On the Day You Were Born, Part II

When I last left you, I was heading off to sleep on February 1, 2013, somehow knowing that I wouldn't be getting a full night's sleep... (read Part I here)

Around 11PM, I awoke to some serious cramping and, what I assumed were contractions. I wasn't in a crazy amount of pain, but enough that I couldn't continue laying in bed either. My water hadn't broken yet, but I knew not to rely on that as a signal since I had heard that many women's waters don't break naturally (spoiler alert: I was one of them).

I quickly downloaded a pregnancy contraction timer app to start keeping track. Contractions were about ten minutes apart so I knew I had quite a while before it was hospital time (my doctor told me to call in once they were about five minutes apart). And I certainly did not want to be one of those women who showed up at the hospital barely dilated and sent home. In fact, I swore to myself that I wouldn't head for the hospital until I was sure this was happening. And though I was two days past my due date and having contractions, there was still a voice inside my head wondering if this was really it.

I must mention here that throughout my pregnancy, this is what I was most concerned with...how would I know when to go to the hospital? What if my water doesn't break, which is the telltale sign that it's go time? What if, instead of going to early, I wait too long and end up having my baby in the passenger seat of my car with nary an epidural or medical team in sight?! I was also GBS Positive and so it was imperative that I not deliver the baby outside of the hospital, since I would need an antibiotic drip during delivery.

For the next four hours, I labored at home, waiting for my contractions to get closer together...I couldn't do much but pace around the apartment into the dead of night. I made Shaun get out of bed and just stay awake with me, even if it meant dozing in and out of sleep in our living room. I could barely manage to sit on the couch and once I found a tolerable position, I was afraid to move for fear I'd never find it again.

Between the hours of 1 - 3AM, there's not a whole lot on television, let me just tell you that. And though we typically have a fully stocked DVR, this wasn't the time for concentrating. Instead, there was one thing that got me through...

The Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame Anniversary Concert on VH1. And yes, I did remember to snap a photo in that crazy moment.

I had seen this already multiple times and something about the music I guess was about as much as I could tolerate. So as the night wore on, and my contractions got harder to handle, I was soothed by the sweet sounds of Jackson Browne, Smokey Robinson and Stevie Wonder.

Around 3AM, my contractions were about 5 - 7 minutes apart and I decided it was time to call the doctor. I was transferred to the on-call doctor at the hospital where I'd deliver and I was pleased that it was one of my top 2 choices of doctors from the practice I go to. He told me that I 'didn't sound that bad' and I should give it another hour before heading to the hospital.

Now feeling totally unsure of myself, I continued to couch it, pace around and finally walk up and down the long hallways in our building. When it got to the point where I had to continuously stop to lean against the walls for support, I knew it was time to go. Around 4AM, I told Shaun to start packing the car.

I was already dreading the 20 minute ride to the hospital since the thought of having contractions in a moving car made me feel almost nauseous. While he loaded up the hospital bags, Boppy pillow, food, cameras and more, I loaded the dishwasher and made the bed. There was no way that I was coming home to a messy home.

I wore my standard uniform of Juicy sweatpants, hung low under my belly, with an American Apparel tee and my red Uggs. I swore I was going to burn all 3 of these things once the baby was born. We took a last look around our apartment as it was the last time we'd be there as a family of 2 and took a moment to soak up what was about to happen. At last, we trudged down to our car by 4:30AM and hit the road.

All throughout my pregnancy, we visited the hospital where I delivered a number of times for sonograms. It wasn't the easiest ride as it took us through some heavily trafficked areas. All we did was hope and pray that we didn't need to get there during rush hour. Luckily, in the wee hours of Saturday morning, we sailed through Jersey City and into North Bergen without a problem. Good job, Penelope, for picking the right time to get moving!

The car ride was less eventful than anticipated from a contraction standpoint, and so I was worried that maybe I was barely dilated and I'd get sent home. Shaun and I made a deal that if they wouldn't admit me, we would walk around the parking lot until they would. Meanwhile, I called my mom to let her know we were on our way so that she could get ready and make her way over too.

{the view from outside the hospital on 9/11/12}

As we arrived around 5AM, Shaun dropped me off in front and went to park the car. By this point, I was finding it tough to walk, but made it to the desk where no words were required. Before I knew it, Shaun had joined me and a wheelchair was there, whisking me up to the maternity ward. I was taken to a small exam room, put on a gown and my doctor came in to examine me.

