Two days ago, I wrote a post about the gift that Mr. Handsome surprised me with last week. If you missed that post, be sure to go back and read it before continuing.
When I left off, I had returned home and seen something very large in our house that had not been there before.
“Did you buy me a treadmill?” I asked Mr. Handsome, in shock.
“A what?” he responded, as if he had no clue what I was talking about.
“A treadmill,” I repeated.
“That’s really weird,” he replied, still trying to sound confused. “Little Buddy and I went outside to swing for a few minutes while you were gone, and I guess someone must have snuck in and left it.”
Now I know what you’re thinking. What kind of husband buys his wife a treadmill? But don’t worry, this wasn’t Mr. Handsome’s way of telling me that I need to lose a few pounds. I had wanted a treadmill for the past year because I really enjoy exercising, and I like having options, especially in the winter when the weather is blah and going outside is not feasible. (Let’s be honest, going to the gym with a baby isn’t an option.) But treadmills are expensive, and we had both agreed that we should wait a while before making such a big purchase. So you can imagine how taken aback I was when I came home to find a treadmill in our house.
For a few days, Mr. Handsome continued to pretend that he had no idea where the treadmill came from. I didn’t mind not knowing, but I knew that someone had delivered it because our vehicles are too small, and I felt like I should thank that person. So we worked out a deal. I would bake Mr. Handsome a blueberry pie (one of his favorite desserts) and he would tell me the story behind the treadmill. I finished the pie late in the evening and actually forgot to ask him about the treadmill, until he reminded me the next day.
He and one of his coworkers had been talking about gift ideas for spouses, and Mr. Handsome had mentioned that he wanted to get me a treadmill at some point. Well, it turned out that one of his coworkers had a treadmill in her closet that she was looking to get rid of. Her husband wanted it gone so badly that he even offered to deliver it. They didn’t want to take money for it, but Mr. Handsome wanted to give them something, so they suggested $40. I could hardly believe it! Some people might say that a low price for a big item diminishes the value of the gift, but I’m a sucker for a good deal.
It turns out that the massage was just a way to get me out of the house so they could deliver the treadmill. Both surprises together were probably the most thoughtful thing that anyone has ever done for me (aside from the elaborate beach engagement that Mr. Handsome planned four-and-a-half years ago). It’s not about the amount of money spent–it’s about the amount of time and thought that a person puts into something simply because they know how happy it will make you.
What was the most thoughtful gift (whether or not it was a surprise) that you have ever received?
Last Friday, Mr. Handsome came home from work with an announcement: “Tomorrow at 11:00 in the morning, I have a surprise for you.”
“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” (Benjamin Franklin)
One of our readers asked us if we believe in the idea of being debt-free. We decided that would be the perfect topic for a vlog (embedded below). After you watch it, feel free to share your thoughts on the topic. Do you believe in living debt-free, or are there things for which going into debt is permissible?
Happy Friday! As Little Buddy approaches his five-month milestone, we want to hear your thoughts on sleep training. Since he was born, our routine has always been to wrap him up in his soft blanket, turn on a TV show, and let him fall asleep all cuddled up to us. (Mr. Handsome is usually the one to put him to sleep, while I get things done or relax.) Then once he is fully out, we swaddle him and put him to bed.
Back in 2015 and 2017, I released posts titled “Ask Ellie” and “Ask Ellie 2.0.” Tons of readers submitted questions, and I answered them in blog posts and videos. Since it’s been a while, I wanted to do another “Ask Ellie” post.
Merry Christmas to all of my wonderful blog readers! How are you celebrating? What I love about holidays like Christmas, New Year’s, and Easter is that they are celebrated by people across the world, each with their own traditions. It’s just really neat to me to think about millions (if not billions) of folks from different countries and backgrounds, although thousands of miles apart, all focused on the same thing at the same time.
With my due date less than four weeks away, we are nearing the end of this pregnancy journey and are very ready to meet our son. I’m also eager to have labor, delivery, and recovery behind me. Mr. Handsome and I have chosen to deliver our baby at a hospital under the care of a nurse midwife. I have had a few minor complications during pregnancy that likely won’t cause any issues during labor, but in case something comes up, we like the idea of having access to emergency care.
Throughout my pregnancy, countless people have asked if I have had any cravings, and the answer has always been no. With morning sickness, certain foods (like fruit and carbs) have been easier to eat than others, but I haven’t found myself desperately desiring something specific. In the past few days, however, another common pregnancy “phenomenon” has hit me in a big way: Nesting.