Its gotta be better than last year....

Tomorrow I will turn 31.  It feels like only yesterday when I was blissfully writing this post, where I gushed about how excited I was to turn 30.  Although we didn't have any real plans, I was looking forward to spending my special day with the two most important men in my life:  Greg and Parker. 

Sadly, my day didn't go as smooth as I had hoped, and it's something I never blogged about...until now:  Greg had been very un-happy for several months with the management at the wind farm he transferred too in Texas.  So un-happy that he began having a few anxiety attacks.  One happened the morning of my birthday (after I had posted my blog).  He was at work digging up fence posts (which had nothing to do with his job description, mind you), when he called and told me his chest felt tight and that he was having a hard time breathing.  I was pretty confident that it was from the horrible anxiety that his job was giving him, and I told him he should tell his manager.  Well, in the work force, when one mentions that their chest is hurting and they need to leave work, they assume one is having a heart attack.  Which meant the only way the manager would allow him to leave was if someone took him to the ER.

Now, I will never pretend to be a doctor or a nurse, but I was very confident that my husband was not having a heart attack.  However, they required him to go through extensive testing and wanted him to stay over-night to monitor him.  Obviously, Greg's safety is more important to me than celebrating a birthday, but since I just knew he wasn't about to keel over and die, I was a little disappointed that I had to have my birthday dinner at the neighboring McDonald's with only little P.J. as company (granted he's good company, but I would have rather Greg been there, too).

To save on gas, Greg had been driving our car to and from work.  Which meant I was driving our truck.  No big deal, except it kept having issues with the connectors of the battery slipping off, and it always seemed to happen when I was driving.  That evening as I went to leave the hospital, I was trying and failing to start the truck.  It was miserably hot in Texas, Parker was starting to fuss in his car seat, and that was when my sister who lives on the other side of the world, chose to call me and tell me Happy Birthday.   Her first words to me were, "Happy Birthday, are you having a good day?"  Exasperated and on the verge of tears I yelled at her the way a sibling can only yell at another sibling, "NO!  Call me back in 10 minutes!"   Luckily, the truck started a few minutes later and I was on the way "home" sans my husband.  It was definitely not the best way to begin a new, exciting decade and then to cap it off I got to go to bed solo. 

The following day, Greg was released from the hospital, but was told he couldn't go back to work until he saw a heart specialist.  That appointment was three weeks away, so we figured we may as well go to our lake house (which is now our "real house").  And, in typical Greg fashion, since he had three weeks "off" he decided that would be the best time to begin the remodel on the lake house....isn't that what any person who just got released from the hospital would do?

On our drive to the lake house, Greg finally revealed to me what my birthday present was.  The order had been delayed and we knew for several days that it wouldn't arrive until a few days after my birthday.  He felt so guilty for my lack of a "happy" birthday, he broke down and told me he ordered a hammock for me online.  I was so excited, because I have always longed for afternoons of me lounging in a hammock reading a book (I'm a real bundle of excitement, aren't I?)

In order to keep my birthday present a secret, Greg had ordered and paid for it using a checking account that we rarely use.  He then made me promise not to go online for any reason to check that account, because he figured I would google the company he ordered the gift from and spoil my surprise.  I promised I would avoid that account, and true to my word, I did.  On my birthday Greg received a letter from the bank of that account.  It said that there was some fraudulent activity and that Greg needed to contact the bank.  Apparently someone made a $3.00 purchase at a gas station on the East coast.  We didn't know how it happened, but obviously someone had our debit card numbers, and therefore the bank decided to place a stop hold on our debit cards and they mailed us new ones.  The next day the company that Greg ordered my hammock from called and said they couldn't get his card to work.  We found it a little odd that they didn't charge his card the day he ordered it, so he explained the situation and told them that at the time we weren't comfortable giving our debit card number out yet.  It wasn't a very big deal, except that means the cherry on top of my birthday sundae was not getting a hammock (or a birthday present for that matter) after all.

Blah, blah...I know; I'm whining.  But it's OK, because I have tomorrow to look forward too!

Just like last year, we don't have anything special planned for my actual birthday.  And, I hope that we don't have any unfortunate events like we did last year.  However, we plan on celebrating on Saturday by driving up to Norman and staying the night at my in-law's.  Greg is taking me out to Red Lobster for my birthday dinner and then I'm hoping my in-law's will not mind baby sitting Parker after we put him down for bed so we can sneak off to a movie.  My mother in law also informed me that she is going to order me a birthday cake for us to enjoy!  Would you believe me if I said I haven't had a birthday cake in at least eleven years (yes, I'm counting...bitter, party of one sitting right here!)  Then, to cap off what I hope to be a nice relaxing birthday weekend, we get to go meet our new niece who was born yesterday!  Sounds blissful to me, and like the title states: Its gotta be better than last year!!!

Parker's 2nd Birthday Party

Parker's 2nd Birthday Party was over three months ago and I'm just now blogging about it...which is proof that the two's keep a working mom BUSY!  I showed my inspiration for his party on this post.  Here's how the party turned out:

Party favors!  The train shaped crayons were purchased at Red Elm Designs.

