The Day before {Poppy} - One Year Later.

The Day Before Poppy

***This post was done the day before I went in for my induction. Since I didn't share with everyone that I was being induced for a few different reasons, I waited until now to post it!***
I woke up around 6am this morning when Benny got up for work. My boss threw in the towel yesterday and told me to be done working. At first I wanted to tell her that I'd work one more day - I don't want to spend any days without my baby - but in the end, I'm glad I had today off just to relax and prepare myself the best I can for tomorrow.

I cleaned the microwave, organized underneath the TV (husband throwing video games everywhere..ugh), put away the dishes, cleaned out the food pantry, and watched last week's episode of SYTYCD all before the doctor called.

My nurse called around 9 am. I was a little disappointed as I was expecting it to be my doctor, but my nurse is really cool (and happens to be my neighbor) so I was okay with it. She knew that I didn't want to hear about the induction but at this point I had accepted that Poppy was not about to come without a little help and when I had left the doctor on Friday, he had said I'd be coming in Tuesday morning at 6am if no baby came over the weekend.

But when we ACTUALLY made the plan ... it was too real for me. I got a little shaky, a little emotional, and started running around like a chicken with my head cut off. A baby? Tomorrow? For real? I've only had .. oh, 9 months .. to prepare for this. Although, I know you can't really prepare for what lies ahead.

I had this vision of having a baby that looked like this. In the middle of the night my water would break all over. I'd wake Benny up screaming and we'd speed to the hospital - both looking like hell. We'd forget to grab the hospital bags. We'd bust through the emergency room doors and I'd have to be taken by wheelchair to the OB department where there'd be lots of chaos and pain and more pain and more chaos and then after several hours, out would come Poppy and we'd live happily ever after. (This could have been a movie!)

Now I was suddenly faced with being able to have clothes all set out to wear to the hospital (because that's important since I'll be changing immediately into a gown), our bags will be in the car, there will be no rushing to call family or friends to let them know we're on our way (or the hospital for that matter), my legs will be shaved (also, because that's important and anyone will notice). We'll get to the hospital and walk through the front entrance and check-in and then walk to the OB department where my doctor will calmly explain everything and we'll start the induction. And then hopefully sometime tomorrow we will finally be a mommy and daddy to this little Poppy we've been dying to meet.

I think I might have handled scenario one better because it would have left me no time to think about it. However, from the very beginning of this being pregnant thing, I knew that I'd have to have an open mind when it got to this point so I'm going in with the most positive attitude that it will go smoothly and we'll be holding our baby in no time.

It feels a lot like the night before our wedding (although, I wasn't about to experience a traumatic amount of pain then) - you knwo you're getting married, yet it doesn't seem real. I know I'm having a baby tomorrow, but it still hasn't hit me that I'll be holding this real live human being.
I just keep thinking .. this will be our last night at home just the two of us, our last supper as the two of us.. it's very surreal. And I mean this all in the best of ways. Sure, I'm slightly completely terrified for tomorrow's events, but the thought of seeing this tiny little baby we have created for the very first time and seeing the look on my very best friend's face as he becomes a daddy will be enough to take away all the pain in the world. I am certain it will be love at first sight and it will only get better from there.

I keep telling myself God has prepared me for this day. He wouldn't have put this miracle in my tummy if he didn't think I could handle it. I know it won't be easy - I know it'll hurt - I know I'll be scared, but this is what God made our bodies for and somehow I'll push through it and Poppy will arrive. We pray that our baby has grown to be a healthy little one in my tummy over the last nine months and will have an easy entrance into this big world.


So here's to my last blog as a pregnant woman... Bring it on, motherhood! 

Trice's {Cheerio} Bash

I really like LOVE parties! Mostly, I like planning them and dreaming of them. When it comes to the actual "putting it all together" stage, I panic and become very stressed. Trice's 1st Birthday party was no exception. I have been thinking about his party for a long time. I just think Birthdays are a huge deal and should be celebrated. Usually Benny goes along with my plans but thinks they are extremely excessive. However, he grew up with the most kick-ass Birthday parties and insisted that Trice's be the same. No pressure or anything, right? So pretty much every idea I had, he thought was awesome. 

