the one where Madelyn becomes a Husted with the Musted

This past weekend two of our very best friends got married. Dan was the best man in the wedding and I was a bridesmaid. The weekend was fun, busy and exhausting.

Friday:
It just so happened that Dan had a half day from school. That worked out so nicely as we had a list of things I had written down on our to-do list and my head was about to explode trying to figure out how to do it all. We had to pick up Dan's suit, drop Tori off at his mom's house, get ready, go to the rehearsal which was at a park in Wrightsville and then head to the rehearsal dinner. I can be a freak about time so originally when all of those things had to be done between 3:30 to 5, I almost lost it.
Around 1pm Dans mom ended up texting me and offering to pick Tori up on her way home from work. This would make things so, so much easier and of course I was hesitant at first. Im not a big fan of Tori driving with anyone who isn't me. Yes, even Dan. I am sort of crazy about it. I went over 101 scenarios in my head and then finally convinced myself why it was going to be perfectly fine and it was only a 20 minute ride and that Dan's mom would let me know when they got home and all would be well. Fast forward and what do ya know?! She was fine. After Rhonda picked up Tori, Dan and I had about an hour before we needed to get ready where we could just hang out. Obviously we documented that with a picture of us just hanging out on the back porch. We didn't know what to do with ourselves. We pretended Tori was there (naturally) by yelling things as if she was.. you know, things like don't put dirt in your mouth, stay in our own yard, we even threatened to take her inside a few times. After we got dolled up Meg and Ray came over (both of them were also in the wedding) and we headed to the rehearsal. The rehearsal was not at the place Mad and Chris got married so it was a tad confusing. We learned who was lined up with who and we also learned that the ceremony was going to be super quick (thankfully) and then we learned that there are such things as dog weddings. Long story short.. there was a dog wedding happening in the park at the same time as the Husted rehearsal. Ok, maybe it wasn't a dog wedding and it was actually engagement pictures being taken with dogs included but a dog wedding seemed a lot more funny. We even threw in there that the dogs were gay. A gay dog wedding. Yep, that makes sense and yes that is the sort of conversation that happens when you put me and my girlfriends together. In a park. Cold. Hungry. Anxious. Dinner was at the Eagles Nest in York and it was delicious!!!! You had an option of a steak/crabcake/chicken or greek platter thing. Literally everyone loved their food. Dan and I always purposely get different things so we can taste both, or in this case, because I am currently going through a weird eating stage of pregnancy, Dan ate my crabcake and we brought his steak and baked potato home. Gifts were given. The guys all got these really awesome pocket watches (I don't like to brag but that's partially in thanks to me, youre welcome Chris!) and the ladies got a unique Alex and Ani bracelet and a set of earrings to wear for the weddings. Super cute, super fun and something we will all use.

Saturday:

I was feeling anxious all night because of Tori sleeping over at Rhonda's. Rhonda is FAB with her and Tori loves her so much but I cannot handle Tori being away from me. I tossed and turned all night so naturally, I woke up Saturday feeling terrible. My neck was so stiff and I was exhausted. Meg texted me saying she was running late because she threw her back out. Apparently we are old. And stiff LOL. She comes to get me, we run to Panera to do a coffee/bagel and cream cheese pick up and off to John Wright we went to get ready. Madelyn had hired two current beauty school students to do our hair and makeup and they did FANTASTIC. I LOVE getting my makeup professionally done. And other than a messy bun, an updo isn't my thing so I got both done. Getting ready for a wedding, although LONG is fun. Even when almost 8 months pregnant and sober. We laughed, we talked, we listened to music. It felt good to get some girl time. By the time Madelyn was done getting ready she legit looked like a bridal Barbie. Magazine material. STUNNING. And I must say, I think everyone cleaned up really nice. I LOVE seeing Dan in a suit. My husband looked hot. I wont bore you with any more details of it but yeah, he's a babe. The ceremony was short and sweet. It was pretty windy outside but nothing terrible and I would much rather be standing outside on a windy day than standing outside in terrible heat. At the reception inside, it was gorgeous. John Wright overlooks the river so it was beautiful for pictures and we had taken wedding pictures before the ceremony even started so once the reception started we really just got to enjoy ourselves with the guests. Open bar, dinner, dancing. It was a lot of fun. Crazy that Chris and Madelyn are married! I can still remember the first night meeting her and it is so fun to have gotten to be a part of not only their chapter as they started dating/their relationship but also of their wedding day. I must say, even at almost 8 months pregnant, it was not terrible. My friends are all nuts so we laugh and laugh even without any alcohol. And lucky for me, our bmaid dresses were not tight fitting so I didn't feel as much of a cow as I thought I might.

 

I am still seriously considering becoming a professional bridesmaid. I am so good at it.

