ha ha. this was a pic when I was about 37 1/2 weeks pregnant with W. Keep in mind, I didn't have her until 38+6, so, I got a little bigger. Note the awesomeness of the fact that I am wearing my husband's boxer shorts and his white-t undershirt! Praise the Lord that somehow I made it through without stretch marks! Woot! Honestly, I will admit that while it was hot as Hades that summer/fall/etc, and I took more "naked naps" with the ceiling fan on and the oscillating fan on than I would like to admit, I loved-loved-loved being pregnant. I was a straight up hoss, huge. My face and body looked like I had PIH (pregnancy induced hypertension or pre-eclampsia - for my non-nursey friends reading), I gained approx 24 pounds (IN MY FIRST TRIMESTER!!!!!) and a grand total of about 57 altogether, and my arms were each about the circumference of the planet Jupiter, but I felt unbelievably beautiful. I felt gorgeous and proud. Everyday, even when I knew I was swollen and hot, I still felt gorgeous. Strange, huh? I knew I was rockin' it like a fat girl. I loved Butterfingers (shout out to Katie C. who ate one with me everyday at 3pm!) and Checkers cheeseburger, fries, and a banana milkshake with my husband in the park! It was wonderfully freeing and fun. I felt like a vessel for God's miracle of life. So awesome!
Long story short, 3 years ago on 10/11, I gave birth to the sweetest, snuggliest 8# 4oz. baby girl. I helped to make my husband a daddy, exactly one day after he turned 30 years old - just as we had always dreamed of doing. We made some awesome parents into grandparents, and created some super great aunts & uncles. Life altering day. We didn't know what we were having - yeah, everyone hated us for it - but if God made me have another child, I wouldn't find out again. It was the most true surprise of our lives. I will never, ever, ever forget the sound of my husband's voice as he called out "it's a girl!".
3 years later, life has changed. She is our world. She makes us laugh, she makes us strive to be the best that we can be, she challenges us to pray harder and love deeper. She challenges everyone's brains to work to come up with answers to the rhetorical question, "why?". So, our Saturday was stressful - Mommy had the stomach bug. Mommy was npo (nil per os for my non-nurseys again - aka - I didn't eat anything) except for sips of Sprite and Coke. Mommy was tired, but did as Mommies do and put on a smiley face for the par-tay. I couldn't go "all out" as much as I did last year bc Jimmy put the smack down on me. Last year he referred to her as Paris Hilton. This year I couldn't do that much, I could only go Nicole Richie status. We had an Olivia the Pig party. It's her favorite! She was beside herself with excitement. I don't think she ate anything except part of a cupcake. She drank about 50 juice boxes - because THIS was the highlight - jumping in the Princess Palace!!! Pure excitement & sheer joy!!! Thanks for everyone that came to celebrate with us!!
Sunday (today) was my sweet Jimmy's birthday. I kinda feel bad for him, like he gets the shaft because his b-day is so close to W's & we've spent a ton on hers & everyone is all pumped bc she's a kid & he just gets left by the wayside. So not fair, because he's one in a million. Y'all know how I feel - you actually probably get tired of reading about his awesomeness, so I'll spare the baring of my heart. I've got a little something up my sleeve to do something special :) I hope it works out, because he deserves it! He did go fishing with his sweet W today! That's fun! They caught a "whopper". Not really, but that's what W said. Ha ha!
So, now we wait a couple of weeks, because next up is the celebration of me, me, me!!!! Woot!!! I don't care if I'm gonna be 32 years old. I think my birthday is the bomb and totally expect it to be a big deal to the world. I realize that it's the only child in me that comes out, but I can't help it! I love my birthday!!! Eek!!! The only bummer is that when you get older, the gifts that you want become more expensive & you get embarrassed to request them ;)
Hope y'all have a great week - and of course, I've gotta shout out a big Roll Tide, despite the fact that we did experience a bit of an ole fashioned butt whoopin' and maybe ate a rather large helping of humble pie. I still love my team, though. You just can't win 'em all. At least they aren't like me...because if I didn't think I was gonna do my very best, I wouldn't have even shown up!!! Ha ha!
loved the birthday post! so fun. you were an amazing pregnant gal - working 12-hour shifts right up until the end! THAT was impressive!!! happy birthday to the Halls!!!
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