Snack Station.

Marshmellows AKA Choo Choo Smoke!

Choo Choo Fuel was delicious Almond Tea Punch.

The party favor bags.

His custom birthday shirt made by Great Stitch

The concrete was slightly damp, so my train tracks didn't last through the afternoon :(

Parker's train birthday cake made by my friends from Two Sweet Sisters

Playing with one of his favorite cousins, Hillarie.

Enjoying a piece of choo-choo smoke!

Present time!

He was going through a major train phase, and he loved this travel sized Thomas the Train!

Where's my cake?  I'm ready!

The wonder in his eyes speaks volumes!

Trying hard to blow out his birthday candles.

Enjoying his first bite!

Dig in, everyone!

Cake brings everyone together!

Hitching a ride from his friend, Braxton.

Outside play time at its finest!

Trying out his new toys.

These two cousins are crazy about each other!

Post Birthday Party Dinner:  He was beyond tired and wouldn't even eat!

The Big T-W-O!

I can't believe my sweet angel is TWO!  Where did the time go?  It seemed like the previous month really showed me how much he is learning and growing!  Almost anything I ask him to try to say, he will!  Which also means we have to be very careful about what we say, too.

One of the best highlights of the month was this little conversation we had on the couch:

Me:  Who's this?  (pointing to Greg)

Parker:  Dada

Me:  Who am I?  (pointing to myself)

Parker:  Mama

Me:  Who are you?  (pointing to Parker...obviously)

Parker:  Parker

Me & Greg:  *GASP*

Prior to that, I had never asked him what his name was, and I hadn't ever tried to get him to say it, either.  It was a pleasant surprise.  Now I can ask him, "What's your name?"  and he'll say, "Parker".  It's adorable.

Once he got his name down, I figured he better learn how old he was.  I didn't want to confuse him by teaching him "one", and then a week later telling him he was two.  Luckily, he learned quickly, and on his birthday if someone asked  him, "How old are you?"  He could say, "two".  Granted, that doesn't mean he answers every time!

Some fun things that happened this past month for him were:

He began potty training!

He went to the circus!

He saw a real live turtle for the first time!

The easter bunny visited him!

Money he found in an egg left by the Easter Bunny.

He got to play in the rain!

A neighbor gave him all kinds of "new" outside toys...we put this one up in storage because it's too big for him still, but I love this pic of him!

Parker is still sleeping really well!  He takes naps in the afternoon and at night he never fights me about going to bed.  Although he has never tried to climb out of his crib, I plan on converting it to his "toddler bed" in the very near future.  We'll see how things go once that happens!

He still has the combination of straight and curly hair, which is sometimes a little wild-man looking, but I love it!

At some point this past month, he began getting his back top molar in.

Parker's favorite things are:  bubbles, trains, running, playing outside, and chips!!  (Not too proud about the last one, but oh well!)

On his actual birthday we went up to Norman to stay at Parker's Nana and Papa's house.  We had his birthday party there the following day (post to come!).  We had a celebratory lunch at Braums on the way there, complete with Birthday Cake ice cream!  He was out cold for the entire journey there.

One interesting thing that happened shortly after our arrival was that we had to take shelter in my in-laws storm shelter.  A tornado touched down a mile away from the house, but luckily we were safe and no damage was done.  How many kids can say they got to turn two in a storm shelter?!

HAPPY SECOND BIRTHDAY, PARKER!  I love you more than you'll ever know.  There are days when I'm ready to tear my hair out, but then you can look at me with a huge grin and a loud laugh, and I'm reminded again of how precious you really are.  You are smart, sweet, energetic, and so fun to be around! 

I am TWO!  I am 26 pounds!

I'm joining the club!

The thirty club that is! That's right! Today's my birthday and I'm THIRTY!!!


Yes, believe it or not, unlike most women, I'm actually excited and happy to be thirty. I read on a website that women have two different outlooks on turning thirty. One being that a woman is excited and happy to continue living her life as a responsible adult. The other is that a woman is sad to see her youth end and questions her decisions as a young adult. If it's not obvious from the statement at the beginning of this post, I'm in the group that is happy to be turning thirty. And why wouldn't I? I have some great thirty year old role models!


Natalie Portman I was so happy to watch Natalie win an Oscar at this years Academy Awards. She is always a delight to watch on screen and although I haven't had the opportunity to watch Black Swan, I have no doubt that she deserved the award. Not only is she a new mom, she's also intelligent, poised, and beautiful. A perfect thirty year old role model!








Misty
She is one of my best friends (and I creepily stole one of her facebook pictures. Ha, ha, it's ok because I doubt she'll even read this!). I'm so happy that we met in college and have continued to maintain such a great friendship. Not only is she a fierce independent woman, she is also a homeowner, she is not afraid to speak her mind and stand up for what she believes in, she would pull over on the side of a road to help a turtle cross the street, she works full time as a social worker and sees things that I can't even begin to imagine, and for the past year she has selflessly devoted her time and energy in being a foster mom to a cute baby girl. I should probably mention that she's single...which is inspiring to me because I know for a fact if I were a single woman I would not be able to do what Misty does. Isn't she beautiful (both inside and out)? A perfect thirty year old role model!



