Carolyn Hiykel: July 2011

August 2010 your mom found out she was pregnant with you. She ran outside to tell your dad, who was mowing the lawn at the time. He said that it was great. Your mom got to work learning about the best foods to eat when pregnant so a baby grows smart and strong. She researched the best baby gear to buy for you. She went to look at A LOT of cribs before finding the perfect one for you.

Dad putting together your crib from Baby Grand.

Bailey, getting comfortable in your room while Dad works.

Later in August your mom went to the doctor. They told her that the baby would be born around April 2. Your mom also got to listen to your heartbeat for the first time then. The first time she heard your heart she got a big smile on her face and couldn’t stop giggling. Every time she giggled it made it harder for the doctor to hear you, but she couldn’t stop.

Mom and Dad were very excited to tell people you were going to be born. Your grandparents were the first people told. They were extremely happy, because they had been waiting to finally have a grandchild. Your dad’s friend Pat was the first friend they told, and your mom’s friend Katie Ryan was the first friend she told. She had to tell her because Katie was getting married soon after you were born, and your mom was the matron of honor. Your mom warned Katie that they better start dress shopping before her tummy got too big!

Once everyone knew that you were going to be born, everyone started making guesses about whether you would be a boy or a girl. Most of their friends thought you were going to be a boy. Your mom even thought at first that you might be a boy—she had several dreams that she had a boy baby! Your mom’s students also loved to make guesses as to what you would be. They would come up to her and ask her all the time if she had found out if you would be a boy or a girl. She kept telling them she hadn’t yet. Many of them said that they couldn’t wait until they knew–which made your mom laugh because she was the one who could hardly wait!

Finally, in the middle of December, your mom and dad went to a special doctor’s appointment. They did an ultrasound. It told them that you were healthy, and the lady doing the ultrasound said you were definitely a girl! The first thing your mom and dad did when they left the doctor’s was tell your grandparents. Then your mom had to go to graduate school. She had a very hard time focusing on class that night because your mom really wanted to go buy baby girl outfits. The only store still open after class was over was Target, so she went and picked out one little baby girl outfit.

Over the next week or so, your mom bought several more little outfits. She could hardly wait for you to be here to wear them!

Mom and Dad got married January 24, 2004. They met at a party after a concert, when your mom was 22 and your dad was 26. They were both there with friends, but as soon as they met they only talked to each other the rest of the night. For their first date, your dad took your mom to the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Rainbow (Asian food restaurant), and they watched The Jungle Book.
They got engaged on 3/3/03. Your dad tried to think of a creative way to propose, but he finally was so excited that he ended up giving your mom the ring right after he bought it. He couldn't wait!

They lived at 2112 31st Ave S in Minneapolis. This was your first home. It was also your Grandpa Mark's first home back in the 1940s. Your Great-Grandma Phyllis was born in the house and also married here. There have been numerous wonderful memories in this house over the past 100 years. Your mom was so happy to have another baby--you--be a part of it's history.

Mom and Dad dancing at a palace in Florence, Italy

Mom and Dad always knew they wanted to have a baby. Before you were born they enjoyed a lot of hobbies, and they kept busy with work and play. They traveled to Italy (twice), France, San Francisco, Las Vegas, visited your great-grandma Helen Hiykel in Omaha, and went to Bay Lake. Your dad played drums in a band. The band played in clubs around the Twin Cities, and won an internet contest and got flown to a show in Austin, Texas. Your mom was busy with her job teaching music. She took choir students on tours to New York, Chicago, and Madison. She went to graduate school at the University of St. Thomas, and got a master's degree, principal license, and worked on a doctorate. For one of her favorite classes they flew to Washington D. C. and learned a lot about our country's history and government.