A Week Ago Today: Hello, Rowan.

Rowan Lee William Guffey

Born: November 3, 2014, 6:20pm

7.6 pounds, 19.5 inches long

My, how life can change in a week! This exact moment last week, Rhyno and I were headed to the hospital to begin inducing labor. I hit my due date, October 27, without any signs of oncoming labor. Every morning following the long-awaited due date, I rubbed my then super pregnant belly and asked, "Is today your birthday?" Rhyno and I walked our neighborhood and ate spicy food at every meal. We visited our doctor and he confirmed what we suspected, there were still no signs of progress and we quietly scheduled an appointment to induce labor on November 3. 

The night before we were to head into the hospital I kept waiting for my water to break. I had been so against being induced and badly wanted things to happen naturally. Rhyno and I spent the night before our induction quietly at home, soaking in our last hours as just the two of us playing cards, snuggling Violet, watching movies, and laying in bed talking about what the next morning would bring...and secretly we were both waiting for labor to begin earlier than expected and rush to the hospital in the middle of the night. The next morning we both woke up at 3:30am anxious for the day's events. After what seemed like years we finally grabbed the hospital and diaper bags and made our way to our hospital.

I have to say now, induction wasn't what I thought it would be. We were placed in a big birthing room, my parents met us at the hospital, and we spent the day monitoring baby's heartrate and movement and my contractions. To spare the long details, after nearly 9 hours of intense epidural-free contractions I still had shown no signs of progress and my water was intact and my doctor uttered the phrase I had desperately hoped to avoid: C-Section. It was best for baby and myself and our doctor had really tried his best to avoid it as I had told him throughout my pregnancy I wanted a "traditional" labor and delivery. 

The second the words left the doc's mouth I started to cry. I had never had surgery and a c-section just wasn't how I envisioned bringing this long awaited baby into the world. I wanted my baby delivered directly to my chest, I wanted their umbilical cord to finish pulsing before it was cut, I wanted to breastfeed minutes after their arrival. I saw my vision of my "perfect" delivery. I finally had my moment of panic--I was afraid of surgery, afraid of letting go of my delivery dreams, afraid of being "out of it" when my baby arrived. 

The hour before surgery was a blur--nurses rushing in to get me prepped, my dad (who had run home to let the dog out) rushing back to the hospital so I could see him before I headed to the OR, my final visitors stopping in to make sure I was alright, and--in a moment of irony--my water breaking as I got into a wheelchair that would take me to the C-section I hoped never to go through.Rhyno was left in the OR hall to dress in his "bunny suit scrubs" and in my terror and panic I was left to get my spinal block and get prepped for the very first (and most important) surgery of my life. After getting my husband situated on the stool next to my head and making sure I was numbed up, the doctor went to work. 

"Well, are you ready? You have a handsome baby boy!" Sweeter words have never been spoken and there was no shortage of tears as Rhyno and I both repeated, "A boy? We have a boy! We have a son!" Ry announced his name to the surgical staff in the room--Rowan Lee William Guffey--and the doctor held him over the curtain for me to see. He was absolutely perfect (in my hormone, adrenaline-fueled state I loudly proclaimed, "Oh thank goodness, he's really cute!" The nurses, knowing how badly I had wanted my golden hour, let me hold my new baby on my chest and when I met my boys in the recovery room a short time later, a nurse quickly helped me breastfeed and hold him skin-to-skin. As for my umbilical cord wishes? Welp, it was cut as soon as possible instead of being allowed to finish pulsing, but for good reason. It turns out someone was looking out for my baby because upon pulling him out of me they discovered his cord had been wrapped around his neck twice so a vaginal delivery could have had major, terrifying complications. Things have such a way of working out for the best. Our families were able to quickly visit us in our room and we spent the following days bonding and falling madly in love and (for me) beginning to recover from major surgery while learning to breastfeed and be someone's mom (oh, but that's for another post). Life has completely changed in 7 days and I couldn't be happier.