Alicia Keys Ever since I first heard Alicia Keys belting out "Fallen" on the radio I have been a fan. I think her voice and piano skills are amazing. Although she came onto the scene at a younger age, I always appreciated the fact that I never saw her in any tabloid magazines acting like an idiot. She's talented, inspiring, beautiful, and is also a mother. A perfect thirty year old role model!

Now you can see why I'm so excited to become a part of the Thirty Club!

Despite turning thirty, when it comes right down to it, I'm still one of these at heart.


Which means I still love getting these.


I'm always excited to see what my husband will give me for my birthday (because as much as I love getting presents, he is the only person I actually expect a present from). He told me that he ordered my gift online a couple of weeks ago. He was pretty disappointed to find out that what he ordered is actually on back order. (Which in my mind means it must be pretty awesome, right?)

My hubby is never the greatest at keeping secrets so he began asking me if I wanted any hints. At first I said no, but as my big day approached I started to get giddy with anticipation and I finally broke down and asked for a hint. I'll share them with you so maybe y'all can help me guess what my present is!

Let me start by telling you that I told him on more than one occasion that a "perfect" birthday present would be one of the following:

1. Britney Spears concert tickets
2. Invisalign
3. A fork ring

He promptly told me that my present was none of the above. :)

Here are the two hints he gave me:

1. I can't take it with me to the bathroom (random)
2. It's not white

Yup. That really narrows it down. Hmmm....

I'll be honest, at first I was thinking he was probably going to buy me a kindle or a nook or one of those e-reader type things because he hates all the books I have. However, I'm pretty sure if I really wanted to I could take that with me into the bathroom. I'm stumped! Oh well!

Now, for those of you who are approaching thirty and you are not too excited about it, maybe you can look at it this way: thirty is just a fancy way of saying you're EIGHTEEN plus twelve years experience!

Parker's 1st Birthday Party

One year ago a star fell from the heavens and landed in our arms...



The phrase and picture above are what I had printed on Parker's First Birthday Party invitations. The day was so special and it's safe to say it was an event I will remember for the rest of my life.

His party had a colorful star theme and one of the items I desperately wanted was a custom birthday shirt for my special birthday boy. My sweet friend Kellie has her own childrens clothing line and I knew that she offered birthday shirts. I took it one step further by requesting a coordinating shirt for myself as well. The shirts arrived a few days before the party and Greg and his family gave me all kinds of heck for not getting a coordinating shirt for Greg as well. I figured Greg would not have wanted to have a matching shirt so I didn't bother to ask him. I still don't think he would have wore one, but he's not letting me live that one down any time soon!




Aren't the shirts adorable? To place your own order, visit www.we3hoots.com!





Before the guests arrived we had a quick little photo shoot!







Friends and family began arriving shortly after our photo session. I had pizza and fruit ready and waiting for the guests. I didn't want a super formal party and that way every one was allowed to eat and mingle at their leisure. There were plenty of younger kids there and I made sure to have goody bags for them as well, filled with bubbles, sunglasses, and rubber duckies. They had a great time playing in the backyard! I'm pretty sure the adults had just as much fun as the kiddos since there was plenty of opportunity for conversation and laughs.












Once everyone had a chance to eat, I decided it was time to let Parker open his presents. The first gift I had him open was from me and Greg. Since he began taking his first steps we bought him his first pair of Stride Rite walking shoes. I also decided to get him a birthday card that sang a song when it opens. I remembered buying one for one of my nephews when he turned one and how much he loved it. Parker was no different. I eventually had to hide the card behind my back so he would focus on the other presents that he had to open! Parker was truly blessed with such great gifts from friends and family. THANK YOU!








He had to take a break from gift opening to give his cousin, Zoe, a kiss!



And, of course, he had to taste almost every single gift, wrapping paper, and bow!




This is Parker with his favorite gift: The Alphabet Train from his Uncle Russel and Aunt Sharon!



Once all the gifts were open, it was time for cake!



The cakes were made from Fancy Cakes. I thought they were awesome, although I thought the hand writting on them was a little sloppy, but oh well. Parker had his own white cake, and the cake for every one else was a delicious strawberry.




Everyone sang happy birthday which he loved! It was only after I got him situated in his high chair that I realized we did not have it recorded on our video camera. So, I asked everyone to sing to him once again!

Prior to his party I told Greg that I didn't think Parker would be the baby that would just smear cake all over his face. Greg disagreed, but, my theory proved to be true! Parker had never had anything sweet before so he wasn't quite sure what to think about the frosting. After several attempts to get him to eat the cake, I finally gave up and put some Cheerios on his tray, along with mashing a few into the frosting which he happily plucked out.




His facial expression says it all!



Can you spy the Cheerios?



Overall, the party was a huge success! I had a great time, and I think Parker did too! Here are a few other snap shots before I sign off!