The Surprise

I like, no LOVE, good surprises.

Most people who know me are shocked that I didn't/don't want to know the gender of the baby before delivery. I am usually categorized as a person who likes to have things mapped out, organized, planned, orderly, and done exactly the way I want - except when it comes to surprises. I am still over the moon that I had no clue, not one inkling that Aaron was going to propose when he did. I was shocked! I am forever thankful for that. I have a knack of being able to figure things out before I'm supposed to.

At Christmas or around my birthday, Aaron will say, "Hayley, don't look in the top drawer of my bedside table. You have gift there." I tell you, you'd have to come at me with a hot branding iron to get me to look. In fact, he could tell me not to look, and then wrap the gift sitting right beside me - and - I promise I would not even peek. If I saw, it would be an accident, and I would cry. Seriously. I don't want to know. Then, he has to remove all traces of the gift because I find things I don't want to see. Like receipts. Like sacks from the store where he purchased the gift. Then I am sad because I didn't want to know.

That brings me to this ultimate surprise. There is not one human being who knows for sure the gender of this little baby. Not one. Only God knows. There is no need to hide anything from me. No receipts, no boxes, no sacks. There is no need to tell me not to look somewhere. It is more than the anticipation for a Christmas gift. It is more than the excitement of a birthday gift. It the ultimate surprise!

P.S. Sometimes at Christmas or on my birthday, I am almost sad to open a gift because the anticipation and the surprise is over. Not this time. I am SO ready to feast my eyes on, hold, cuddle, love on, and kiss this surprise.

4 weeks/1 month/28 days to Go...

Up until 8 months ago, I thought babies were born NOW - at approximately 36 weeks or 9 months. I mean there is even a movie entitled, Nine Months. As I grew up, it was 9 months - the baby is coming... I have decided it is a conspiracy. A horrid, mean conspiracy. A gal thinks she is going to have a baby in 9 months, and then, "No, honey, it is actually 10 months."

Well, no matter, the fact that tomorrow starts the month of March makes me feel like I'm finally getting somewhere. Hallelujah!

Yay!

Way to go Joannie! I actually agree with the gold, silver, and bronze medal winners in the ladies' figure skating competion! I also agree with who got 4th! (I do think that Rachael Flatt was underscored to get 7th place.) Scotty Hamilton is the sweetest commentator ever. I love it when he gets so into the skating that he gets emotional.

Do any of you watch Psych? Prince Humperdinck was in this week's episode!

I love that movie. Favorite quote:
"Think it'll work?"
"It would take a miracle."

More Olympic Thoughts

One of many, many reasons I love the Olympics is to hear the names of all the competitors.
My Favorite Names of the Games 2010:
Torah Bright (Australian snowboarder) - just a cool name!
Aksel Lund Svindal (Norwegian skier) - I enjoy saying it & how it sounds!

(No, we don't plan on using either of those names for this little one we're having in less than 5 weeks.)

Figure Skating:
I'm so sad for Tanith (hers was a fave name from 2006) and Ben in ice dancing. I have to say, though, that ever since the US National Championships I knew they would have trouble if they didn't change their free dance. For the record, they should have at least beat the Russians for bronze. Would someone please hire me as a judge so it could be done correctly? At least they got the Evan Lysacek gold medal awarded correctly.

I don't know how ANYONE could have watched Joannie Rochette from Canada skate last night without bawling or at least tearing up. I'm rooting for her to get a medal of any color!

Other sports:
The downhill skiing has been super fun to watch!
Last night, the announcers were telling the story of Holland's speed skater, Sven Kramer, getting disqualified and losing the gold medal due to his coach's error. I looked at Aaron and said, "That man (the coach) will have to go into hiding so he doesn't get killed." A bit later Bob Costas said that the coach might need to go into the Witness Protection Program. That is one of many times during the Olympics I've "called" it right before the pros mention it. Maybe if they don't hire me as a figure skating judge, I could take Andrea Kramer or Mary Carillo's spot in broadcasting. {I have to admit that Aaron and I don't care for either one of those ladies...}

Olympic Favorites So Far

You know me and figure skating...
{Aaron even proposed on ice!}
Anyway - I love, love, love the long program outfit/costume of Aliona Savchenko (pairs) of Germany. It is hard to see the back, but she has light pink rosettes. Lovely.