So, he's here! After years of waiting and trying and crying over negative pregnancy tests, our beautiful (and I mean seriously beautiful) boy is here. Our Babysaurus is home, Rowan Lee William, our Ro, our future Blackhawks power forward. He has my pout and pointy chin, Rhyno's nose, and big feet that we aren't quite sure who to attribute to. He has the most beautiful slate colored eyes (though in the last couple days they have begun to lighten and it's bittersweet that he's already beginning to grow up). He is sweet tempered (mostly, he also throws a pretty rocking temper tantrum) and seriously strong (must be all that spinach I ate!) and I could (and do) spend hours looking into his little eyes or holding his tiny hands in mine while he eats and running my hands over his sandy colored hair and kissing those little baby cheeks.Did I mention the clothes? I could spend my whole day changing Ro's tiny hats and outfits...if only he didn't despise getting dressed quite so much.

Welcome to the world, my Babysaurus, it's a much sweeter place now that you're in it.

Four Years.

Today marks FOUR years that Rhyno and I have been married (eight and a half that we've been together total). The time around our wedding is such a sweet source of memories for me. I was spending most nights after work sewing bouquets, picking dresses, and arranging details (ever wanted to do an 80% DIY wedding without a wedding planner? I promise it is possible...and also very inexpensive).  

Honestly? There are certain things I'd change about our wedding day--our photographers, people in the wedding party, small details, songs we used, the usual things (Pinterest was not a thing back then). One thing I would never change? The person waiting for me at the end of the aisle. I remember how handsome Rhyno looked all dressed up and how I basically wanted to run down the aisle to him. Our day went smoothly and surpassed all of my expectations, it really was one of the greatest days of my life.

In the years since then we've had ups and downs, fights and make ups, bought a house, tried for a baby, had lots of career changes, supported one another through the ups and downs of friendships, lost our beloved dog, and got pregnant this year. Rhyno is my person, my best friend, and even when he makes me steaming mad I am so happy and lucky to have him in my corner.

Here's to four wonderful, crazy, hilarious years and many, many more!

The Last One.

It's my 29th birthday!

The last birthday of my twenties, the last birthday before I become a mom. This is kind of a big day. 

I'm a "birthday person" by nature. I am that friend who will text and connect via ever social medium to wish you happy birthday and I'll send you a funny picture of my dog wearing a birthday hat. I set my alarm on Rhyno's birthday a half hour earlier than his to make him breakfast and be downstairs to greet him when he wakes up. I will bake you a cake that is four tiers high and in your favorite color and shape. Birthdays are a big deal. This one feels like the biggest deal to me.

I've never been someone to worry about getting old. As friends of mine hit their 25th birthday and started short "quarter-life crises," my 25th birthday was amazing (to be fair I got married 3 days after and then went to Disney World for a week so the last thing on my mind was being an old bag of bones). Now on the day that officially begins the last year of my twenties I feel....happy. I feel calm about getting older, getting (hopefully) wiser, and starting a brand new chapter in my life. No, everything isn't totally figured out for me like I thought it would be at this age and I still question a lot of my decisions but today I feel calm with ending 28 and beginning 29.

My first baby is due exactly one week from today and this last birthday of mine is surreal. As I was eating birthday cake at 4am (yes, you read that correctly, move on) I kept thinking about how this little, sugary tradition of mine might be different next year. Maybe I'll be tired from being up with the baby or maybe my body clock with change and it'll be the first year in forever that I don't automatically wake up super early on my birthday because I'm excited.

A few people have asked me if  this year is bittersweet for me since it's the last year of my birthday as the baby of my family and next year's birthday will start with a 3 instead of a 2. Truthfully? I'm excited. Sure, my life has some wrinkles in it but isn't that what this last year of my twenties is for? I've made a resolution to make a (small, undaunting) bucket list of things I'd like to accomplish before October 20, 2015. Number one on that list? I suppose it would be having a baby, any day now.

Happy birthday to me and goodbye 28. I'm ready to celebrate this last year of my twenties and begin the newest chapter of my life, baby and all. :)

Currently.

