Baby Shower

So to be completely honest I spent the last several weeks (maybe the last 10?) of my pregnancy obsessed with getting the baby to turn.  I wasn't even sleeping...It was all I thought about.  I did NOT want a c-section, so I read everything, did everything, etc to help the baby turn.  I did a lousy job of enjoying any part of being pregnant after they told me the baby was breech and I would more than likely need a c-section.  

From that moment on I was miserable.  

And I regret it.

Now that it's all over with...I wish I could go back.  I would not stress about something I have no control over.  I would spend my time pain-free and loving the fact that I was carrying a miracle.

Instead I didn't truly enjoy those weeks.  

Or anything that happened during those weeks. 

I researched ways to turn the baby and focused on nothing but that. I spent a lot of money and time trying to turn the baby.  I did Chiropractic procedures, acupuncture, and a version at the hospital.  The version was extremely painful and the bruising lasted the remainder of my pregnancy.  I also tried lying upside down, using frozen peas on the top of my belly and a heating pad on the bottom...I'm sure there are more stupid things I found on-line to try, but I'm sure you get it- I tried everything.

On top of all of that...I was really tired and uncomfortable those last few weeks.  I was huge (or felt huge) and by the end of the day I was exhausted.  By the end of the week...I was done. 

Plus Blip was struggling at bedtime.  It was a fight/struggle every night...adding to my exhaustion.  And the feelings of complete failure.  I'm a single parent 4-5 nights a week, so it's exhausting without pregnancy.  Add in growing a human and life gets tricky.

It made it hard to get much accomplished.  So I was miserable with my messy house and nothing getting done to prepare for the baby.  Which made me a stress case...a miserable, exhausted, stressed out prego.

While all this was going on exciting things were going on in my life, but I was too miserable to truly enjoy the majority of it.

One of the coolest things was my baby shower.  I told my sisters I would be happy with a little something...since this baby girl isn't my first baby.  But this baby is a girl...and my sisters have been wanting a little girl for years, so I knew a little something would result in their version of "little something".  I don't think Robyn and Richelle actually know what a little something actually is.  In a good way.  Those two enlisted help from Kristi, Carlys, Regina, and Gisele.

They like to keep secrets, so when I walked in the door at Robyn's house I was shocked.  I didn't get an invitation (although I did catch a glimpse of Sarah's), so I didn't really know what to expect.  I was not disappointed!  They throw a great party...and this was nothing short of amazing.

No joke.

Pictures can't possibly do it justice.  At least the ones we take...with our iPhones.  We should start hiring a photographer to come photograph our parties...that way at least they'd be documented properly for everyone to see.

The decor was beautiful.  The shower was at Robyn's house and was set-up a lot like Richelle's 40th birthday party.  The colors were perfect...I loved them and want to use the same ones for Baby Girl's big girl room when she gets one in a few years.  They were black, Tiffany blue, purple, hot pink, and lime green. 

The theme was a garden party, so there were super cute umbrellas everywhere.  On each table there were rain boots filled with beautiful white flowers.  I don't even know what kind of flower they were, but I loved them...and they looked awesome in those cute boots!  The tablecloths were hot pink with a runner that had all the colors in a cute striped pattern.  That material was really cute.

The party was at noon, so they served lunch...Italian food- my fave.  Stuffed shells, salad, bread...all made by Gisele! There was also a dessert bar that would cause someone to become a diabetic instantly if they partook of everything available.  The cutest cake made by Carlys (it was delicious!), cotton candy cones, Sees candy, white chocolate covered strawberries, cheese cake bites, chocolate popcorn, cream puffs, and other candies too.  The dessert table had a toole skirt around it...it was so cute.  It was one of my favorite parts.

They know me well enough to know I like to eat, but games...I can do without.  So we ate and enjoyed each other's company and then opened gifts.  I have some amazing friends and family...they truly showered be with some awesome stuff and lots of diapers.  My sisters, grandma, and Aunt Cheryl did a fun clothesline full of the cutest girl clothes ever.  It stretched from one end of the room to the other...and ALL the clothes were so cute.  I didn't think I needed more clothes for this Baby Girl, but I definitely 'needed' ALL of the cute stuff we received at the shower.  I can't wait to dress her in all of it.

