High Expectations Lead to the Perfect Day!

You know that feeling like when you go many Valentine's Days without a Valentine and then one year you have one, you think, "oh, this year is going to be perfect." You have all these wonderful thoughts of great things that he is going to do for you, you think of all these perfect things he is going to say to you, and of course you think about that wonderful gift he is going to buy you.

Why do I do this to myself? I have such high expectations. I always think on my birthdays I am going to walk in the house and all of my favorite people are going to be there and then everyone will yell, "SURPRISE!"" What? A surprise party for me? I don't deserve this!"

Well, I think I watch too many movies and read too many "chick lit" books. I always thought once I became a Mom, Mother's Day would really only be about me. Am I selfish? Maybe a little. I always imaged waking up in the morning to a perfect day with the sunlight coming in through the window and the kids and my husband walking in with a gourmet breakfast chanting, "Happy Mother's Day!" On my tray of breakfast there would be one single rose in a skinny vase, a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice (except with no pulp, does that even exist?) and the newest US Weekly rolled up for my junk reading pleasure. I am sure I have seen this on a movie, right? Then we would spend the rest of the day just hanging around the house and I would virtually have the whole day "off."

So, this is how my Mother's Day really went. I woke up at 5:00am to "blue" talking in his room. I had to have the most expensive monitors that you hear perfectly through, right? Ha! I went in and put him back on his tummy and rubbed his back until he fell back asleep. I decided not to go back in my room. I figured he would roll over again and I would just be right back up, so I laid down on the couch. I fell back to sleep and then woke up at 7:45 to "Pink" watching the Disney channel. I ran to the shower to start getting ready for Church. Leo got the kids ready then took his shower. I then re-dressed the kids and we were out the door.

We got to Church right on time. We enjoyed the service, as usual. After Church we took my Mom to Chuy's for some yummy Mexican Food. After Chuy's we went to my Grandma's house to visit for a couple hours. By the time we got home it was 3:00. I put "Blue" in his highchair and fed him Linner (Lunch/Dinner). Leo went in the garage and got "Pink's" baby pool. He filled it up in the backyard. We put "blue" in his bumbo in the pool while "pink" got in and out about 1000 times.

While we were sitting outside I thought, "oh, I need to start a load of laundry for the week." So, while Leo is outside with the kids I come in the house and my load of laundry turns in to cleaning the whole kitchen from top to bottom, two loads of laundry, vacuum the wood floors, vacuum all the tile downstairs and vacuum our bedroom. It was so nice to be able to get that cleaning done while the kids were occupied.

Once we are all back inside it is time to get bathed and get in night, night clothes. "Pink" is 2 and a half now and getting her to lay down with you is impossible. "Pink" laid on my chest for almost 30 minutes while watching "America's Funniest Home Videos." There is no better gift than this. Both kids were in bed by 7:30. I went in and took a bath and was asleep by 8:30, myself.

May not be the Mother's Day I see on all the movies but who cares, right? I was with my kids all day long and I am extremely blessed to have kids to call my own. Thank you Mom, if it weren't for you, I would have nothing I do today. Thank you, Nana, if it weren't for you, I would not have the most amazing man in the world to share it all with.

I hope all you Mommies had a great day! And I pray for those of you whom hope to be Mommies next year.

Toodles!

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!