Oh, Violet, those back wrinkles for dayz...

I am currently...

....eating whatever I want! I am definitely enjoying these last few weeks of pregnancy eating. Milkshakes and spinach smoothies and sliced avocado and peanut M&Ms. Man, I am going to miss eating for two.

...making holiday plans! I'm already making plans for Thanksgiving and Christmas decorations around our house. We opted out of decorating for Halloween like we usually do since the babe is due in just over a week and will most likely be coming home when it's time to take everything down (which is my job...I can't imagine wanting to do that after giving birth...).

...listening to Murder By Death. I bought Rhyno the full vinyl collection for his birthday last month and we have been enjoying spinning those records in our bedroom at all hours of the day. Love, love, love.

...reading  This Is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper. I totally meant to read this over summer before seeing the movie but wound up working backwards. Rhyno and I went on a little morning date a few weekends ago and decided to see a movie. I thought it was pretty good and we immediately went to the bookstore afterward to pick this bad boy up. It's super different than the movie but I'm loving it so far (I'm a little over halfway through). I definitely recommend it so far.

...watching Gilmore Girls on Netflix. Fun fact, I had never seen a whole episode before last week (I know, I know). After the series was released on Netflix I finally decided to give it a chance and wound up really enjoying it. After finishing Desperate Housewives earlier this month I'm almost caught up on prime time TV from 2008!

...loving organization at work, at home, in everything. I spent the last two months getting every corner of my life organized and it feels so wonderful to have everything in order.

 ...looking forward to meeting baby cakes any day now (of course)!

Have a great weekend!

If you also partake in Currently posts, please link up in the comments!

Pin-Spirational: Cold Remedies.

Welcome back to Pin-Spirational!

The Pin:Knockout Recipe for Colds

The Reason: A couple of weeks ago I woke up one day sick as a dog. Not being in the place to self medicate with Mucinex and DayQuil like I usually do (a terrible habit which I'm trying to ween myself off of) I decided to hit Pinterest for some natural recipes for wellness.

 

The Process:

Gather your supplies.

You'll need apple cider vinegar, a lemon, and some honey (I have two because Rhyno wasn't sure what the difference was). 

Mix up the concoction in a mug and microwave it. After I heated it up, I added a bit of room temperature water to dilute things a bit. This was STRONG. I drank this twice a day before using my Neti Pot and I did notice that things, um, cleared up and drained out afterward.

The Verdict:Undecided. I want to stress that I actually love apple cider vinegar AND I drink warm lemon juice every morning but the taste of this? Woof. Bad. I guzzled it through a straw to avoid damaging my enamel. I did notice a bit of a difference but I was also using a neti pot and sleeping a lot of drinking copious amounts of tea so I'm not sure what it was exactly that made me feel better. It did take me about 6 days to regain health so don't expect any miracles.

Have you tried any great pins lately?

What Makes You Happy.

via

Just  a little Wednesday brain food for thought. Enjoy your day and do happy things!

A Letter to Babysaurus II.

Dear Babysaurus, 

At 38 weeks pregnant, it's crazy to me that I will be holding you in my arms sooner than later. I'll get to count your fingers and toes, touch your baby cheeks, and take too many close up photos of your tiny baby eyelashes.I will actually get to look into your eyes for the very first time (I keep wondering, will they be blue like daddy's or a muddy green like mine?).

Your itty bitty baby clothes and blankets are all washed and folded, ready to snuggle you up. Your bedroom is completely ready--full of books that will take you on magical adventures, stuffed animals that will prove to be excellent guests at tea parties, nightlights that will keep away even the scariest of monsters, and little details to remind you of how loved you are all the time. I sit in the recliner we bought for your room at least once a day and I can't believe you're almost here. My baby. My baby is going to be living in this little room, sitting with me in this little chair during feedings or being rocked to sleep, laying on the activity pad learning about animals and elbows and numbers. The baby I dreamed of for so many years and have felt kick around for so many months will actually be here. It is a sweet and surreal feeling to say the least. 

