I'm writing this post a day early since I'll be on my way to the hospital in about 10 hours. Even after pre-op and registering at the hospital, it hasn't totally hit me that we're about to have a baby!
I've been on the verge of tears after a good crying session during pre-op when I learned that even if L wasn't sick, she wouldn't be allowed to hold or meet her brother at the hospital. She can only look at him through the window. My heart is broken and we haven't told her the news yet. She's still under the weather but the medicine her pediatrician recommended seems to be working. I am so bummed. I can't quite let go of the idea that there won't be any of those "first days" photos with her. Her brother won't give her the gift we picked out. She won't hold him in the hospital chair like I promised. She's so excited to see him and it just won't play out the way we planned. To say my heart is broken is actually an understatement.
But, these things happen and it turns out having a baby during a horrible flu season in the winter just isn't the best. So, we're praying everything else goes smoothly, that surgery will go well and we get discharged as soon as possible.
Other than that news, our week was good. We did a little cleaning but mostly we enjoyed each other. There was dressing up and putting away the tons of birthday presents she received. There were sleepless nights and cleaning up vomit mixed in with beach adventures, playing games and snuggling on the sofa.
In a way, it's not quite how I pictured our last week as a family of three to go. But in another way, when you're planning the exact day of something this big, it's easy to focus on routine things that need to get done and crossing off to-dos instead of letting life flow.
Either way, this is our last night. I'm trying to enjoy it without letting my nerves (and hormones!) overcome me. I'm sure by tomorrow I'll have a whole rush of other emotions taking over but for now I just want to focus on our girl...
I've been on the verge of tears after a good crying session during pre-op when I learned that even if L wasn't sick, she wouldn't be allowed to hold or meet her brother at the hospital. She can only look at him through the window. My heart is broken and we haven't told her the news yet. She's still under the weather but the medicine her pediatrician recommended seems to be working. I am so bummed. I can't quite let go of the idea that there won't be any of those "first days" photos with her. Her brother won't give her the gift we picked out. She won't hold him in the hospital chair like I promised. She's so excited to see him and it just won't play out the way we planned. To say my heart is broken is actually an understatement.
But, these things happen and it turns out having a baby during a horrible flu season in the winter just isn't the best. So, we're praying everything else goes smoothly, that surgery will go well and we get discharged as soon as possible.
Other than that news, our week was good. We did a little cleaning but mostly we enjoyed each other. There was dressing up and putting away the tons of birthday presents she received. There were sleepless nights and cleaning up vomit mixed in with beach adventures, playing games and snuggling on the sofa.
In a way, it's not quite how I pictured our last week as a family of three to go. But in another way, when you're planning the exact day of something this big, it's easy to focus on routine things that need to get done and crossing off to-dos instead of letting life flow.
Either way, this is our last night. I'm trying to enjoy it without letting my nerves (and hormones!) overcome me. I'm sure by tomorrow I'll have a whole rush of other emotions taking over but for now I just want to focus on our girl...
I love throwing a fun party. I'm a big believer that parties don't have to be extravagant, overly
expensive or leave you crazy by the end of it. Even when I find myself 38 weeks pregnant and buried under a pile of mini piñatas and streamers and cursing myself for thinking it was a good idea, it still actually makes me happy.
Lia's birthday is wedged between Christmas and New Years and our brains (and budget!) are usually fried by then. This past weekend, we threw her fifth birthday party and I like to think I've got a small bag of tricks now to help pull off fun parties that won't break the bank. The best part is these tips can really work for any event!
Tip #1
Start with an idea or theme that you can fall back on to pull everything together. I'm not a fan of character-themed parties, to be honest. And luckily, my girl has never really asked for one. I usually pick some sort of theme pulled together from both of our opinions. It could be based around a few favorite colors, a favorite type of food or even something as simple as fresh flowers. Don't over think the party! Simple is key and having just a few focal points or highlights really pulls it all together.
You can see our pink & sprinkles party here.
Our pajama breakfast party here.
Tip #2
Use what you already have around your house! Mason jars, my favorite ceramic platter, unused flower pots - they've all played parts in decorating for every party I've thrown. Be sure to clean everything a few days before your event so it's all ready to go then just get creative! I've used small flower pots to hold silverware and mason jars are a favorite for paper straws or candy.