 

 



the one where I am 30 weeks along

This week has been a whirlwind and I have been enjoying the non stop baby related fun!
Our dear friends John and Christine welcomed baby Brynlee Elizabeth to the world on Friday and then that night we found out that our friends Amber and Andy will be having a baby _____ come February! So exciting and we are so happy to finally have friends who are joining the parenting club.
30 weeks has come fast. Really fast. I feel SO heavy all of a sudden. I hate how I look. With Tori, I was mostly big during the winter so I was able to be covered up. This pregnancy has brought on shorts, tank tops, dresses, flabby arms, cellulite in places I have never seen it, hips wide enough that when I went to meet baby Brynlee yesterday I was told that the nurses thought I was in labor. Yes people, I waddle. And no, Im not one of those who only looks pregnant in the belly. I carry pregnancy everywhere. For the most part, I like being pregnant but with that said, right now is about the time that I start getting antsy. I don't feel like myself. I know what youre thinking, cry me a river... but I am not used to seeing myself this heavy. 120 soak and wet is my usual and breaking 150 is hard. Its hard on my back, its hard on my hips, its hard on my toddler who wants me to carry her, its hard on my toddler who randomly has decided that "hold me like a baby" should be a normal occurrence. Hard on my workouts, sometimes I go to bend down and am afraid I wont make it back up lol. Hard on my husband who I complain to. Hard on my non-maternity clothes that I insist on still getting on my body somehow LOL. Ill end on a positive note: I am SO blessed to be able to have this experience, so blessed to be able to grow a healthy, perfect baby.. and Ill take whatever pounds I have to to make sure all is well for my little Ava Estelle.

How far along: 30 weeks!
Total weight gain: 25 ish lbs
Maternity clothes: Yep!
Stretch marks: Nope
Sleep: Its been fine, thankfully
Best moment of this week: Starting to look into my newborn photog.
Miss anything: Alcohol and my old face lol. I am officially puffy.
Movement: YES! A LOT!
Food cravings: More food aversions than anything else
Have you started to show yet: I am massive
Gender: GIRL!
Labor signs: Thankfully no!
Belly button in or out: Out
Wedding rings on or off: On but I take them off halfway through the day as I get more puffy
Happy or moody most of the time: Happy!
Looking forward to: Painting Tori/Ava's bedroom! Its on my October to-do list!

the one where I get real about my bad day

This is not a cry for help I swear. Its a real post. Its a mom-life-is-hard-and-draining-and-some-days-I-want-to-run-away-from-home sort of post. Why share? Because motherhood isn't always rainbows and butterflies people, and why would I have a blog if I wasn't going to be real? I have unsubscribed to a bunch of mom blogs who share only the dreamy stuff. The stuff where they are playing in a field picking flowers with their perfectly behaved children. Where their hair is in a perfect updo, they are wearing a beautiful floor length sun dress and they have their makeup on, fresh and dewey. ITS NOT HOW IT REALLY IS PEOPLE.
Don't get me wrong. Motherhood is amazing. There is a love that comes with being a mom that you do NOT understand until you are a mother. You might start getting an idea of that love when you're pregnant, but it doesn't take over your soul the way the love does when you are holding that precious baby. And then, fast forward to two years.. and there are tears. Not so much toddler tears, there are mommy tears. I cried today. A couple of different times. I have heard "boys are so much easier to raise than gitls" more times than I can count. I don't know what makes that true.. or if its true.. and as of right now I wont be finding out but my girl, shes hard. Today she hit me more times than I can count, she scratched my face and broke skin, she kicked me. She stepped on my toes enough times that I didn't want to take my shoes off in the house, she pulled my hair because she was "trying to braid it". She refused to sit in the booth at lunch, she climbed, she screamed, she emptied everything onto the table that she could (servers love us).. she refused to eat.. (and then told me in the car that she was "so hungry"). She wouldn't sit at her table for dinner, she wouldn't sit at our table for dinner, she wouldn't sit in her high chair for dinner. Pretty much, anything she could possibly be doing, she didn't want to do. She fought tooth and nail to not give into anything I said today.. and I don't know why? I don't know why these battles happen. I don't know why time out doesn't seem to phase her. I don't know why she will be so tired she can barely keep her eyes open but she will just fight the nap as if it just the worst idea shes ever heard. All of this drama and fighting happened over a few hours timespan. It is draining. I thought to myself multiple times that I wished I wasn't home. I was envious of those who don't have children and were shopping, or getting dinner with friends, napping or doing anything else in the world than what I was doing right then. Am I horrible for saying that? I really wanted to not be there today. I really wanted to not be around my child.
The hardest part of days like today are not even the hitting or anything physical. Its the amount of questioning I do to myself as a parent. What am I doing wrong? What should I change? Am I a bad mom? Does anyone else have to deal with this stuff like I do? Why cant I keep my house clean? Why are there always so many dishes? Why is there never food in our house? Why have I not put makeup on in 4 days?
Fast forward to bedtime.. and I am rocking this little tyrant of mine to sleep.
Mommy: "Did you have a fun day today?"
Tori: "Yes, I play with Mommy and Daddy"
Mommy: "Why don't you listen to Mommy, Tor? Mommy loves you and tries very hard to take good care of you. No more hitting Mommy, ok Tori?"
Tori: "Ok Mommy, love you".

