Memorial weekend ‘12

Also Afton’s first camping trip. She was such a trooper, and slept so well in our tent. We however got snowed on and decided to come home a day early.

Mother’s Day

What a great first Mother’s Day, Afton was blessed by my dad and then we had a small lunch with my mom’s and David’s side of the family. I didn’t get a picture of just Afton in her dress, bad mom I know the whole day seemed so rushed and over before I realized it. She wore the same blessing dress I was blessed in- I loved that!

Pretties…

At 1 month old Afton got her toe’s painted for the first time. Bright pink with sparkles, because that’s how we roll. It took 3 of us to hold her still, when we started she was asleep however that didn’t last.

Easter 2012

Easter party at my mom’s house. Colored eggs, ate pizza, and decorated sugar cookies.

Easter Day spent at both Grandmas houses

April 1st 2012

Just a few of my favorite pictures!

March 6th 2012

I’ve been thinking about this post for a long time. Things I wanted to include and other things I wanted to keep private or not out for the world anyway. I read another mothers blog that was very to the point with details but still great and decided I am ready to share the birth of Afton Paige with you.

The Tuesday morning started out with a 8:50 doctor appointment, I was 37 1/2 weeks along and down to weekly visits. My blood pressure was extra high (it had been creeping up over the past few weeks) and I had a trace of protein in my urine so the doc decided to do a non-stress test, in which the baby looked great, I also had an ultra sound to check the fluid levels where they confirmed fluids were great, heartbeat was great and our little bundle was still in fact a girl. He also completed a blood test just to make sure everything was in fact ok. Other than that the visit was very routine, he checked me and I wasn’t dilated or thinning. Looking back I didn’t feel “great” like all the tests were showing but at the same time I didn’t feel horrible and I had such an excellent pregnancy I figured this was just part of the final weeks. After my appointment I headed home for a nap, when my sister called she could tell I was beat and scheduled me an appointment for a pedicure soon after my pampering there was a few last minute items I needed at the mall so I met my mom to pick those up (yes I realize I was suppose to be on bed rest). My mom and I were sharing a pretzel when I grabbed my phone because it was almost 5 and I knew David would be calling on his way home from work. Just as I got my phone out of my purse David called and in a panicked voice asked where I was, what I was doing, and why I wasn’t answering my doctor’s phone call. I laughed. I really thought he was joking. He immediately said something was wrong and I needed to go straight to the hospital. I hung up the phone with David and my doctor called again. He asked where I was and when I told him the mall he said “great you can meet me at eirmc in 5 minutes” then explained I had a rare but serious condition and he needed to deliver the baby asap. I was so scared, I asked if she was ok if everything would be alright and he said he would talk to me in person at the hospital. Little talking was done but I knew it was serious as nurses rushed around me. To make a very long story short and sweet I developed H.E.L.L.P Syndrome that caused my liver to elevate and my blood platelets to drop and the outcome was an emergency c-section done under general anesthesia so David couldn’t be in the OR with me. However, a perfect 7 lb 4 ounce 19 1/2 inch long perfect baby was born at 6:54 p.m. and no matter how scary and rushed it was I would do it all over again in an instant. Her sweet face made EVERYTHING worth it.

 

minutes after she was born. David was snapping pictures while I was “coming to” after dreaming about NSYNC and cursing before I even asked how my baby was.

Afton’s first bath.

patiently waiting to see my little girl, David brought me pictures while in recovery but I wanted the real thing

first family picture. I never realized how crappy I looked because I felt so happy. The morphine helped too.

We had lots of visitors and I regret not getting more pictures!

This picture was not an accident. This was the 2nd day I got up and moving and David is snapping picture of my butt in that sexy grandma gown, haha!

Our first day home. I just love this little girl!

Bed Rest…

As of yesterday I’m officially on bed rest until Afton Paige (yes that’s her name, no I’m not changing it again) gets here. I’m not sure what seems appealing about “bed rest” but everyone assumes it’s an exciting thing and I should be happy about it. I’m not however. I’m definitely following doctor’s orders because I know it’s not something to mess around with and I’ll do everything in my power to make this baby as healthy as possible. I’m not the type of person who can lay around all day. Okay, occasionally I’ve been known to not accomplish much but it seems like it’s far easier when it’s your idea rather than not an option. My blood pressure is extremely high but we’re passing all other tests as of now. Bed rest is just a precaution to ensure nothing else goes wrong because I’ve been told it can and in a hurry. So I’ll continue to go in weekly for check ups, ultrasound, and NST (non-stress test) and continue hoping the medication will control my blood pressure so I can carry this little wiggle worm full term.