Tip #3
I like to decide on two or three colors ahead of time and use that as a jumping point for everything else. It's so easy to find paper plates and napkins that are so pretty they can double as your decor! I also like to use plain white disposable cups with a paper straw for a pop of color. Then, I'll usually add a few balloons to the mix and sometimes even a vase (or two!) of fresh flowers. Paper banners or tissue paper garlands are also great and usually easy to make or inexpensive to buy! Brown kraft paper is a favorite trick of mine to keep tables covered (you can find this at places like Target or Staples). You can set out crayons, let the kids draw on it then toss it after the party.
Tip #4
Keep the food and drinks simple! You'll thank yourself for it in the last 10 minutes of party prep. Regardless of how organized you thought you were, something always needs to be taken care of right as guests are getting to your door. Hot dogs cook well in large batches in a slow cooker. Juice boxes work great for kids to easily grab themselves. Fill up different styles and sizes of bowls and platters with pretzels, chips or even candy in a color that matches your theme. I like to hold our parties in between meal times so that having a small variety of snacks should be all I need on hand. I also like to check with parents ahead of time when throwing a party for kids to be sure I know about any important food allergies (peanuts, milk, wheat, etc).
Tip #5
The cake! Growing up, we almost always had a homemade cake (usually from a box mix). It was good enough for me then and still is! Cakes from a grocery store or bakery, while tasty, can be expensive. If it fits in your budget, go for it! If it doesn't, your cake will still be great. We like a homemade touch so I'll usually grab a favorite box mix (or an easy recipe) and make a cake or a batch of cupcakes. I always let my husband frost - he's the best and he's always frosted our daughter's cakes. I like to keep them simple by adding just sprinkles or a few DIY toppers!
Tip #6
Your invitations and favors. The invitation is the first glimpse of the party your guests will see! You want to be sure it clearly states the details of your party and anything special they need to know. For our most recent party, I specified that guests should bring a blanket to sit on during the movie! You can make your own if you're feeling up to it, there are always fun ideas over on Pinterest; or you can go a more personal route and choose one from Shutterfly like this bright, colorful invitation with some pictures on it. They have fun invitations to fit any type of event! When it comes to party favors, I like to keep it outside of the box. I have to admit that my mini piñatas did take a little extra effort but the kids loved them! You could do something like a mini notepad with a few crayons tied on or a treat packaged in a fun way.
Tip #7
Kids will find a way to stay entertained! I've spent a ton of time and effort making games that were never played, and trying to always have an activity planned, but it just never worked. Now, I keep a loose plan for the flow of the party and I let the kids do as they please. They usually gravitate to our swing set or the toys in our house and I just gather them together when it's time for the cake or any main event you've planned (a movie, a craft or hitting the piñata!).
As long as you're having fun, I think you're doing it right! Almost every party I have thrown has had some "hitch" - rain, a cake that fell apart, etc. Just remember that it will never be perfect, but these tips can help you keep it perfectly imperfect!
I know there's so many adventures in our future. I know that life as a family of four will make us incredibly happy and it'll be wilder than our dreams. I know that welcoming a new babe into our family is nothing but good madness. I really do...
But. Part of me can't help to feel like these last couple days are bittersweet. From the moment our girl entered the world, we've been a solo act. Me and her, her and me. She's my tiny little sidekick that's been with me every moment of the past five years. We've taken adventures and had fun as a family and some days she wants nothing more than her dad's attention, but the bond I share with her is incredible. So incredible in fact that I know deep in my heart that nothing will break it. Yet still, I feel sad saying goodbye to the last days we have as a solo act.
Friday morning, our son will enter our world. I'm sure my heart will grow in size to love him just as much as I love his sister. I'm sure she'll be the best big sister this world has ever seen. I'm sure he'll have his daddy wrapped around his tiny finger. We've wanted this for so long. We're still beyond grateful that we're able to add another babe to this life of ours.
But still. There's something about leaving behind a chapter of life. Of adding some new to the mix. I took some good advice earlier today and let the laundry and my to-do list stay undone and swept my girl off for an adventure. I packed a quick bag and we drove straight to my favorite sub shop on the island and then to the beach. It was cold and windy and the seagulls really wanted our sandwiches. It wasn't the most perfect outing, but sitting on a quiet beach watching my girl make sand angels was a serious kind of chicken soup for the soul. I want to tuck away a piece of today to remind me that today only lasts for one day. She's only five for one year. My kids will never be younger or older than what they are this very minute and those damn dishes can be dirty forever.
So, here's to more adventures. Here's to being spontaneous. Here's to not caring about everything that just HAS to get done and being more worried about the important things in life. It's not always easy, but man is the payoff good.