I love you too baby girl, even on our worst day together, I hope you always remember I love you. I am proud of you. I am your number one fan. You are the love of my life.

the one where Im 28 weeks

How far along: 28 weeks!
Total weight gain: 22 ish lbs
Maternity clothes: Yep! I am no longer squeezing into my size small t shirts haha
Stretch marks: Nope
Sleep: Its been fine, thankfully
Best moment of this week: We had friends over on Saturday night and a bunch of them got to feel baby girl kick. She was literally doing karate.
Miss anything: Alcohol and my old face lol. I am officially puffy.
Movement: YES! A LOT! I love it.
Food cravings: More food aversions than anything else
Have you started to show yet: I am massive
Gender: GIRL!
Labor signs: Thankfully no!
Belly button in or out: It popped out this weekend!
Wedding rings on or off: On but I take them off halfway through the day as I get more puffy
Happy or moody most of the time: Happy!
Looking forward to: Painting Tori/Ava's bedroom! Its on my October to-do list!

For the most part I am feeling pretty good. I go hours and hours without remembering I am pregnant. Then Tori will want me to hold her (you know, for two blocks down to the park)... or Ill annoy myself by dropping the same thing three times in a row and hit the point of officially refusing to bend over... those are my most intense reminders of how pregnant I am lol. People still tell me I look small for the most part which is nice to hear but I am getting right at that stage where I start to get puffy from head to toe. All in time for Madelyn and Chris' wedding haha.

the one where Tori has preschool orientation

Tori is starting preschool on the 15th. Big girl will be in the two year old program. It meets two days a week for 2.5 hours each day. So two days a week, Ill be getting up in the morning with my girl, getting her dressed (with whatever she wants to wear, of course), having breakfast with her, getting myself ready.. and taking my baby to watched and cared for by someone else two days a week. Two days a week someone else is going to be keeping her safe, making sure she is having fun, teaching her something new, making sure she is treating her friends nicely, cleaning up, sharing. Someone else will be trusted to be another 'me'. Crazy. She is more ready than I am.
Today we had her orientation. I got to meet both her head teacher and her co teacher. Both are so sweet, both are very educated, I could tell in our short visit both are very patient and are seasoned vets. Her co teacher looks exactly like what you imagine a preschool teacher would look like, petite, in her 60s, wearing a long dress, her white hair down and out of her face with a clip.
Her classroom was SUCH A CLASSROOM. I know what youre thinking, duh.. but it seemed even more like school than I thought it would be. The halls are white and bright and covered with so many colorful pictures, animals, designs, shapes. Her name is hung outside of her classroom door, with a little file folder where I can collect her paperwork and anything else the teacher needs to get to me. There are soooo many toys that Tori just loved. Side note: I need to invest in some Fisher price little people. She especially loved the farm and animals. It sounds like their day is going to be pretty structured (as much as a class full of 2/3 yr olds can be).
Security is tight at her preschool. I like that. You need badges, doors get locked. They run a tight ship there. The main annoyance I can see happening with the school is the pick up and drop off. You physically have to take your child inside to their classroom and pick them up from their classroom. Might be a pain with baby Ava but I am reminding myself that she will be teeny tiny and sleeping a lot so itll be a matter of taking her car seat in and out which will not be totally convenient but wont be the worst thing.
After the parents got an hour in the classroom with the kiddos we had a meeting with the director. So we left the kiddos there for the teachers to get to know them better. Tori wasn't even sort of scared. She said "bye mom!" and gave me a kiss... leaving the room was the only time I got a bit teary. 2.5 years has gone so fast. Parents don't lie when they tell you "the days are slow but the years are fast".
Fast forward to picking her up from the class and she did NOT want to leave. She was so happy and having so much fun playing with all of the toys and the kids.

"Mom, I play with my friends"
"Mom, I stay in my classroom"

When we got home from preschool the first thing she said to me was "Mom, I go to my classroom?" and I had to remind her that she doesn't start for a little while still lol. I am so glad she likes it, I am so glad its only just under 6 hours a week and I am so glad I didn't cry hysterically like I imagined I would.

In her classroom playing with kitchen toys

 

At the playdoh station

 

Pulling every toy she can find off of the shelves

 

Her very own bookbag hook

 

Playing in the rocks outside in the courtyard area