When he announced that I was almost 5cm dilated, I couldn't help but yelp with joy that not only would I not be sent home and I had made it halfway before even getting to the hospital, but it looked like today, February 2, 2013, would be the day we met our sweet baby doll...

...one last part of the story, coming next!

On the Day {Before} You Were Born, Part I

I've been wanting to write about Penelope's birth story for a while now, but it never quite felt like the right time. Now that she is one year old, I thought it would be good to get my story written before I forget any more of it. When I was pregnant (and even now) I loved reading about other bloggers' birth stories. It is such a scary and anxiety-ridden time and so I took such comfort in reading about other experiences. I've also been thinking so much about that time last year and just cherishing those special moments, even if they were riddled with pain and some expletives at times.

It feels so surreal in many ways. Mostly in the, OMFG-I-can't-believe-I-did-that! kind of way. Seriously, I think back to being in labor and giving birth and am in awe that I did that. As my doctor said to me a few weeks beforehand, No one else can do this for you, but you won't be alone...you and your baby will do it together. I thought of that through the entire process.  That no matter what, my sweet baby girl and I were in this, and would get through it, together. And honestly, I can't help but be proud.

It's also pretty wild that this was a whole year ago, and yet only just a year ago. It was a mere year of my life, which isn't so much time in the scheme of things, and yet it truly was a lifetime ago.

Following Christmas in 2012, I had one thing on the brain...the arrival of my sweet baby girl. My due date was January 30, which gave us plenty of time to recover from the holidays AND see all of the Oscar nominated movies prior to her arrival. (Note: If I can make one recommendation to expecting parents...go to the movies! You won't be going for a long time after that baby is born, so make sure you do it now!)

Being as I have a great job and family-friendly managers, I was able to avoid trudging into Manhattan and riding the Path (underground) by being allowed to work from home as of January 15.

Each day I'd settle in with my computer and phone, taking a break to walk a few blocks to Dunkin Donuts - you know, to get the baby moving and all ;) I was too afraid to walk too far from home, just in case my water broke and I'd have to get back. Shaun drove to work each day so that he could get home in a pinch should it be go-time.

As I arrived at the week she was due, I'd field the same text messages each morning from family and friends...Anything yet? How do you feel? Do you think you'll go on your due date?

I truly didn't mind though. So many women told me that they were annoyed by so many questions and of playing this waiting game. I actually really enjoyed being pregnant and so I didn't mind going to or past my due date, or fielding the same questions. It was such an exciting time, and it made my heart feel so full knowing that so many people cared so much.

I tried my hardest to soak up the calm before the storm. That may have included sitting on towels everywhere (on the couch, in the car, etc) and making Shaun drive over pot holes in Jersey City to get things moving.

My due date of January 30 came and went. I wasn't surprised. I felt nothing moving, outside of some menstrual cramping and light spotting. Since that was a Wednesday, I was hopeful that I'd have the baby on the weekend. But as Shaun continued to tell me, if I didn't have her over the weekend, that didn't mean we didn't get a baby. So I remained patient and continued to wait. And at my doctors appointment that week, he scheduled me for induction a week later since it seemed like nothing was doing anytime soon.

On Friday, 2 days past my due date, my mom and sister Christine came up to Jersey City to take me to lunch. We went to Houlihan's in Secaucus. I ate a huge plate of nachos and chicken fingers under my mom's disapproving gaze (worth every calorie though!)

At this point, I was having some random pulling sensations going on which I assumed were contractions. But since I had never done this before, I wasn't totally sure (though, as they say, hindsight is 20/20, right?). I probably got 3 or 4 of those contractions throughout the day, so let's just say that I wasn't exactly running to the doctor or even taking much notice of them. After lunch, Christine and I walked across the street to Dunkin Donuts for a treat to take home. I got a brownie batter donut but was way too full to eat anything at that point. On the way home, my mom drove over the same potholes on Tonnele Avenue and something just told me I was going to have this baby in the next day or so.

That night, I ate my delicious brownie batter donut for dinner. Since I was also in crazy nesting mode, I insisted that we put together the mamaroo swing that my aunts had given us.

It was the very last thing that wasn't quite set up yet, so at 10 months and two days pregnant, I assembled it before collapsing in bed at 9PM.

