Weekly Weigh In

I am pleased to announce I am down 2.3 lbs this week. Hooray, I am still losing. You have no idea how great this feels. I remember back when I was in college and had time for "Oprah" and she was going through one of her many weight loss programs. She once said, "Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels." I have never forgotten this phrase. I hope that one day soon I can say it with pride and a smile on my face.

So, how do I say this without giving my weight away? I am down another "weight class." That's it, I will call each 10 pound increment a "weight class." I have said goodbye to the 1_0's and have entered the 1_0's. I promise to fill in the blanks one day, just not yet. I am 9 lbs away from my Pre-Clomid (fertility meds) weight so that is my new, short-term goal.

Wish me luck, Toodles!

Natural Wins!

Baby Taylor is here. I witnessed one of the most amazing things I have ever witnessed today. T was supposed to arrive at the hospital at midnight on 5/7/2009. It was approximately 10:15 pm and Mom and I had just turned out all the lights downstairs. She went upstairs and got to bed. I had just finished brushing my teeth and washing my face. I laid in bed and pulled the covers up to my shoulders. THE PHONE RINGS! I run in the kitchen and see it is B (my brother). I answer it saying, "her water broke, didn't it?" He says, "Yep! We are on our way!" We talk for about 3 more minutes going over specifics and our plan of action. Leo was out of town so I knew I was not going to be able to get there until I could get the kids to Maria's, in the morning. He told me to just let Mom know what was going on and to keep my phone next to me all night. I walked upstairs (Mom would tell you differently, more like ran) and went in the guest room and told her what happened. She jumps out of bed and is all, "we gotta go!" I think for one minute she forgot about my two babies asleep downstairs. I was not going anywhere. I quickly explained to her what B said about keeping us updated. She just told me to call her on her cell if I heard anything during the night. Who can sleep after this news? The anticipation kicked in. My mind was going 100 mph. Who is she going to look like? How long will she be in labor? Will it be a natural birth or C-Section? Will I make it in time? I think I was more nervous for B than I was when I was having my kids. My big brother was about to become a Daddy to a baby girl!

I slept on and off all night just waiting for the text. I finally decided at 5:45am I would send him a message. I sent, "Status?" He replied, " Contractions are about 3 minutes apart. She seems to be comfy. No epidural yet. No excitement yet. Just waiting. They started meds at 4 to help induce." So, with this information I decided to go ahead and start getting up and getting myself ready. We were out the door around 7:15.

Mom and I arrived at the hospital around 8:30. T received the epidural around 6:30am. When we arrived she was 5 cm dilated. 1 hour later the nurse came in and checked her again. She had advanced to a 7. At this time we all made out bets. What would she weigh, how long would she be, and what time would she be born? Another hour passed and the nurse came back to check T. She was complete! It was showtime!

T pushed for about 10 minutes and Taylor was ready. Unfortunately, T's doc had not made it in yet. They made her stop pushing while waiting on the doc. She did such a wonderful job breathing through every contraction. Finally, Dr. P arrived! He sat down and did his thing while T did hers and minutes later, I was an Aunt.

Taylor Marie Meyer was born at 11:20 am. She weighed 8lbs 6oz and she was 20 1/4 inches long. She had a full head of jet black hair. She is beautiful.

I have never been jealous of anyone who pushed a baby out of their va-j-j before this moment in my life, ever! T made it look so easy. She made it look like God intended it, Natural. From the moment the baby was born she stayed in the room. She did not have to wait 4-5 hours to hold her new baby, like after a C. I have always been an advocate of C-sections, because that is all I know. I now am a complete advocate for natural deliveries. I know, I know...they are not all this easy. Given the chance to decide between the 2 if there was ever a baby Hawley #3, I think I would seriously have to make a few pros/cons lists where before, there was no contest. C-section all the way!

Here are a few pictures of my baby necie, pronounced Knee-C. I have decided this is what I will call her.