Doctor seemed surprised when he mentioned the “bed rest” word and I began to cry. Apparently I’m a workaholic, not so much really but I like to do things on my terms and my body feels good enough to work at least a few days a week and lets be honest I don’t like being told what to do.

There’s my update. If you need me in the next few weeks I’ll be slowly making my way from my bed, to the couch, to a recliner. Reading Hunger Games, watching TV, facebook and blog stalking, and catching up on my baby magazines. Feel free to call me, text me, email me, and swing by a blue coconut cream slush and mozzarella sticks from Sonic anytime.

Quote…

I love, love, love this quote! Mostly because I’ve found that “someone” in my life and he’s oh so amazing. My hubby is good to me, and I know I’ve said it time and time again but better than I deserve- especially considering the hormones lately, poor guy! I can’t help but feel sorry for him and feel lucky to be me.

Also, because I dated some real idiots- seriously I cut one of those idiots hair just the other day and after that longest 15 minutes of my life was over all I could do was reminisce of the day HE broke up with ME. At the time all I could do was cry because I LOVED him and he was PERFECT. Looking back I was seriously wrong, he was an idiot then and turns out he still is- another one of those times I should have listened to my mother and she gets to refrain from the awesome saying “I told you so.”

I also really want this quote to be posted somewhere at my sisters wedding (one day) and I long for the day my wonderful sister reads this quote and really knows how it feels. I love my sister and she always finishes last with the dudes-speaking of idiots. Seriously! That was random.

Now if you’ll excuse me, that wonderful hubby I was speaking of earlier is taking me to:

and to see

oh I can hardly wait to see Mr Tatum on the big screen

Babysitting…

I was asked to babysit Ahliya while Enrique (Dave’s friend) went on a date. I was hesitant, for many reasons…

#1- I ‘watch/hangout’ with my nieces I don’t “babysit” and haven’t since I was… I dunno 15?

#2-This is DAVE’S friend, and children love DAVE- why on earth did I get the phone call?

#3- I was fairly certain I was incapable of entertaining a 3 year old for hours- dinner and a movie date… oh boy!

However, I don’t remember the last time Rico (aka Enrique) had any desire to take a girl on an actual date so guilt kicked in and I talked myself into agreeing.

David and I had some running around town and shopping to do and decided we could take her along, apparently we wore her out…

It was getting late, and quite honestly I was getting tired. I was laying down reading my book, David was watching tv and when I looked over to see what Ahliya was doing this is how I found her- laying on my heat/vibrating pad reading my 25,001 baby name book.

She is such a doll! We had fun, and I was so relived when her dad finally came to pick her up. Phew, that was a lot of work!

Quilting

Do you know I quilt? No? Oh, that’s because I don’t. I’ve never made/sewed a thing in my life- come to think about it in 7th grade I made a pillow actually. Anyway, on one of my vacation days my grandma insisted on doing a quilt for the baby, I didn’t decline. In fact my mom and I went and picked out THE cuties polka dot monkey fabric we could find and brought grandmas idea to life. Truth is my aunts, grandma, and mom did all the work, I literally pushed 1 tack into the board. That's my idea of quilting! We had lunch (spaghetti, grandma and I’s choice) and I ate pink sugar cookies, chatted, and read a baby magazine while they were hard at work.

darn sun… 3 of my aunts helping

after all their hard work they wanted a picture with me! My cute cousin pointed out this is a 4 generation picture ha… kinda! It is an adorable blanket made with lots and lots of love and I can’t wait to wrap our little girl in it and snuggle her to pieces.

5 years and counting…

In January I celebrated my 5th anniversary with Great Clips! Actually I didn’t celebrate at all but nonetheless I’ve been loyal to this wonderful company for 5 great years.

It seems like just yesterday I was graduating from beauty school and scared out of my mind. I remember feeling like I just went through a year of school and didn’t even know how to do hair. I never felt comfortable in color and knew there wasn’t enough money in the world to rub people feet for a living when I heard about Great Clips I thought it would be a good place to start- I was always best at cutting hair and it’s what I enjoy most. Do you know I got a $1000 sign on bonus just for choosing Great Clips, and half of my student loans paid? Amazing right?!

I really do love my job! I love the girls I work with and getting to know them on a personal level. I love how talented they are and how much we continue to learn from each other daily is unbelievable. I enjoy going to work everyday and although sometimes I do feel burnt out (with the management part) it only takes a few days away from the salon to remind me this is exactly where I should be in life and I’m content. So here’s to you Great Clips -and mostly the amazing stylists I work with- thanks for making my job easier just by being you! I hope to continue to learn and grow with this company and maybe one day be more in the management/business part of it and less in the hair cutting aspect.

