Then and Now

I felt the urge to do a "before and after" blog. I guess just kind of recapping the last year, in case you missed anything.

One Year Ago on September 23
That Morning: I was laying in a hospital bed (we went in at midnight to the hospital so I could be induced) watching MTV music videos. Matthew was sitting on the bench nearby, refusing to sleep.

That Afternoon: I was starving! Matthew was eating steak from the hospital cafeteria (which he really enjoyed) and all I could do was munch on ice chips.
Somewhere in the late afternoon/early evening I asked for pain meds, and then an epidural. I wanted a natural birth, until I felt the pain. Then all I wanted was to focus on something other than what my body was going through.

That Evening: My water broke, and we expected exciting fireworks shortly after. But it was still boring. Matthew dozed on and off, and joked with all the great nurses that kept coming in to check on me and feed my husband.

That Night: I gave birth after an hour of pushing, to a beautiful little girl who weighed 6lbs, 12 oz, 19" long. She entered this world quietly, surprising us with her sex, at 10:18 pm.

This Year on September 23
This Morning: I made waffles for breakfast and enjoyed the company of my sisters, niece, mom, and husband. Abby opened presents before Matthew left for work.

This Afternoon: We drove around Rapid City, shopped for her birthday party, and let grandma spoil her just a little bit!

This Evening: Abby played with her cousin Bella, enjoying all her new toys. We ate dinner (that grandma made) and then snuggled up for bed in new pajamas.

This Night: Abby is asleep and here I am, reflecting on her past year. Tomorrow is a big party; full of cake, presents, playing, friends, decorations, and god knows what else... But my focus isn't on the party. We've made it one year, and its been emotional, overwhelming, and completely worthwhile. I can't believe that its already been a year. I swear it was yesterday that I was holding this little infant in my arms, watching her sleep and suck on a bottle. I remember the first time she giggled, the pain of hearing her cry the first time, the relief of seeing her face every morning.

And we look forward to so many more years together. Years of discovery, of learning, of growth. Years of love and Godly studies... Years that we will cherish and enjoy. Its been a rough, unexpecting year for us. And its bittersweet to look back on the time that we've lost so quickly. Yet, I can't help but be excited for everything that the future holds for my daughter, and for us as parents.

All our love, Abigail Renee...

A Very Hungry Caterpillar Birthday

Get ready for photo overload!

Abby celebrated her very first birthday this weekend! It was crazy, overwhelming, and full of memories. I cannot believe my daughter is a toddler now! A non-toddling-toddler. Its very, very bittersweet. Sad that she's no longer a baby; who sleeps on your chest and giggles in her sleep. Happy that she's growing up; learning new things (like how to walk and talk) and experiencing life.

My two sisters, mom, and niece all arrived Thursday night to help with the long weekend, and also to celebrate with Abby. We opened presents on Friday (her actual birth DAY) and then spent the afternoon shopping and playing with all the new toys. Poor Abby was overwhelmed and tired, but she was a trooper!

On Saturday we spent all morning preparing for a two hour party. We had a little bit of a mix-up when I left all of the party supplies (including the things needed to make cupcakes) in my car, which my husband took to work that morning. But disaster was avoided, although it took us longer to get there than we thought... I'm so thankful I had my family, and my amazing friend Mandy, to help!

I used fun-fetti cake mixes for the cupcakes, and matching frosting. If you've never read the Very Hungry Caterpillar, there are lots of circles and polka-dots so we kept that theme as much as we could. Our plates and napkins all had colored dots (that matched the colors in the Eric Carle book) and said "Happy Birthday". I made the cupcake toppers by printing out the pictures from the book (the fruits that he eats and the caterpillar himself) and cutting them into circles. Then we taped them to sucker sticks and put them in the cupcakes. They were adorable! I wish I had backed them on colored cardstock, but I ran out of time. Oh well...

It took me two weeks to sew Abby's birthday dress, but I'm so glad I put the effort in! It was adorable! I even made all the snack bags (that we put the party bag/gifts in). I made 15 of those bags, can you believe it? I was proud of myself...

My mom and I went to walmart and bought packs of baby sunglasses, bouncy balls, bubbles, and suckers to put in the gift bags. And she bought 15 balloons, one for each child to take home. I'm pretty sure that was their favorite part!

We decorated, got the cupcakes and food in order, and then we played with all the toys and ate cake and opened presents. It was very laid back, and I was glad Abby was just able to enjoy the afternoon. She was tired, but she still played with her cousin Bella, her friends (mostly Layla) and all the adults that doted on her!

I was just so thankful for everyone who came to celebrate with us, give Abby her gifts (which was mostly clothes and books) and eat all our food! Seriously, we are so blessed to have such a great group of friends who love and support us. And Mandy even stayed late to help us pack everything up, sweep the gross floor, and organize all those toys!

Over all, I would say it was a success. I know Abigail won't remember any of it, but it was important to me that we throw her a party. Now she can look back at all these great pictures (thanks to my sister, Bethany, who followed everyone around snapping their photo!) and know that we spoiled her rotten!

