The Announcement

Buzz Baby is a column about life with little ones. Writer Annie McQueen is a mother of four children under the age of 9.

Announcing a pregnancy to the world can be one of life’s sweetest and most memorable moments. 

For one Buzz couple, sharing the news of their first pregnancy was double the fun. In July 2018, Katie and Kyle Garoni attended what they thought would be a routine ultrasound appointment, blissfully unaware that their lives were about to take an unexpected turn. They waited anxiously for the appointment, excited to deliver the news to their families.

As the ultrasound technician began to scan, the couple's initial nerves turned to astonishment when she disclosed that not one, but two babies were on the way. “Twins,” Katie says she can still hear over and over. Their lives forever changed in that appointment. Kyle recalls the shock as well. “I have never experienced anything like that before,” said Kyle. 

They left, excited to tell the world. Recovering from the initial shock, the couple eagerly resolved to share their news with their loved ones creatively rather than just making a phone call. Katie picked up a book on what to expect with twins, and started to think of fun ideas.

They decided to make the twin announcement a family affair with a twist. They handed out wine bottles as a gift to each of their family members. At first glance, it seemed like a straightforward gift – however, each bottle had a wine label with tiny baby feet, which Katie had ordered custom-made from Etsy.

Later, they asked everyone to gather at their house for a gender-reveal party. Katie enlisted the help of her sister, Jenny Mueller, to set the plan in motion. The reveal would involve not one cake, but two. Jenny called the bakery to place the orders.

With family gathered and cameras rolling to capture every emotion, the moment of truth arrived when Kate and Kyle cut into the cake, revealing pink. “It’s a girl!” Everyone was smiling and hugging. 

Moments later, they brought out a second cake, and everyone gasped when they saw it was adorned with a sign that read “It’s twins.” Shock and excitement filled the room, leading to a burst of excitement with laughter and tears. 

The twins, Avery Michelle and Hazel Grace, made their debut at Texas Children’s Hospital in early January 2019, marking the beginning of the parenting chapter for the Garoni family. The twins are now approaching their fifth birthday. Katie says twin life has not always been easy as an introduction to parenting, but she feels grateful that she knew it was twins so early on. This was a luxury her great-aunt did not have when she unexpectedly welcomed fraternal twins in the 1960s. “She did not know she was having twins until she delivered,” said Katie. 

The Garoni family recently shared more exciting news about the impending arrival of a baby boy in early 2024.  

When it came time to tell Kyle’s family about this pregnancy, they wrote the news inside a Father’s Day card. The baby news left them ecstatic, and even with a little bit of disbelief that there could be more after the initial surprise of twins. For Katie’s family, they chose a sentimental date to break the news – her late grandfather's birthday. At Jax Grill, one of their favorite spots, the girls walked in proudly wearing Big Sister shirts. 

It took a moment for the news to register, but when it did, the room erupted with joy. Katie says the biggest comment echoing through the room, was “Are you sure there’s just one?!"

Some say it takes a village to raise a child, and Katie recalled the support that filled their lives after they announced they were going to welcome two. They had waited five years to expand their family after marriage and it was sure to be a big change doubling their family size overnight.

During the pre-daycare days, family and friends took shifts, ensuring that Katie had the help she needed before returning to work. Diapers and clothes arrived as if on cue, easing the burden of ordering all the gear. The Garoni family found themselves blessed by the overwhelming generosity of their loved ones.

As they eagerly anticipate the arrival of their baby boy, the Garonis reflect on a journey that has been defined by love and support and some memorable pregnancy announcements with family. They are memories to cherish for a lifetime.