Our whole house is definitely baby ready (we even put covers on all the outlets quite a few months earlier than needed). Your swing is set up and ready for afternoon naps, your bassinet is right by my side of the bed, your bottles are clean and put away in a space made just for them in the cabinet, your tubby toys and toiletries have taken over the hall bathroom. Your high chair is set up at the dining room table. Your stroller is tucked behind the front door ready for neighborhood walks and your car seat is waiting for you in daddy's car. I walked in from getting groceries last week and remember thinking, "Wow, it really looks like a baby lives here now." You'll be here so soon.

I still haven't panicked, I haven't felt that pang of terror, and the only moment I felt overwhelmed was when the house was in complete disarray and I worried about bringing you home to a mess (don't worry, I got everything cleaned up). I know things won't be perfect, but I strangely feel okay about that. I know Violet will probably jump on us as we bring you into the house for the first time no matter how many times we tell her to get down. I know people will show up to see you when the house is messy and I haven't showered. I know learning to breastfeed will be difficult (for both of us). I know sometimes you'll cry and I won't be sure how to soothe you. I know there will be sleepless nights and lots of really dirty diapers. I know there will be hills to climb and struggles to face but for the first time in my life, I feel okay about that. We'll tackle those things as they come along and I promise that we will be just fine.

The closer we get to the due date the more anxious I am to see your face and find out if I've been cooking a baby boy or a girl for these nine months. I am ready to give you your name and hear other people say it, too. I'm ready to dress you up in the tiny dinosaur hoodie your Auntie Pickles made special for you. I'm ready to ask daddy what everyone said when he announced your name and gender to everyone waiting in the hospital waiting room. I've asked that you get delivered to my chest and that we have a "golden hour" together right after your birth and I am so ready for those 60 minutes of getting to know you face-to-face. I'm ready for you to meet your family and friends and our family pets. I'm ready to see all of our favorite littles hold you for the first time. I am ready to watch Fraggle Rock with you on Saturday mornings and let you stay up late watching Beetlejuice and eating popcorn on a school night. I am ready to see your reaction to your first taste of strawberries and learn what your favorite color is. I'm ready to see your face when you walk down the stairs on Christmas mornings to see if Santa brought you gifts or coal (I'm almost positive he'll never bring you coal). I'm ready to pack up a tiny suitcase for your first sleepover at Grandma and Grandpa's house, where they will most definitely let you eat too much sugar and stay up too late. I'm ready to see my husband become a dad, I can't wait to see him hold you for the first time. I'm just really, really ready.

People have asked if I'm getting sick of being pregnant and honestly, my answer is no. I've loved carrying you around these last nine months and feeling your tiny body move around at all hours (you are a bit of a night owl and love 2am). I rub my belly constantly and if I haven't felt you move in a while (which is sometimes 3 minutes) I anxiously wait with my hand to my belly to feel you kick around again. I have loved the look on people's faces when they get to feel you move around (your 5 year old cousin Charlie got to feel a little kick and his whole face lit up). All those years of dreaming and wanting and wishing for a pregnancy and it really has been every bit as magical as I thought it would be (even with the insomnia and the heartburn).

Less than two weeks (give or take) until I get to see your sweet little face and hold you close to me. I'm ready. I hope you are too.

XOXO and see you so soon,

Mommy

Shower 'Cap.

I've been looking forward to our baby shower for months now. It's been one of those things that I couldn't imagine would be real and I so badly wanted to celebrate our babe.

 

The last weekend of September my mom and some of my favorite ladies (including my cousin-like-a-sister) threw us the very best, super fun and relaxed, Muppetational baby shower at a nature center near our house. We got spoiled rotten, ate delicious (all vegetarian!) food, and got to spend time with a bunch of ladies (and some dudes, too) that we love.  There was a crazy awesome photo booth cart and minimal games (per my request, only voting who baby will look like and some sweet cards for people to fill out...no smelling chocolate filled diapers here!).