#1 reason my husband is better than your husband…

Ok there is a lot of reasons but today the top reason is what he said before he left for work this morning, it went something like this. As he was tucking me into the sheets and rearranging my 7 (not an exaggeration) pillows just the way I like them he bent down kissed my cheek and said, “just relax today babe, I’ll help you with all the house work when I get home.” Amazing! That’s exactly what I needed to hear. Let me clarify, David doesn’t expect the house to be clean, shopping to be done, bills to be paid, and everything complete when he gets home but after 3 1/2 years of marriage he knows I spend my entire day off doing just that. He also knows that I’m beat physically, emotionally, and socially this pregnancy is finally taking a toll on me. It meant so much for him to say that and what makes it all even better is I know when he gets home he’ll help me do everything I ask and have on my honey-to-do list. As if that wasn’t good enough he called and invited to me up to have lunch with him! Do you know what I love more than lunch with my hubby on my day off? Nothing! Dave has been so good to me, better than I deserve to be treated seriously I’ve been a beast! I keep telling him one day I’ll be a better wife and hopefully after all these raging pregnancy hormones are out of me I can be just that. He is so good with kids, children love him and he always attracts them- everywhere we go! I’m excited and anxious to see what kind of a dad he’ll be with our baby girl.

(this is our friend Enrique’s little girl, Ahliya. We love her to death!)

While I’m tooting my own horn I’d also like to throw in I’ve been working 6 days a week this entire pregnancy equally 40+ hours/ week. And after last week those days are over until this baby is born. I’ve cried about it many times but truth is my body is exhausted and I’m burning myself out. I want to work right up until this little girl is born and I can’t wear myself out this early in the game. Everyone laughs when I tell them I’m cutting back to full time and 5 days a week. Apparently that’s what the ‘normal’ persons work week consists of… weird. I feel guilty scheduling my stylists 6 days a week and split shifts when I’m not doing it myself, I wasn’t raised to do anything half assed (excuse the language, I didn’t know how else to say it!) So there you have it. 7 weeks left is all we have and although I don’t feel ready, and I’m still not miserable enough for this pregnancy to be over I can’t wait to meet this little girl of ours. What a miracle, and I still don’t know what I did right to deserve this.

Just as a side note: I’m craving soda! Mountain Dew or Cherry Pepsi preferably. I’ve drank more soda in the last 7 months than ever before.

Vent session…

I have a few things to complain about. Turns out, I have many things to complain about but only a top few will make my list today.

#1-

I am an addict. I need medical attention. I check my facebook numerous times a day and think negative thoughts almost every time I do here’s an example: that quote was pointless, no I don’t want to play any of your stupid games, woo another diaper coupon, your boyfriend is an idiot, I don’t care you’re eating Olive Garden for lunch, I don’t care you have the day off, you have a dent in your car? get it fixed instead of post about it, eww I would never post a picture like that. And those just occurred. I deleted probably over 50 friends this morning and that felt good except I worry what people might think- since when do I care what others think, who knows? So if you read my blog and you are one I deleted, I’m sorry. Kind of. But just because you are/were my family/co-worker/neighbor/friend in high school doesn’t mean I need to read your lame updates and play by play of your life. In turn it also doesn’t mean I don’t like you I’ll still say hi when pass you at the grocery store. Phew… I wish that made me feel better, but it didn’t!

#2-

I debated on not filing taxes this year. Kidding, ok so I actually did until I thought about the consequences. I’m sick and freaking tired of seeing the ridiculous about of money withheld from David and I’s checks bi-weekly. It stresses me out and quite frankly pisses me off. If there was a break down of where it was going I may feel better, okay I’ll pay my state taxes and fix roads and blah blah but paying into social security when I’m fairly certain there will be nothing left in the pot when I am old enough to get my share peeves me. And please do not get me started on Medicaid. I’ll help the elderly, and the disabled but I don’t want to support low income families that have 5 bastard children and are actually better off then we are because they either lie to the system of they are too lazy to actually work for what they have. Grr… I should stop my blood pressure is going up and this is not the kind of day I want to have. Point being I feel David and I pay entirely too much into taxes and every single year we file we are relieved if we break even. I might also add they are holding the most out of both of our checks, we can’t catch a break. Remember last year I complained and asked the tax dude what we could do and he laughed (how dare he laugh!) and said “buy a house, and have a kid.” Well Mr. it wasn’t because of your suggestion but we happen to have one of those things done and the other cooking so I hope next tax season I’ll be boosting of this precious child that is also help in the dependent department.

Thanks for listening and have a great day!

How I spent my morning…

Hubby woke up an hour late for work. I may or may not have  secretly let him sleep in because he hasn’t been sleeping well the last few days and I sleep much better when he’s in bed. Oops! I then decided I would wake up at 8:30 and start my day… well kinda when hubs left for work I remembered I had pure deliciousness on my counter and poured a glass of milk and headed back to bed.

