subtly deflect questions or grab me a sparkling water when everyone else was having something else. He's seriously the best partner a girl could ask for. He knew how much this surprise meant to me, and he went along with all my crazy ideas, even when I'm sure he wanted to just shout it from the rooftops too.

There were so many close calls. One time, we were at a family dinner, and my aunt offered me a glass of wine. I had to quickly say 'oh, no thanks, I'm actually on a cleanse!' which was a total lie, but it worked! I think the biggest challenge was just the constant mental gymnastics. Every time someone looked at me a little too long, I'd think 'do they know?!' hahah. It was exhausting but also kinda thrilling, like we were on a secret mission.

The Girls' Reactions: Stella and Ozzy's Big Surprise

Telling Stella and Ozzy was a whole different ball game. We wanted it to be super special for them. We waited until I was pretty far along, so they could really understand what was happening. We sat them down and showed them a picture of the ultrasound. Stella, being Stella, was immediately like 'A BABY?!' and Ozzy just stared with wide eyes. Their reactions were everything. Pure, unadulterated excitement. Stella started planning all the things she'd teach her new sibling, and Ozzy just kept pointing at my belly and saying 'baby!' It was one of those moments where you just know you made the right decision. Their joy was contagious, and it made all the sneaking around worth it.

We talked to them about keeping it a secret too, and they were surprisingly good at it! Stella understood it was a special surprise for everyone. Ozzy, well, she just loved saying 'baby!' and pointing, but she didn't quite grasp the 'secret' part hahah. But it was so cute watching them get excited and whisper about their new sibling.

The Big Reveal: When We Finally Spilled the Beans

Oh my gosh, the reveal! We waited until I was pretty far along, like 30+ weeks. We wanted everyone to be able to see the bump and really believe it. We decided to do a big family gathering and just spring it on them. It was so nerve-wracking but also so exciting. I remember walking into the room, and everyone was just chatting, totally oblivious. Then, I just kinda stood there, and Tanner put his arm around me and rubbed my belly. The looks on their faces! Priceless. Some people gasped, some screamed, some just stared with their mouths open. My mom was crying happy tears, and my dad was just beaming. My in-laws were totally shocked too, which was amazing because they're usually so perceptive.

I loved that they didn't believe us at first, like 'wait, what?!' It was so funny seeing their brains try to process it. It was truly one of the most memorable moments of my life. All the sneaking, all the little white lies, all the stress of trying to hide a growing belly – it all melted away in that instant of pure, shared joy. Seeing everyone's genuine surprise and happiness for us was just the best feeling in the world. :,)

Reflecting on Our Secret Journey

Looking back, I wouldn't change a thing. Keeping Cherry's pregnancy a secret was a wild ride, but it made her arrival feel even more special. It was a unique experience that Tanner and I shared, just the two of us (and eventually Stella and Ozzy), before we opened it up to the world. It allowed us to really soak in those early weeks and months, to dream and plan, without all the external questions and advice. It was our little bubble of anticipation.

If you're thinking about keeping a pregnancy a secret, I say go for it! It's not easy, and you'll definitely have some moments where you think you're going to crack, but the payoff is so worth it. The surprise, the joy, the genuine reactions – it's all so incredibly special. It's a memory we'll cherish forever, and it's a fun story to tell Cherry when she's older. Our little secret keeper, already making a grand entrance into our lives. We love her so much. ❤