I love the American snowboarders pants - they look like ripped up jeans, but from what I can tell, they aren't really denim. So snowboardy.

I loved watching Hannah Kearney win the gold medal on moguls.
I loved watching Seth Wescott win the gold in snowboard cross. (pictured above)
I love watching Apolo Ohno.

GO USA!

My Forever Valentine

"The spaces between my fingers are right where yours fit perfectly."
-Vanilla Twilight by Owl City
















{Photo by Christy Martin}

Can You Hear It?!?!

It is the Olympic Fanfare!
GO USA!
Can I tell you that I will be watching as much Olympic glory as is possible!?!?
I love the Olympics!
I love the amazing feats of athleticism.
I love the stories behind every athlete.
I love that I got to be there with my mom at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Utah.
Remember the pairs figure skating controversy with Jamie Salé & David Pelletier of Canada and Yelena Berezhnaya & Anton Sikharulidze of Russia?
We witnessed it IN PERSON.
The Canadians were clearly the gold medal winners.

In case you are wondering...
If I were an Olympian I'd be a speed skater. I love figure skating the most, but my body would be more suited for speed skating. (Just like I'd be a running back in football...but that's neither here nor there...)

Baby Quilts

If the baby is a girl...

If the baby is a boy...

*The baby quilts have been officially completed since Monday. Yay!
*I created the design and pattern myself. It isn't that complicated, but I'm thrilled with them.
*I taught myself how to do free motion quilting.
*I did every last stitch, cut, & snip by myself.
*I hope they get worn out with love!
{Emphasis on myself - because I want the baby to know the quilts were made with love and with every stitch I was thinking of him or her! I've already told the baby this several times! }
{The one that doesn't get used this time will be saved...}
{I love them both so much that even if we never have a chance to use one of them, that's okay - I l.o.v.e. how they turned out, and I will keep it forever!}
{Yep, I went with lots of polka dots! I heard Aaron tell Fletcher, "If mommy made you a quilt, I'm sure it would have polka dots."}
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I have also sewn a few other things that won't be shown until the baby is born...I'm overly excited about them!

I am slowing down...every day it seems like things get a bit harder to do and take a bit longer to do them.

I have LOVED my childbirth classes. The nurse/teacher is so fun, and all of the mamas want her as our labor and delivery nurse.

We got to tour where the little one will be born.

I was banned from reading anything more to do with pregnancy as I have an inclination to panic and overreact to things, so I have been reading up on parenting...with the knowledge that all babies are different and not to try to fit my baby to a certain mold.

I'm excited!

Showered with Blessings!

I can't begin to explain the love and support that Fairview MB Church has given to me in my lifetime. This past weekend was no exception. I am humbled, amazed, and overwhelmed at the generosity that my baby and I (and Aaron) received! It was so fun to open all the little baby gifts and dream of when I get to use them.

Sarah, my sweet cousin's daughter helped hand me gifts - she is a doll! Brooke, my sweet sister-in-law wrote down all the gifts and the givers! My sweet mom - one of the most excited grandmas ever, who also spoiled us rotten at the shower!
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{This was my first ever baby shower...given to me by the best coworkers a girl can have...Mesquite Junior High School...I miss them so badly! This was in October - my, my, my what a difference 4 months of pregnancy can do to a girl!}

Well, I Tried...

I tried to be upbeat and positive and cheerful when I saw the sun today.
I enjoyed it for a few hours from the inside of the house.
Then, I went outside.
The wind is blowing 7 million miles an hour.
I'm not exaggerating.
Then the clouds came back.
Hooray! (sarcasm)

THE SUN!

"Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy!" -John Denver
I miss a TON about Arizona.
If I get started on what I miss, I can't stop.
One of the things that I miss the most is the sun.
I love you, sun!
Thank you, Lord, for the sunshine.
The sun makes everything better and brighter and happier.

Last night, for some reason, I was singing, "The sun will come out tomorrow..." even though I didn't really think it would.
I've just had sun on the brain.
Then, this morning - before I did anything else, I opened the blinds to peek out (as I do everyday), and IT WAS SUNNY! Hallelujah!

Darling Baby

The anticipation mounts.
The excitement grows each day.
I can't wait to hold you in my arms
And kiss you and say...
Jesus loves you!
Mommy loves you!
Daddy loves you, too!
We cherish you,
And pray for you,
You Darling Baby, You!

[written by me/January 29, 2010]