And tonight, on my next to last night of being a mama to only one little babe, my girl is sick. We've cleaned up throw-up, wiped a runny nose, ran a warm bath, spoon fed her applesauce and rubbed her little belly hoping and praying that whatever she has goes away fast. She's tucked into her warm bed and I'm missing her sweet body tucked beside me already.
Whatever the future holds and however our world changes after Friday, it's all good things.
But. Part of me can't help to feel like these last couple days are bittersweet. From the moment our girl entered the world, we've been a solo act. Me and her, her and me. She's my tiny little sidekick that's been with me every moment of the past five years. We've taken adventures and had fun as a family and some days she wants nothing more than her dad's attention, but the bond I share with her is incredible. So incredible in fact that I know deep in my heart that nothing will break it. Yet still, I feel sad saying goodbye to the last days we have as a solo act.
Friday morning, our son will enter our world. I'm sure my heart will grow in size to love him just as much as I love his sister. I'm sure she'll be the best big sister this world has ever seen. I'm sure he'll have his daddy wrapped around his tiny finger. We've wanted this for so long. We're still beyond grateful that we're able to add another babe to this life of ours.
But still. There's something about leaving behind a chapter of life. Of adding some new to the mix. I took some good advice earlier today and let the laundry and my to-do list stay undone and swept my girl off for an adventure. I packed a quick bag and we drove straight to my favorite sub shop on the island and then to the beach. It was cold and windy and the seagulls really wanted our sandwiches. It wasn't the most perfect outing, but sitting on a quiet beach watching my girl make sand angels was a serious kind of chicken soup for the soul. I want to tuck away a piece of today to remind me that today only lasts for one day. She's only five for one year. My kids will never be younger or older than what they are this very minute and those damn dishes can be dirty forever.
So, here's to more adventures. Here's to being spontaneous. Here's to not caring about everything that just HAS to get done and being more worried about the important things in life. It's not always easy, but man is the payoff good.
And tonight, on my next to last night of being a mama to only one little babe, my girl is sick. We've cleaned up throw-up, wiped a runny nose, ran a warm bath, spoon fed her applesauce and rubbed her little belly hoping and praying that whatever she has goes away fast. She's tucked into her warm bed and I'm missing her sweet body tucked beside me already.
Whatever the future holds and however our world changes after Friday, it's all good things.
I erred on the side of caution and decided a simple backyard party would be a pretty low-key party approach. With being 38 weeks pregnant, one week away from my c-section and feeling pretty tired and sore most of the time, I just wanted to enjoy celebrating our girl on one of our last days as a family of three.
She chose the movie and I pulled everything else together. We decided this could be the first year she was allowed to invite everyone in her class along with a few extra friends and I am SO proud of how well she handled so many friends and all of the attention. She even blew out her candles on her own this year!
We served up a tray of hot dogs for the kids while they ran off some energy in the backyard before we let them hit the piñata and enjoy cake! Once it got dark enough, we turned on Frozen, passed out glowsticks and served up each kid their own paper bag of popcorn and let them choose from mini movie candies to munch on. Most kids didn't make it through the entire movie but our girl sure did have a blast while it lasted! The rain held off until the very end, so L and a few friends went inside to open all of her gifts before they said goodbye.
And each kid got to take home a mini piñata favor full of, yep, more treats!
It was such a good party and so fun to see our backyard full of people there to love on and celebrate our girl. And, I'm forever grateful to my mom and sister for surprising L with a visit because they rocked all the behind the scenes things during the party while I got to snap a few photos and sit down to chat!
It's crazy to know this makes five birthday parties down and countless to go!
She chose the movie and I pulled everything else together. We decided this could be the first year she was allowed to invite everyone in her class along with a few extra friends and I am SO proud of how well she handled so many friends and all of the attention. She even blew out her candles on her own this year!
We served up a tray of hot dogs for the kids while they ran off some energy in the backyard before we let them hit the piñata and enjoy cake! Once it got dark enough, we turned on Frozen, passed out glowsticks and served up each kid their own paper bag of popcorn and let them choose from mini movie candies to munch on. Most kids didn't make it through the entire movie but our girl sure did have a blast while it lasted! The rain held off until the very end, so L and a few friends went inside to open all of her gifts before they said goodbye.
And each kid got to take home a mini piñata favor full of, yep, more treats!
It was such a good party and so fun to see our backyard full of people there to love on and celebrate our girl. And, I'm forever grateful to my mom and sister for surprising L with a visit because they rocked all the behind the scenes things during the party while I got to snap a few photos and sit down to chat!
It's crazy to know this makes five birthday parties down and countless to go!
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