The Ladies Man

All 3 of my best friends have been blessed with baby girls within the last 6 months. Betty had baby Audrey Jane on November 4, 2008. Ellen had Katey Reese on February 2, 2009, and Annslee had Avery Michelle on March 2, 2009. As you all know, I had "Blue" on December 4, 2008. Looks like "Blue" has a long road ahead of him. How will he keep them all under wraps?

"Blue" is 5 months old and I already feel like he is on the dating game.

"Blue", would you like to go with Door #1?

Looks like Audrey Jane is already keeping him in check. "Get Back, Blue!"

Would you like to go with Door #2?

Looks like Katey Reese is a "go with the flow" kinda chick.

And, finally we have door #3.

And that is nothing but a party girl right there, that Avery Michelle.

Oh the choices my little stud has to make.

The choice is unanimous...

"Blue" only has eyes for one lady, his Mommy, his lucky Mommy!

Thanks for stopping in, Toodles!

P.S. Be back in the morning with the weekly weigh in. Wish me luck :)

Goth Queen? No, it's just "Pink"

While we were packing for Austin this weekend I left my make-up bag on the bathroom counter. I know, I know, who could be so dumb? Apparently, this girl! While Leo went out to mow the yard, I was feeding "Blue." When things tend to get quiet, "Pink" is either in her room playing or she is up to no good. I call for "Pink", I get no response and hear things drop on my bathroom floor. I put "Blue" in his bouncy seat and before I could look up, this is what is standing in front of me.

Goth Queen? Nah, it's just "Pink" wearing Mommy's mascara that was self-applied...as if you could not tell.

This was her response, " My eyes are beautiful!" "Mommy, you do your eyes." I asked her why her lips were beautiful too and she said, "I don't know."As much as I needed to keep a straight face and reinforce the fact that make-up is for mommies and not two-year olds, I just could not keep the laughter in. I busted out laughing and then we had to go interrupt daddy's yard work to share her "beautiful eyes."

See you tomorrow, Toodles!

Auntie McAunterson!

Baby Taylor is coming this Thursday!

T is going in at midnight tomorrow night and they are inducing her!!!! I am finally going to be an Aunt! Yippee! Please keep T, Taylor, Brad and our family in your prayers. Thank you!

Happy Cinco De Mayo! Yiyiyiyiyiyiyi!

Un-Social Butterfly

We just got home from Austin. We went to Annslee's (my new favorite girl name was only suitable for my best friend) Annual Kentucky Derby Crawfish Boil. As always, it was a packed house and we had a great time. I brought the camera and had every intention of taking thousands of pictures. Yeah, right! "Blue" was a little fussy monkey so it was "mommy and me" time most of the day, hence the title, "Un-Social Butterfly"). Leonard was outside chasing "pink" around and protecting her from the big kids. I think we saw crossed paths a total of 5 times throughout the whole party. Good Times!

Every year we attend, the party gets bigger. It is such a fun time for a measly ole 2 minute race. You never realize how many people are actually there until the horns play the proverbial "line em' up" tune. It is like everyone has dog ears when that tune has been played. They all come swarming in. The race starts, it gets really loud as everyone is shouting for their favorite horse to win, the race ends, the money is distributed, and the crowds start dying down. This is my favorite part.

I know it it so selfish to admit but I love it when the crowd dies down and Annslee and I get to to lounge out on her couches and catch up on so many random topics. We basically sit around laughing and comparing notes on the kids, husbands, our new fad diets, our new favorite snack or craving, and of course reminiscing on old times at Capitol Beverage. It was so nice to be there this year with my little family. We were both sitting on the couches holding and patting our newborns talking about whether a third child is in the future for The Hawleys. "We are not thinking about that right now." was the response for all you inquiring minds.

You know, when we lived in Austin and I would come home to visit the family I would always get sad before we even got there because I knew the visit would be followed with a goodbye. That is how I feel now when I make the trip to Austin to see Annslee. I get so excited that I am going but at some point on the way I get sad before I pull in her driveway. I love our time together so much. I knew that when we moved back to Houston, Annslee and I would have no choice but to be separated but I am so proud of our efforts to always remain as close as we have always been. This my friends, is a TRUE friend. Love her!!!!

Be back tomorrow, Toodles!