The Daily Hailey

Oh man. Finding out we were pregnant was just a riot. It was a total surprise. Victorious and terrifying. Conceiving after a long stretch of trying carries more pressure, I’m sure some of you can relate to that. Because how devastating would it be to lose it after aaaaall that trying?!  Its just different.

I found out towards the end of August. It was my first light test that actually darkened the next day. 

I had bought a huge box of dip strip tests off of amazon at the beginning of this all. I never thought I’d see the bottom of that box, but sure enough, I had so few tests left. I had decided that, once they ran out, I’d just leave it. No more early testing. Only if my cycle was truly late or I was SO sure this was finally it. 

I took a test a few days early on August 24th, and got a brief glimmer of hope. But these horrible tests have given me brutal disappointment in the past. I had seem many a light line that turned out to be nothing, so I didn’t read too far into it. 

Until the next day, when I tried another test, and that line was there again. Still really faint, but a bit darker than the day before. Even if it were lighter, though. Two faulty tests in a row? That wasn’t too terribly common. Cher was planning on coming over the next day, so the moment she caught wind of the possibility of this finally being it, she snagged me a pregnancy test. A real, reliable one that I didn’t have to interpret. A simple “yes” or “no” test. 

Once the kids were set up with breakfast that Monday, I texted her and she came over. I had saved my pee in a cup (glamorous, isn’t it?) and I opted to dip one more little dip strip test, just because. Just to see. I think I would’ve used the real one after regardless, but for whatever reason, it seemed important to try the cheapie first. And sure enough, it was a noticeable, pink, defined line. Still light, but not a squinter.
Ok ok ok, I was ready. Dip the stupid test already. So I did. Dipped it, capped it, and carried it back out to where we were sitting in my bedroom. And we waited. You really shouldn’t stare at that thing while you wait for it to answer you. It takes longer than the watched pot takes to boil, I’ll tell you that much. But as you know with the pot of water, it actually does boil, even if its watched, and a pregnancy test will answer, even if you stare at it. Sometimes, it even says YES!

Cher whooped and I fell right over, instantly in tears. We hugged and celebrated and it was just so awesome <3 I could not believe it. Of all cycles to conceive on, I would not have thought this would be the one! We were SO busy and SO stressed. I was in complete shock. 

As soon as I found out, I texted Jerilee, who hightailed herself over here with treats and celebration!! I spent a chunk of time with both my girlies that morning, brainstorming, trying to figure out what comes next. How to tell Brady, mainly. You’d think after trying for such a stretch, I’d already have pinpointed how I’d tell him. But the thing with trying and not conceiving is that it gets harder and sadder the longer it doesn’t work, and thinking about/planning that stuff hurts a lot. So I hadn’t. I hadn’t made any plans surround how things would look immediately after finding out. So we spent the day trying to figure it out. And it was worth the work of brainstorming and googling and YouTube watching and the like, because I think we came up with a great idea 🙂 It was this. 

I came home very casually after an evening out and told him I snagged him a shirt while at the mall. He was pretty casual right back, and didn’t seem very interested. We had to discuss everything else before he even thought to look at the soft grey shirt in his hands. He was SO surprised! He stared and stared some more, and then hugged me really big and we just stayed that way for a while. He was so so happy. <3 

Cher blessed us the next day with a quick photo shoot where we could be corny and celebrate and be a little couply. We had to be SO careful that no prying eyes through the windows could read his shirt! 

It was SUCH a happy day, and the next day and the next day and the next day. We were on cloud nine, so elated to be expecting a baby once again!

You know how there are kind of tiers of friendship? My mom is in my closest tier, easily. One of the BEST people I know. She was on the inside track all along, that we were trying to conceive and for one reason or another, it just wasn’t lining up. She listened, and ached along with me, when we’d talk about it. She was a wealth of encouragement and love, as she is in every aspect of our relationship. Which is why I was almost more excited to tell her about the baby than I was to tell Brady! The tricky thing about telling people but not telling the kids yet is that they’re older, and smarter, and they catch onto stuff easier. And they READ! Lol! So nothing written is safe. But we couldn’t wait too long to think of a creative way because we were just too antsy! The day after we had found out, mom invited me over for a date supper at her house, and I knew I couldn’t hold out. So we loaded the kids up into the van just so Brady could come drop me off. We made up some lame excuse as to why, and he drove me over. Tucked under his hoodie was his “Father of six” shirt. Once he was out of the kids view and around the corner, he zipped his hoodie and we went to greet mom. 

And bless her heart, she just did NOT see it!! I kind of put my hand on his chest and tried to draw her attention there, but no dice. Finally I just jokingly started stroking his chest and she laughing and teasing us about needing alone time, haha! Anyway, finally she glanced down, and it took a split second for her to read it. 

I have NEVER heard my mom scream that way. She was SO excited. She shrieked, and stepped back from us, covering her mouth, eyes wide. They got all wet, and filled with tears, like in cartoons. Mom finally breathed out and the hug party began! We celebrated like maniacs in the entrance of her house for a few minutes before Brady had to zip his hoodie back up and head out with the kids. I’m SO relieved we could tell my mom when we did, because it sure added to the conversation that evening 🙂 I love my people, and I love when they’re excited with us!!

And I love when they stand behind us when things are less exciting <3 Both types of support are equally important.