I love my sisters more than they know.  I am so thankful for all they do for me.  I am grateful for the many generous things the have done and continue to do to make my life easier/better.  Not having my mom here is made a lot easier because I have big sisters.

Ready To Pop

I offered to throw a friend of mine a baby shower.  She was pregnant with her third baby, so I thought it would be nice for her to get some new things since #1 and #2 may have worn some stuff out.  We picked a date, and I started planning.  I had seen a cute theme on Pinterest…and the Carol used that theme for Ashley's baby shower.  Ashley's shower was so cute, so I decided that would be the theme I would go with for sure.  The hardest issue for me was choosing the colors.  I didn't want to spend a fortune (lol…that's a joke…all parties cost a small fortune!) buying all new stuff, so I went with colors I owned a lot of.  Black, white…and yellow.  I had a few items upstairs from my baby shower that I could use, plus I own all the dishes needed.

I got to work ordering the invitations (Regina was out of town, so I wasn't able to use her free skills for this party.  I should plan ahead better!) and a few other items to match.  I planned all the food according to the theme (of course).  Luckily Carol's party planning helped me with the menu.  Once that was in place...I was happy.

The day before the shower I spent every second preparing.  I am blessed with a husband who doesn't mind my insanity and perfectionism.  He runs to the store for me, helps me move furniture, and is happy to keep Blip busy…and out of the way.  I was up early…and didn't go to bed until nearly 3am.  But the house looked great…Ready to Pop.

The next morning I woke up to start preparing the food and take care of the last minute things that needed to be done.  As people started arriving I was just finishing the very last thing.  I didn't even have a chance to take a single picture, but we were waiting on the cake pops, so I decided to wait.  Plus…one of the guests is starting a photography business and offered to photograph the party.  I decided I would let her take all the pictures, so I wasn't rude or in her way…and I had my hands full anyway.

I'm not sure how every party I use blood, sweat, and tears to do turns out to be the un-photographed party of the year, but it seems to be my luck.  Blip's birthday party pictures were a huge disappointment.  I should have hired someone to photograph the party and the birthday boy that day at the party.  And now…months later…after waiting patiently to see the pictures…there aren't any.  Well…there are a few, but not one overall shot.  I seriously could cry.  I was excited to have professional pictures taken…and in the end it turned out worse than if I had just taken them myself.  Bad pictures or not…at least I'd have them.  I am thankful there are a few pictures.  So I shouldn't complain.  I should have asked for what I wanted instead of thinking it would just be done.

(So that's that…I decided I'm taking a photography class and buying myself a bounce flash.  Then I can take pictures of my parties- indoor or outdoors.)

The Menu was all about things that popped.  I served Finger Poppon' Chicken Salad Sandwiches, Fruit Pops (kabobs), Pops Chips, Cake Pops, Poppyseed Salad, S'more Pops, (Three kinds of) Popcorn (Chicago Mix, Kettle Corn & White Chocolate), and Soda Pop (and water bottles).  I also had jars of candy around the house…filled with things that pop.  (Sorry…no pictures of that.)

Another friend was in charge of the games.  I don't like playing games at showers, so I was glad someone else agreed to come up with the games.  She found super cute games that weren't over-played at every shower I've ever been to.  The first one was with play dough.  Everyone got a little container with play dough to make a baby.  Most of the babies were super cute…some ladies were a lot more talented than others.  I didn't want to make the ugliest baby, so I opt'd out.

The second game was cute too.  It was a gift bag that was passed from person to person depending on where you were seated or what the answer to the questions/riddle was.  It was passed about 20-ish times before the end of the riddle.  It was a cute game.

The party favors were also all things that popped.  I made each one with a soda pop, a blow pop, a tootsie pop, a ring pop, pop rocks, and a bottle of bubbles…cause they pop.  I think they turned out super cute.

The shower turned out to be super cute…if I do say so myself.  Nice gifts were given, and most of the food was eaten.  After everyone left Mike came home with Blip.  I had saved him a cake pop.  I knew he would love it…and he did.  But he loved the left over kettle corn he shared with his daddy more than anything else.