enJOY it

an archived personal and craft blog from Elise Blaha Cripe.

Ep

On Sunday, February 3rd, I dropped Paul off in a parking lot on base so he could deploy with his unit. We hugged outside the car and I cried into his chest. "What if she comes before you're home? What if this is it?"

"Be strong, Elise." he said.

About half of me wanted to punch him in frustration. I didn't want to be strong. I wanted to be 21 weeks pregnant and not alone. I wanted our life to be normal. I wanted my husband to live in my house with me all the time.

But the rational half nodded and sniffled and told him I loved him and got back in the car. I sobbed openly and drove home.

The next day, I headed down to San Diego and saw the house we had just bought. And the next four months and 11 days were a whirlwind. I closed Escrow, packed up a house, moved to a new place, decorated it to what for us is perfection, worked on various projects, battled a mouse in the kitchen and kept growing this little baby. And, of course, I had days where it sucked and days where I cried and days where I was anything but strong.

And now, 19 weeks later, we're nearly through it. Paul is home on leave for awhile. He's here. He gets to see this house we bought for the first time (he's a fan!). He gets to sit on the chairs and eat at the dining table and live in this space that I (but really we) built over the past few months. Baby girl waited for him, so now we'll wait for her. Together.

We get to be strong together. We get to become three together.

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192 responses to “together.”

  1. orange gearle Avatar

    YAY!!!! Together is sooo good! Now come on baby, make it (an in person) three! 🙂

    Like

  2. jessica o'brien | jessohbee Avatar

    i am so happy for you. for paul. and for baby cripe. baby girl waited for her dad! here’s for a healthy, happy, blessed arrival for your daughter. xo

    Like

  3. Laura Avatar
    Laura

    hooray!

    Like

  4. Beth Ann Avatar
    Beth Ann

    I am so happy for the three of you! God bless.

    Like

  5. Katy Avatar
    Katy

    So happy for you that he made it home. 🙂

    Like

  6. Elizabeth Avatar

    So, so happy for you to be together! I’ve been praying that it would all work out as it’s supposed to be. Come on baby girl!

    Like

  7. Linda Niehoff Avatar

    Oh this is so exciting! I’m so happy for you. Can’t wait for the blog post when 2 become 3. 🙂

    Like

  8. Lauren Avatar
    Lauren

    Elise, you’re so inspiring. I only hope to be half as strong and bold as you are. You are an incredible woman, and babygirl is very blessed to be able to have you as her mommy. Ive been following you through every form of social media for a little over a year now, and this post brought tears of JOY to my eyes. I’m so happy he’s back! Relax, pamper yourself, and sleep in an extra hour, babygirl will be here soon! And I can’t wait to see and read all about her arrival! Be strong as I know you will because you always have.
    Much love, Lauren

    Like

  9. Jo Avatar

    sooooo happy, the family are all together and all you need now is cute baby girl to make three. Enjoy the time together as two cos once three comes along you’ll be busy xxx

    Like

  10. Melissa Sharp Avatar

    Ah, this put a huge smile on my face this morning! So happy for you.

    Like

  11. Sarah Avatar

    My heart is in my throat thinking of the emotional rollercoaster you (and so many other military families) have been riding. I’m so happy that you get to share these precious days. Blessings on your birth.

    Like

  12. melissa Avatar

    You are such a trooper. I believe your positive attitude help make this next step a true miracle and reality. You did it… You were strong and you also accomplished so much during this pregnancy. BE PROUD.
    Can’t wait to hear about labor pains and a new baby. Let the real journey begin.

    Like

  13. Rachel Z Avatar

    Woohoo! So happy for you two. Enjoy your time together. Praying for baby e.

    Like

  14. jennifer Avatar
    jennifer

    Awesome! I am so thrilled for you all…………together is the best place to be! 🙂

    Like

  15. susi davis Avatar

    I am so happy for you and Paul. There is an amazing bond that deepened between my husband and me during the birth of our first child 28 years ago. We were so in awe of the process and then meeting our baby after 9 months of dreaming and waiting. My OB/GYN had me walk every day and that is how I went into labor. So many of us are praying for you, Paul and baby. I had just turned 21 and was very nervous so I decided to focus on what the baby was going through rather than what I was feeling and it really helped me. So excited to get the news and see photos of your beautiful baby when she gets here.

    Like

  16. Christen Avatar
    Christen

    So so happy for you!

    Like

  17. Jolene Avatar
    Jolene

    Together is the best. Always. So glad baby E waited for her daddy to arrive 🙂

    Like

  18. Rose Scott-Lincourt Avatar
    Rose Scott-Lincourt

    Lovely… Super happy for you all. Can’t wait to hear about the continuation of your families’ story. Be well as you both wait for your daughter’s arrival.