And just in case you wanted to see some more photos of her... Well, heck, she's so gosh darn cute, how can you not want to see her?!

A Thankful Heart, O Lord

I want a thankful heart.
I want to wake up in the morning, just happy to have breath in my lungs.
I want to enjoy every second of every day.
I want to be happy with what I have.
I don't want thinks like money to effect my mood.
I want to love my home, my family, my friends...
I want to love this town like God does.
I want a passion in my soul,
A passion for all things good and lovely.
I want a thankful heart.
I want to enjoy things again.
Little things, big things, all sorts of things
I want a thankful heart.

Mustang Bike Rally

Matthew I headed to Sturgis this afternoon to spend some time at the Mustang rally. He has a four-day weekend so we're trying to fill our time up.

Now, for the record, Sturgis is where the bike rally is held every year-and its pretty much famous for that alone. The atmosphere in this town of 6,500 is just so different from what I'm used to. I had to snap a few pictures of the large "saloons" all over town. They're total biker bars-but they're right across from grocery stores and a McDonalds. Even though the rally is held each year at the beginning of August (and on average 500,000 people from around the states come to experience the drinking, bar fights, and crazy concerts) there are always bikers coming through. So its not uncommon to see a group of them hanging outside, smoking a cigarette and leaning on their Harley.

We watched a "parade" of Fords drive down Main Street revving their engine and doing burnouts (even as the police told them not to). We even saw a GT 500 KR, which my husband drooled over. My camera wasn't ready though, so I missed it. :( It's probably the only one I'll ever see to! Lame.

Anyway, we watched the parade and headed in to eat. There was restaurant toward the end of Main Street, that Matthew swore was amazing. We walked around the side and entered. Again, this is pretty much biker-town, and the inside totally fit that mold. We sat ourselves, found a highchair for Abby, and ordered. I noticed they didn't ask Matthew for his ID when he got a Fat Tire, but oh well. That's the way it is.

I realize how boring this may to be you all... but I really just wanted to talk about it. Because we always have fun together-even if its standing on the sidewalk with a tired baby and old men laughing at the stock-mustangs driving by. We enjoy ourselves. This is just what our family does, I guess. Find cheap (free) things to do, and do it. If you know anything about us, its that Matthew loves cars (and trucks, and jeeps... anything with an engine, really) so we do things that he likes. He liked watching the Shelby's rev up and zoom past the pedestrians, fishtailing a little as they burned their tires on the street. He cheered as smoke billowed up, and the engine sent a deafening roar and made our chests vibrate. We even laughed when Abby would clap, responding to the crowds cheers and excitement.

He's an amazing husband, and an amazing dad. We went to Sam's Club this afternoon for an icee, and walked around for samples. Everything he got, he'd bite in half and give to Abby. If it was too hot he'd blow on it. He even lets her drink out of his straw, and doesn't mind too much when he gets her chunks of backwash later. Matthew keeps her entertained; he's always finding new games and new ways to keep her happy. He's great with her. He's patient and kind, but he's learning to discipline quickly too. He has a great balance.

We shared our dinner with her, too. He gave her his sweet potato fries (which were amazing) and pieces of his rib tips. She's always quick to turn down what I'm offering (pieces of toast and chicken) for what he has. Even if we eat the same thing, she'd rather have it from his plate. I think it drives him nuts and makes him feel special all at the same time.

Plus, she's saying 'dada' now, which I know just thrills him every time he hears it. He always grins.

He's having a hard time with her turning one. We can't believe how fast this year has gone by. Something tells me he'll be feeling that baby fever here in the next two years or so. We're waiting, because its the best thing to do. But I know he misses when she was teeny-tiny and would sleep on his chest. He's a great dad. I can't say that enough. This is one of those things that just comes naturally for him. He was made to be a father.

As Of Late

My daughter is crawling as fast as she can-usually toward something she shouldn't have. She eats everything you put in front of her (including peas! That's my girl!) and she blabbers on and on with such a high-pitch
ed noise that it causes people outside the window to wince.

Some days she takes two naps. Some days she takes three, and one rare occasion she'll only take one. Those are the days that I count off the seconds until Matthew comes home, so I can hand off the fussy child and run the other direction.

She pulls herself up on everything (including her highchair, which has fallen over on her a few times now) and walks around while holding on (or at least touching). She bangs on every door (or piece of wood, or any hard surface really) and yells. She throws her food on the floor all the time, and I've even seen her throw a fit! I mean throwing herself to the ground, kicking her legs and hitting her head on the floor. Its pretty epic. Usually I laugh. Sometimes I scold. Most the time I pick her up and put her in her crib for some quiet time.

She's a handful. And hilarious, and its a joy to wake up to her calling "mama" every morning. Even when I don't sleep well, and I have a headache and the coffee pot won't work right. I love my little girl-who is growing up so fast that I can't keep up. I love her.