Have you been to Babe’s bakery? The desserts are so good! Their customer service is horrible! Seriously, I’ve NEVER been disappointed by the marshmallow/chocolate brownie and I’ve NEVER been treated kindly there. If any bakery in town was half as tasty as them I would not support them- that’s the honest truth!

Anyway, I laid in bed eating the brownie and no I didn’t share with anyone, the only reason there is 2 forks is because I can’t cross contaminate (yes I’m weird like that). While eating I watched CMT music videos- I love doing this but it’s so time consuming and when I decided it was probably time to get up and moving for the day baby girl decided to start wiggling/kicking/fist pumping/summersaults/ whatever she was doing in there she was going crazy- maybe she got a sugar rush? I took a few minutes to just sit and watch her move around- what a miracle! I feel so lucky to be bringing this precious life into the world and a part of me wonders what I’ve done to deserve this- we are so fortunate! So blessed! And although our lives will never be the same I’m looking forward to all the changes. It’s amazing the amount of love you can feel toward such a little human that you haven’t even met. I can’t wait to be a mommy!

Day so far=success! All before noon. I love days like this and have I mentioned I love vacation, because I definitely do! The plan for the rest of the day is: lunch with hubby, Wal-mart, some baby organizing and maybe rent a movie (or two) and sit on the couch and relax the night away. Be jealous

32 weeks…

This morning we got a 3-D ultrasound. Baby girl didn’t want to show us anything but her backside, after the ultrasound tech beat on my stomach long and hard enough she gave us a sneak peak of her precious little face and side profile- then she was over us invading her privacy. The lady said she looks chunky (oh great!) she has a round little face and loved her hands right up by her mouth (no sucking your thumb kid, I’m serious!). I was relieved to see a perfect little nose in all the pictures, unlike her mommas. But during the ultrasound there was a side view that made her nose look quite pointy… lets hope my eyes were seeing things.

As for me: I’m doing good. Exceptionally well I feel like. Still working full-time but looking to cut back to 5 days a week and maybe only 6-7 hour days (it’s been a long stretch of 6 days/week and overtime). I’ve had a little bit of swelling and apparently that’s normal and ok I just need to drink more fluids and elevate my feet. My belly is definitely getting big, and the bigger it gets the harder time I have sleeping. Luckily, I fall to sleep easy I just wake up a lot when I can’t get or stay comfortable.

As for David: he is doing good too. Getting excited and anxious for baby to come. He’s too cute when he talks to her. We’re already giving her a heads up on what we expect out of her and how she will and won’t behave. David accidently told her she didn’t have to do anything she doesn’t want to do, I interrupted and said unless your parents ask you to. He went to give my belly a kiss the other morning before he left to work and right as he leaned in she kicked him right in the mouth, I thought it was funny he was a little shocked- haha!

Last weekend while I was at work, David was busy doing this:

 

it’s just a sneak peek of what’s to come but I love it! I love pink! I hope my little girl isn’t a tomboy, but if she wants her room painted forest blue at the age of 6… well we will cross that bridge if and when it gets to that point.

Lately…

I’ve been thinking, and I think too much. I am aware of this, I worry too much as well. Mostly, I worry and think about things that I can not change- silly I know! As I’ve been cutting entirely too much hair there is one thing I keep thinking/worrying about and that’s baldness. Maybe because I worked with a girl who swears she started loosing hair after having her baby, but also thinks her hair was thicker than ever before while pregnant. So you think I’m worried about losing my hair? Nope, I’m pretty confident in my luxurious locks however in my husbands… not so much. I’ve seen so many men that are loosing their hair at such a young age, younger than my hubs and then I started blog stalking which I also do to much and I’ve came to the realization your husbands are bald! No offense… sorry. In David’s defense he is not even thinning, they have products for that I would get him on right away if I noticed the first bit happening (it’s called Nioxin, and I’m a believer). My father-in-law has a head full of nice silver hair, and although it's been said you get your hair traits from your mother’s side my hubs hair is exactly like his dads- minus the color.

But… what if he starts to thin like this…

or this…

Heaven help us all. I just don’t know if I could love him the same, I’m lying! I swear I love my hubby for all the right reasons! Weird, I used to find bald-ing men more attractive I dated a few and thought it made them more responsible looking… or something. However, I hope my husband NEVER looses his hair!

p.s. My dad has always been bald, I never remember him with hair! It never bothered him and it never bothered me, it also doesn’t bother me when I see other bald dude’s either but the thought of my own David going bald is enough to keep me awake at night… or is that the heartburn?

I told you I think too much about things I can not change!