There are 2 things that make my love for party-planning a bit difficult, stressful, and expensive. 1. We have no crafty-type stores (aka Hobby Lobby) in our town. 2. I'm not crafty. This means I have to dedicate an entire day to going to the city to buy every crafty supply I might possibly need because I won't have a chance to go back (translation: buy the whole store and "return" what you don't need but actually never return it). It also means I rely A LOT on etsy to make my visions come to life. I heart Etsy. I don't heart Etsy's prices. And also, you have to plan in advance. I'm more of a 10 minutes before go time kinda gal. 

**I had never really discovered Dollar Tree before this party. Now, it is officially my best friend - sorry to my human besties. But seriously - everything is $1. It could be dangerous.**

Anyway, Trice's party turned out exactly like I envisioned. Sure, I didn't get the life-sized Cheerio photo prop painted and we didn't get the "name that lunch" game assembled and we didn't print the monthly pictures for the frame or make his first year poster, but other than that I think I got it all finished. And really, who needs a life-sized Cheerio prop anyway!?

I had lots of different ideas for Trice's Birthday and luckily we decided we'd have 2 parties, so I could choose 2 themes. We narrowed it down to 3 and then decided to pick the two things Trice loves most -- Cheerios and Wheels on the Bus. So here's the big Cheerio bash and all the deets ... Yum!

The Invites

There were two different versions - with a removable picture for guests to keep. I'll share the whole Cheerios photo shoot in another post. Imagine the dot on the "i" as a cheerio -- I forgot to do it for the picture. 

 The "King's" Throne

Bib - Gift from cousin, Banner - Made by Me, Crown - Etsy

Favors

Bowl with a mini bag (who knew they don't make mini boxes anymore?) of cheerios, a spoon, and a straw! 

The Food

**To this second, it bothers me that the tables aren't centered in front of the banner. At that point, I was told to "let it go." Ha! Thank goodness for friends who know you so well.**

We had cheerio bars, trail mix, fruit, donuts in powdered sugar, and cake!

Bowl of Cheerios in Milk (Aka donuts and powdered sugar)

Little Chalkboard Pails -- Dollar Bin at Target. Have I ever mentioned how I want to buy the entire Dollar Bin section?

Decor

Happy Birthday Banner made by yours truly

I, unfortunately, didn't get a picture of this table once it was all ready to go .. but you get the idea.

ONE - Letters purchased at Hobby Lobby and I did the ribbons.

Pictures of Trice for the guests to take home

Rather than a guestbook, we had each guest put their predictions for what Trice would be when he grows up in a jar. We are going to save it (or attempt to save it) until he really is grown up and see if anyone is correct. We couldn't resist and read them out loud at the party .. it was pretty funny!

Mason Jars (left over from Robyn's wedding) filled with cheerios and Number 1 candles (on clearance at Walmart) 

Picture of sweet little Trice as a newborn

View of the party

The Cakes

A Cheerios box, of course. Made by Sweet Desires bakery in Corning. I received SO many compliments on how delicious it was. I should have ordered a bigger one so we had leftovers!

I did the one myself - pretty proud. ;)

Give me that cake, guys!

Outfit

So, I totally ordered Trice an outfit for his party. And then, I decided it didn't match the theme and that was a deal breaker. So the night before we left, I threw together this onesie with the "O" looking like a cheerio. 10 minutes before the party I decided it didn't look good and re-made it. OCD much?! 

I don't sew, and I have no intentions of Trice wearing this for anything again - so washing it isn't a concern of mine. I used fabric from walmart, a white onesie he had in in drawer, and fabric glue pens -- much better than fabric glue you squeeze.

The Cake Smash

Guys, what are my cheerios doing on here?!

I'll just pick them off..

Yay, I ate a cheerio!

No time for pictures, folks, there are cheerios on this thing!

Grandma and Grandpa

Love this picture!!

Hey, guys, the show is over here...

SEriously, all eyes on me, please!

The end result.

Trice wanted Uncle Jake to have his own smash cake because he graduates next weekend! Congrats Uncle Jake!

Misc. Deets

We played a Trice trivia game - this was a lot of fun. It was funny to hear some of the answers. Obviously, some of the questions were easier than others. 

We also had a kid's corner with lots of toys and a slideshow to keep everyone entertained! 

