Sharing the News With Kelly

Many of you reading this blog probably already know that my older sister, Kelly, is also pregnant. Kelly is due mid-October and we are so excited for her and Jason. On Kelly's 32nd birthday she found out she was having a girl, Ramona Marie. And of course, any of you who know Kelly know that she loves a good countdown chain. So I couldn't resist incorporating her countdown for Ramona in my announcement to her about our pregnancy.

On Sunday, August 28th Kelly was just 52 short days away from Ramona's due date. I chose this date to tell Kelly about our little bundle, because on Sunday, August 28th I would be also be at 52 days...just counting from the opposite end. :) Like two ships passing in the night. It was the perfect point of exchange.

For weeks I didn't call Kelly because I was so excited to share my news I was worried I would spill the beans early and ruin my genius announcement idea. So on Sunday the 28th you can imagine the anxiety and excitement I had as I called and the phone rang.......rang.........rang. It took FOREVER before she answered. And, of course, I couldn't just blurt it out, I had to wait for the right moment in the conversation to refer to the email I had already sent her just seconds before calling, which meant there would be a lot of talking before I could get to the good stuff.

Anthony was sitting across from me, ready with the video camera. After about 20 minutes of our jabbering he started to realize it could be a long wait before I could lead into the announcement. And then, at last, my chance came up.
Betsy- "Kelly did you know it's only 52 days until Ramona is here?"
Kelly- "Oh my gosh, that's so crazy"
Betsy- "Anthony and I are so excited about it we wrote you a poem. You need to pull up your email and read it."
Kelly- "Send it to me and I'll read it later when we're driving back home"
Betsy- "Uhhhhhh....no, you need to read it now." 

It took some persuading, but she was eventually convinced it would be in her best interest to read the poem now. (A little back history here....Kelly and I love to celebrate holidays, or really anything, in poem. It's just our thing. And, well, we're good at it. I mean really, I don't understand why Hallmark hasn't heard of us yet.)
So Kelly opens her email to discover this little jem....

52 DAYS!!!

It's a special day, number fifty-two
And here is a story about me and you
You've had a countdown for quite some time
And we both like to celebrate in rhyme

So Auntie Betsy would like to say
She's so excited about the baby on the way
The countdown for Ramona is so much fun
And in fifty-two days you'll be done

But you see dear sister, fifty-two for me
Means you'll be the Aunt of Armstrong number three
The special part of our day fifty-two
Is the beginning for me and the end for you

It was received by a "SHUT UP!!! Oh my gosh, can I tell Jason!?!" on the other end of the line. :) Just what I wanted. You can always count on Kelly for the perfectly fulfilling dramatic response. :)