    Like

  19. Alida Avatar

    I’ve been checking instagram and thought the two cups meant Paul’s home, and incoming arrivals meant baby’s on the way, but then read the actual story about flight delays:( So glad he’s home now and can enjoy a little of this stage of the pregnancy before the big event! Exciting times. The four months is also the time I’ve become a regular on your blog. Well done Elise!

    Like

  20. Kaytie Avatar

    Hooray – what great news! Enjoy this awesome time, together is always best.

    Like

  21. Ruth Avatar

    Super pleased that Paul made it home before the little one does!

    Like

  22. cj Avatar
    cj

    Immensely happy for you! Baby e waited for her Daddy. 🙂

    Like

  23. Elizabeth Avatar

    He made it home in time!! I’m so happy. Seriously. : )

    Like

  24. Lindsay Avatar

    Yes! this is the best post ever. So happy for you two- I mean three!

    Like

  25. krugthethinker Avatar

    I squealed with delight when I saw this post! I can’t tell you how happy I am to see the two of you, the three of you, together! Congratulations, and the happiest of waiting to you:)

    Like

  26. Laura j Avatar
    Laura j

    I’m so happy he was/is able to be home for this most exciting time in your lives! I have friends who weren’t so lucky with deployments. I hope she shows up soon & soaks in all the love you both (& the strangers on the Internet) are pouring in her direction. Best of luck these last few days of pregnancy!

    Like

  27. france Avatar

    so happy for you two!!!!

    Like

  28. Michelle C Avatar
    Michelle C

    What perfect timing! Love how you wrote: “Baby girl waited for him, so now we’ll wait for her. Together.”

    Like

  29. SarahM Avatar
    SarahM

    Yayy!!

    Like

  30. Stéphanie Avatar
    Stéphanie

    It’s amazing, welcome back to Paul and soon welcome to be little E. ! You’re such an amazing family

    Like

  31. veronica Avatar

    Incredibly happy that he is home. 🙂

    Like

  32. Angie Avatar

    AW!!! I’m so happy for you THREE. ❤ This is so wonderful, and so sweet and AW!!!

    Like

  33. Jennifer Avatar
    Jennifer

    Yay!

    Like

  34. sofie Avatar
    sofie

    Yes!! So happy for you!

    Like

  35. Marty Ward Avatar
    Marty Ward

    great news!

    Like

  36. Mel Avatar

    Adding my hoorah!

    Like

  37. Jen Avatar
    Jen

    That’s so great he made it home!!! Good luck with baby, hope she comes soon (and easy and fast for you :))

    Like

  38. Jodi S Avatar
    Jodi S

    So glad Paul made it home before baby girl arrived!

    Like

  39. Naomi Avatar
    Naomi

    So pleased for you!

    Like

  40. Melissa Avatar
    Melissa

    This is the best news I’ve heard in a long time.
    Go, you three. It will definitely be an adventure.
    How exciting!!! 😀

    Like

  41. Becca Groves Avatar

    Oh I am so happy for you!!! What joy!

    Like

  42. Libbi M. Avatar
    Libbi M.

    This post brought tears of joy. I am so very happy for you, for Paul and baby girl. I hope she comes tomorrow. Fathers day would make for a lovely birthday.

    Like

  43. T. Avatar
    T.

    Happy tears when reading this. So glad for the two of you that you can experience the birth of your little girl together! Best of luck!

    Like

  44. Jessica Lauton Avatar

    Yay! I’m so happy for you guys. I almost never comment on here, but I come every day. I follow the story of you for some time and is so inspiring! Thanks for sharing your joy and allow us to be inspired by your creativity and strength.

    Like

  45. Donya Avatar

    Best. Picture. Ever.
    So excited for you both!

    Like

  46. Linda Avatar
    Linda

    I only know you from your blog for the last year and a half. BUT I actually woke up this morning wondering if today was the day Paul was arriving home and if you had baby girl yet 🙂 🙂 this little thing called the internet draws us into lives and lets us see and share…. sending all positive energy and awesomeness to your family 🙂

    Like

  47. susan lew Avatar
    susan lew

    I am so happy for all of you.

    Like

  48. Lori Avatar
    Lori

    Tears of joy and triumph for you!! You made it (all three of you!) to this beautiful space in time where you can become a family together. Sending you love and light and well wishes. See you on the other side of motherhood. ❤

    Like

  49. Vanessa Avatar

    Yay, how exciting for you to be a family again. I don’t know how you did it alone through the bulk of your pregnancy but I am impressed as I too am currently pregnant and expecting my little one in 10 days. You are so much stronger than I would be in that situation. I hope all goes well for you in labor and I look forward to seeing some cute pictures of your little one soon! All the best.
    Vanessa from http://www.thelittlekicks.com

    Like

  50. Alyssa O Avatar
    Alyssa O

    I’m so happy for you! I hope your baby girl comes soon now! 🙂

    Like

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