My family is kind of the best because they will go crazy with details (ahem, like steaming images of Muppets onto plastic plates and using glitter glue to make fancy dots on the disposable utensils) and they make big events like this super special. We had such a great afternoon celebrating Babysaurus and it made everything so REAL! 

Some photos of our big day:

Little frog footprints that led right to my chair!

 So many delicious desserts!

 A onesie banner made by my mom's students and goody bags filled with amazing popcorn.

 Aforementioned awesome photo booth cart.

 The gift table with that amazing (homemade) glitter banner.

 A tricked out tricycle--a gift from my dad that he picked out all by himself (and waxed)!

 I never realize how giant my bump is until I see it in pictures.

 Best. Outfit. Ever.

 A quilt made by Rhyno's mom, very befitting of our little Babysaurus. 

 Amazing centerpieces with bright flowers and stuffed Muppets (which are now hanging around Babysaurus' room waiting for their buddy to arrive). 

 Sweet details everywhere--cosmos from my late aunt's garden to keep her spirit there. Yes, this made me burst into tears. 

 Guess who baby looks like! I won the vote there. :)

 Parents and grandparents-to-be!

 Two of my very favorite littles who helped me with opening gifts and were super adorable.

 

 Photobooth cart madness....my dad was really rocking this photo, no?

 My parents are adorable.

 Some of my favorite friends (do you love that the two lovely gals on the right match our balloons?)

I love these ladies.

Thank you so much to everyone who helped give us the best shower ever! And to those that took so many photos since I forgot to take even one!

Today is officially TWO WEEKS until baby is here!

A Blip & a Bump.

Sorry for the little blip in blogging and the general silence n' cobwebs round here!

A little peek at my baby shower photos--more to come next week!

 

Hi, I'm the world's worst blogger. I feel like I've been neglecting my little space here but I'm trying not to hive out about it. Are you missing me though? I'm missing you. I don't like leaving this space empty for more than a couple days but I've been going crazy with baby prep and finishing up work projects and planning for the next couple months and dealing with some really FUN pregnancy insomnia! After battling that nasty head cold, I am just getting my footing back on ze blog.

I'll be back to regularly scheduled programming next week with a baby shower recap, some peeks at the nursery, and more. Stay tuned!

Sick Day.

Things are a bit quiet around here because...I am SICK! (Did you think I was going to say I had the baby early?)

Monday morning I woke up feeling a little "off" and then quickly realized it was a head cold. My baby shower is on Sunday so I am anxious to get healthy quickly! I'm avoiding all cold medicines because I'm positive they aren't good for bebe so natural remedies have taken over my life. I've been drinking lots of green juices/smoothies, hot water with lemon, pregnancy tea with honey, taking my vitamins, and I'm BFFs with my neti pot. 

I've been trying to sleep more than usual (darn pregnancy insomnia isn't really helping with that) and have been making dinners with LOADS of garlic and bell peppers. When I can't sleep, I'm trying to rest. Usually when I'm sick I push myself too hard and then take longer to recover. I have a to-do list a mile long but have been trying to ignore it and just lay down with a glass of OJ and pile of tissues.

Here's to crossed fingers that I am back to 100% by this weekend, I've been looking forward to my shower for months!

What are your go-to natural remedies when you're sick?

Happy Birthday (tomorrow), Rhyno!

Tomorrow is Rhyno's birthday and I am still working on ways to make this whole weekend special. 

We're going out to Dave & Buster's with our closest friends tonight, Rhyno has a soccer game and then we're having my parents over for lunch (and tool shopping for Ry and my dad), and dinner with just the two of us. Plus, CAKE. 

A few weeks ago my mom asked for baby/toddler photos of Rhyno for our baby shower. Can I just say, HOW CUTE IS HE? He's a pretty cute adult too!

 

 

Happy birthday to my bubba, my Ryan, my Rhyno, my love. You make me the craziest and the happiest and love me more than anyone ever could. I can't wait to see you become a dad next month and spend so many more years going on adventures with you.

Happy birthday (tomorrow) to my love!