Que Sera, Sera: July 2009

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

A Lesson in Toddler Birthday Parties

I have discovered that hosting a party where toddlers are involved is nothing like throwing an adults-only soiree. Last weekend, we celebrated Brax's 2nd birthday with several of our family and friends in Tulsa, as well as their children. A long time friend was gracious enough to open their gorgeous home (and pool) to for the kid-centered event. (Pictures to follow soon!)

The party was a success... I believe fun was had by all. However, there are a few things I will modify when planning Brax's next party (which is on August 8, for our family and friends here in KC! As much as parties stress me out, I LOVE THEM!)

Note to Self:

1. Don't worry that everyone forgot the party and that you're a big loser when your guests aren't there right on time. Remember that your friends are dealing with toddlers of their own as they attempt to get out the door. Just like your kid, their kid has no concept of what it means to be on time. If the invite says the party starts at 4, it really starts at 6. Plan accordingly.

2. When planning the menu, there are several things to remember. First and foremost, divide what you would consider "normal" portions by two thirds. When is the last time you and your spouse got to sit down--together--and eat an entire meal while your children sat patiently at your feet?

Riiiight.

Never.

Your adult guests will not have the opportunity to enjoy heaping spoonfulls of the fancy side dishes you spent hours making. They will be lucky to eat the leftovers their children leave on their plates. On that note, the kids at the party will have minimal interest in the cutesy, themed food items you painstakingly prepared just for them. Unless, of course, it involves brightly colored, stain-inducing icing. (Sidenote: Although it may make for really cute pictures, your friends may frown on you for letting the children repeatedly stick their fingers in the icing and enthusiastically licking them off. You will have a lot of cake leftover if you do this.)

This 2/3rds rule applies to paper products (cups/plates, etc.) as well. Most likely, families will be eating off the same plate!

3. Keep party favors hidden until the guests are ready to leave. Toddlers have zero tolerance for delayed gratification, so unless you want all your adorable little goody bags torn to pieces before the party even starts, hold off on handing them out until each kiddo is heading home.

4. Keep "organized" (is there such a thing when toddlers are involved?) games to a minimum. What kid wants to stand in line for pin-the-tail-on-whatever when they can run around throwing water balloons at each other? Opt for "free-play" type activities instead.

5. Before the party, buy a package of sticky labels--the kind you would use to print addresses on for envelopes. Write each guest's name on a label, and as your child opens presents, stick the corresponding label directly on each gift so you remember who it's from. You can make out the thank-you list once the wrapping-paper madness dies down.

6. Always invite at least one friend or family member that doesn't have kids and nominate them as your photographer/videographer. You might want to offer this friend a small bottle of tequila to make the job more fun.

With that said, remember that the kids will have fun, no matter what!

Friday, July 24, 2009

2 Year Pics Posted!!!

Brax's 2 year pictures are posted on the photographer's website!!!
Go to www.m-mphoto.com
Click on "photo cart" at the bottom of the screen
Click on "portraits"
Click on "Valerie" (you'll see a thumbnail of Brax)
Then enter hill as the password

For family who wants to order pics---I have a $175 minimum order, so please let me know which pics you want and what size ASAP--I will order them all together and mail them to you. I have to order by JULY 30 to get a 15% discount.

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Brax's Birth Day

I wanted to get this posted on his real birthday, but I had to pack for our trip to Tulsa last night!
I didn't start this blog until Brax was 9 months old, so I wanted to rewind and tell his story, from the beginning. I don't suppose it's any more spectacular than any other normal birth story, but it was pretty special to us... I love remembering that day.

Friday, July 20th, 2007
I was working 5 days a week at the time. I got off at 3 on Fridays, and towards the end of the pregnancy I would go to straight from work to my OB appointment for a check. This particular day, I remember thinking as I got into my steaming hot car to leave work, I can't do this ONE MORE DAY! I was 37 weeks along, and couldn't imagine how I was going to continue hunching over my ginormous belly to reach my patients' teeth for 3 more weeks.

At my checkup, I learned that I was 80% effaced and 3 cm. Yay! I was reassured that I would not have to wait 3 weeks to meet Brax. Little did I know...

Saturday, July 21st
First thing in the morning, I finished getting everything ready to go the hospital. I had all 7 bags packed and ready to go. (Okay, 4 bags. Still ridiculous. Next time I'm only taking ONE!) I went and got a pedicure. I came home and took a nap. Then Mike and I headed to the movies to see "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry," which we had been SO anxious to see! We bought our tickets for the 7:00 show, and as we were walking past the ticket counter, I sprung a leak. Surely not. Surely my water did NOT just break at the movie theater. Surely I am going to get to see this dang movie! I went in to the bathroom to investigate, and SURE ENOUGH, I had not suddenly become incontinent. Mike didn't believe me. I went to customer service and much to the disgust of the young man at the counter, I informed him that my water had just broken and I needed a refund! As we walked back to the car (it was just a slow drip, I wasn't leaving a trail or anything... and I had on black capris), I started making phone calls. First, the doctor (who was out of town). Then, Leslie, who was going to be our photographer. Then our parents, who both had a 5 hour drive ahead of them. Then, my two aunts who live here in town.