Somehow, I knew that I wasn't going to be getting a full sleep that night...

...to be continued...

Penelope Jane's Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 1st Birthday Party

Well it's official.

A certain someone turned one year old on Sunday.

I've felt such a mix of emotions over the last few weeks leading up to this momentous occasion. Nostalgia for 1 year ago as we awaited her arrival, going through childbirth (yes, part of me loved that experience), spending those precious early days and nights with her, just feeling disbelief that she was here. Pride and accomplishment that we made it through the first year. Sadness that my baby is growing up. Happiness that my baby is growing up happy and healthy. And most of all, excited to celebrate my sweet baby girl. 

And to ring in the first birthday for my little Sweet P, I couldn't think of any other way than to have a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse party. 

Penelope truly adores Mickey Mouse and we watch more of this show than I care to admit. When Mickey comes on screen, she lights up and if she's in the middle of a meltdown, Mickey is a great way to distract and relax her.

So with that in mind, I constructed the party with everything Mickey in mind. It started with the food (of course).

We rented a tabletop hot dog cart as the showpiece for our Hot Diggity Dog Bar.

The cart was awesome and had large trays for the hot dogs and two more to hold other warm goodies (we used these for saurkraut and hot dog onions). We provided lots of other fixin's too including pickled onions, cheddar cheese, relish, chopped bacon, Frank's Red Hot, and of course, ketchup and mustard. My mom made a big slow cooker filled with delicious Clubhouse Chili for topping and I purchased ketchup and mustard squeeze bottles along with little hot dog trays for serving. I think this was a really fun addition and of course, matched with the classic Mickey Hot Dog Dance theme.

Other food included Minnie Bagels, Pete's Potato Salad, Goofy Greens (with lots of dressings from which to choose, as well as dried cranberries and crumbled goat cheese) and Meeska Mouska Mac & Cheese. 

And can't forget about the Handy Helpers! I set these up in white and metal Ikea planters lined with red napkins.

I made all of the table cards and Hot Dog sign with a super simple template in PowerPoint, printed them out and adhered them to card stock. I'm the furthest thing from a designer and so these did the job. I downloaded the Minnie font and that made everything look very 'Mickeyfied'.

I also made these flag banners using card stock and the Mickey Ears font. I taped the flags together on the back sides and strung them together with red baker's twine. This involved a lot {lot} of cutting and kind of made me wish I just had a Silhouette, but I did it over a few nights in front of the TV, so it wasn't so bad.

The finished product was so darn cute, it was worth it!

And I couldn't forget about the birthday girl's high chair...

Close up on her cute shoesies:

I had a blast making this photo board of some of my favorite photos from over the last year:

For added fun, we set out some of Pluto's Popcorn, complete with sprinkled toppings, including sour cream & onion, cheddar and chocolate marshmallow.

I kept drinks simple with wine (Trader Joe's FTW), beer, soda and a pretty water jug with lemon and ice. Honest juice boxes for the kids.

I made little goody bags for the kids, again with labels I created in PowerPoint. I filled the bags with a Mickey cup, crayons, bubbles, stickers, a puzzle and a package of Goldfish (one of Penelope's favorite snacks).

After we ate and played, it was time for dessert! We had a pretty sweet spread.

I ordered a huge cake (Mickey, of course) with one layer of yellow cake, one layer of chocolate and Bavarian cream filling. I also made chocolate-dipped Oreos to look like Mickey's pants. My mom brought a beautiful fruit platter and a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Edible Arrangement and my Aunt Janet made her famous chocolate chip cookies.

Penelope was not impressed with the Happy Birthday procedures.

It wasn't her favorite part, but overall, she was a champ throughout the long day.

 

After dessert, it was cake time for Penelope!

I made her smash cake in a mini pan and kept the decorating simple with white vanilla frosting, a red frosting P and yellow non-pareils. Again, a decorator I am not, but I made it with love!

We had such a great day. Shaun and I collapsed on the couch later that night to watch the Super Bowl while Penelope slept like a rock (and I finally got to enjoy some of the food!). It all seems surreal that I am the mother of a one year old child!

Happy 1st Birthday to my sweet baby doll, my little love bug and the light of my life. You have brought us so much joy and you fill my heart with overflowing amounts of love!

 

*I can put together a source list of products, if there is interest...please let me know!