We had so much fun at the party and will remember it forever. This has been an amazing year for us -- we are so blessed. We are so thankful for all our friends and family who came to celebrate with us. We seriously would not have survived this year without you. Your love and kindness continues to amaze us. :) 

Happy Birthday Party, sweet baby boy. You are the greatest blessing we have ever received. You have made this last year one we will never forget and we look forward to many, many more Birthday parties.

Now on to the Wheels on the Bus party ... I have approximately 2 days to get everything ready ... entering stress mode - tomorrow!

Retire the Red {Raiders}

The school Nick and I attended growing up is consolidating with another school next year, so the town put together a big "Retire the Red Raider" celebration. We planned Trice's Birthday party for the same weekend so we could enjoy the festivities. We had the BEST time; I'm so sad it's over. There was a lot going on and we didn't participate in all of it, but we stayed plenty busy and got to see a lot of people we haven't seen in awhile. I love being home .. and usually never want to leave. This weekend was no exception. 

Friday night we ate pizza from my favorite pizza place -- Breadeaux. I have 2 rules about going home -- 1. Must eat pizza at Breadeaux. 2. Must get my favorite donut from the bakery. 

We stayed up way too late chatting with family and then Trice did something completely crazy - HE SLEPT ALL NIGHT. Yep. 11:30-7. Don't worry, it was a total fluke - but we'll take it. :)

Saturday morning we woke up bright and early and headed into town. We checked out the vendor fair where they were selling the old jerseys from our school. We were sad they didn't have Nick's jersey, but we did find my brothers. We went to the bakery and got donuts (and then I sat on frosting and it was caked into my black yoga pants which I wore up and down main street... not like every person I have ever known saw me or anything..) and picked up Trice's cake. 

The boys in their red & black

Our Babysitter

We stopped to catch a few bubbles from cousins Kelsey and Katie...

Then it was off to line up for the parade. I definitely felt like it was back in the good old days of Homecoming! I miss cheerleading so much. I wore one of Lauren's cheerleading shirts because most of my wonderful cheer memories involve her and I even used one of her old poms. I know she would have LOVED getting another chance to cheer in the parade so I was glad she could be a part of it! 

Me, Auntie Joyce, Cousin Haley and little man ready to cheer in the parade!

Benny playing sax in the alumni band

I, of course, had to stop along the parade route to chat and got a little behind the other cheerleaders!

Our Family in our REd & Black after the parade

After the parade we stopped and chatted with a few friends and I got to see some babies I hadn't seen in awhile or had never met. We found Amanda and little Kinsey and let the babies be reunited. 

Kinsey is SO darn cute!

Nuzzling Trice!

Trice playing hard to get

Hug it out.

Baby Kisses -- oh so sweet!

We enjoyed a delicious barbecue meal - Trice loved his pulled pork sandwich. The beans? Not so much. Then we headed down to a little ceremony at Lauren's tree. Our friend, Ashlee, read a couple poems in honor of Lauren as a way to include her in their class reunion - another event Lauren would have LOVED attending.  

In Memory of Lauren Anderson

Trice approves.

Just trimming the tree

I'm SO big! 

Trice was easily entertained wrestling uncle Adam..

Ashlee read two sweet poems to honor Lauren ... A few of us have bad allergies and needed a kleenex.. 

I'm sure Lauren was smiling great big that we were there on a nice day enjoying each other's company!

Some of Lauren's classmates

We drove 4 hours to hang out with our neighbors. :)

Ryan, Lisa, and Doug

Did I mention Trice enjoyed it?!

Hey, What's in there?!

We went back to my aunts house and Trice and I fell asleep. Then it was off to the pool with grandma Donna and uncle Adam. It was a little chilly, but Trice still LOVED it. Another item to cross off his summer bucket list.

Because you are never too old for water slides .. I always say!

I know you all are SO jealous I snagged this one all those years ago... 

After the pool, we headed back to Main Street for the "official" retiring of the Red Raider. Trice got to climb on cousin Hayden...

 Benny played in the "Red Raider Trivia" game

And played in the alumni band!

We enjoyed some tacos at my aunt's house and then headed to bed so we could wake up bright and early for the big Birthday party!!! That post to come soon (after I sort through the 500 pictures!)

It was a wonderful weekend at home like always. I love being around family and friends and I really do miss living there and the "old" days!