Mike still didn't believe that I was in labor. I had been having Braxton Hicks contractions throughout the entire pregnancy, so I didn't feel any different in that sense, but I KNEW my water had broken. I also knew that I had 24 hours from that point before the baby HAD to be out, so I was confident that I had time to go home and shower, shave my armpits, and put on makeup (I had yet to do any of those things that day).

I got ready, Mike loaded the car and showered as well. On the way to the hospital, I noticed my contractions getting only slightly worse. This is not bad, not bad at all!

We arrived at the hospital to find that Leslie and both of my aunts had beat us there! We headed up to labor and delivery together. By about 8pm, I was settled into my room and hooked up to the monitors. Then the wait began...

9pm. No longer having fun. No more chitty chatting. Time to do the stuff we learned in prenatal class.

11pm. REALLY NOT HAVING FUN. The stuff we learned in class is a freaking joke. Nurse tells me I'm experiencing moderate contractions.

YOU MEAN THIS GETS WORSE???????????

Luckily, it was a slow night. Doctor Happy Medicine promptly administers my epidural. All is right in the world by 11:30.

11:30. My mom (who made it in record time!) and grandparents arrive. Just in time to see "Happy Val" before I catch a few zzzzz's.

Then, lights out--Anyone who wants to stay in the room with me better find a seat and get comfy... it's gonna be awhile. I was only at a 6cm.

Leslie, the greatest BF ever, laid in bed with me and fed me popsicles and rubbed me to sleep! Then Mike took a turn laying with me.

At some point, Mike's parents got there. I was asleep.

Sunday, July 22nd
5:30am. Nurses wake me up and tell me it's time to roll! The crew was all ready to go--My mom on one leg, Mike on the other, Leslie taking pictures, and Aunt Laura with the video camera. I remember being so numb that I couldn't feel myself pushing--it just felt like my head was going to explode from bearing down so hard. I watched the action in the full length mirror so I could see that my efforts weren't in vain! It was VERY surreal, like watching someone else give birth. I couldn't believe it was ME!

6:34am. After a little snip, 45 minutes of pushing, and no pooping on the table (YAY ME!) Brax came out, face up. He grabbed onto the hemostats (the clamp thing they put on his umbilical cord) and they had to pry his little paw off of it. When they laid him on my chest, the first thing I noticed were his long eyelashes! He had this precious little squeaky cry. There are no words to describe what it's like to see your child for the first time. It's just really freaking cool.

"PUT ME BACK IN THERE! I CHANGED MY MIND!!!!"

He doesn't look anything like he did when he first came out!

Already got his dukes up.

Although Brax was 3 weeks early, he was perfectly healthy (aside from his ~~spray-on tan~~ jaundice.) I couldn't believe how EASY having a baby was! (WITH the epidural, of course.) For me, it was the placenta that was a challenge. Mine wouldn't come out. I lost 2 liters of blood--needless to say I was a little light-headed and nauseaus. But after a not-so-pleasant manual D&C with no anesthesia a few hours after his birth (during which the Dr. ripped my sutures apart and had to redo them), a couple of transfusions and a big Sonic burger, I was good as new.

First family pic.

Because it was so slow in the maternity ward, I was transferred to the big handicap-accessible mommy-baby room. It was like a suite! We camped out there until Tuesday when I had to go home. I loved being in the hospital! All I had to do was play with this precious baby, take his picture and put them on the internet, chat with our friends and family, open presents, and eat whatever I wanted. I pray that the next go-round is just as wonderful (although I could do without the retained placenta... I had to have ANOTHER D&C 6 weeks post-natal because they didn't get it all the first time!)

"I don't know about this, lady."

You can see I have my transfusion line in... we are both happy campers now!

Of course Mike and I's wedding day was special too, but there is just nothing like meeting your baby for the first time... Such a miracle.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

One Last Cute One

Brax fell asleep on Mike's lap watching golf last Sunday!!!

It was right before lunch, so Daddy just took him up to his bed (after the tournament was over, of course) and Brax napped for like 2 hours! So cute. He's so good for Mike! (He knows he can work me over, I guess....)

Last Saturday... Park and Carnival

We drove all the way out to Paola for the Miami County Fair last Saturday only to find out that the carnival wouldn't be there until later in the week. Fortunately, there is a beautiful park right there by the fair grounds! We played there for awhile, so the trip wasn't completely a waste!

Brax probably made 78 laps across this bridge, giggling every time!

Such a big boy!

Such a big kid!

Brax is so brave with Daddy. He wanted Daddy to hold his hand,

but Mike convinced him he could balance on the rock wall all by himself.

WE FOUND A CARNIVAL!

There was a mini-carnival in the parking lot a mall! It was great!

I actually managed to keep myself from eating a funnel cake.

I wanted one sooooooo bad.

In awe of the "big" rides!

I kept getting really cute shots of the other kids smiling on the rides,

but Brax was not as animated. He looked bored.

He got to ride each ride twice!

Randoms From Last Weekend

Brax at the chiropractor with me,

waiting patiently as he snacked on a "ganola bar."

This was Brax's reward for being such a good boy at his 2 year check-up last Friday. They have huge medians in the office building's parking lot that are full of big rocks, and he gets so excited whenever we go there! So he gets to play in the rocks after every appointment.