30th Birthday Celebration Ideas

Tomorrow I turn 30...say what??  Yikes Mgikes!

Not quite sure how that happened, especially since I sill consider myself 24, but somehow tomorrow is the big day.

 

I knew I wanted to do something fun to celebrate my 30th but it is much harder to come up with fun ideas while pregnant and immobile.  So, having spent a lot of time brainstorming, and of course coming up with plenty of ideas for if I could drink or could move my body, I figured I would share some of these gems with all of you in case any of you were feeling stumped.

In no particular order:

*Tubing down the river with friends (pick a safe area, bask in the sun, and bring some beers!)

*Go camping with friends, eat delicious food, bring corn hole, and reminisce by the campfire

*Go to the piano bar in Denver

*Rent a house nearby with a few of your favorite people

*Rent out a swimming pool at night time and pretend to be kids again

*Karaoke bar is always a fun time

*Walk around downtown with a definite stop at The Rio for some yummy margs

*Hike Horsetooth...maybe even make it to the top for the sunrise

*Paddle Boarding at Horsetooth and having a bbq afterwards at the lake

*Rent a boat and spend the day on the lake tubing, cliff jumping, and loving life

*Go country line dancing at the Sundance and dance the night away

*My Handlebars in Fort Collins.  You bicycle around on a car drinking and eating and listening to music with friends and you make stops at different breweries along the way.  Look it up...it's definitely on the bucket list!  (This is actually part of what I wanted to do to celebrate but they were all booked up for the time we needed)

Well, since I can't drink and I can't really move my body, the choices get pretty limited.  But, with a little creativity and lot of chatting with Cole and my sister Andrea, I think we came up with something pretty fun.  Saturday night should be wonderful, mainly because I will get to spend it with some of my closest friends and family.  So, what are we doing?!?

You'll have to wait and find out :)

(And before I hear it from someone else, yes, I know you don't have to drink to have fun.  But it definitely doesn't hurt! lol.  Seriously though, I get out so rarely and have a yummy cocktail with friends that it definitely adds some pizzazz to a special, fun occasion!)

The Hardest Age

I know how everyone always laments about the terrible twos.  Or how they are in the throws of having a threenager.  But is there a clever description for the difficulties that come with a 4 year old?!?

Let me just say that I would take a two or three year old over a four year old any day.  I thought maybe this was just a fluke with my first.  Tavian and I definitely had what I would call a somewhat strained relationship from 4-5 years old.  Did I love him any less?  Of course not!  But I definitely had to work extra hard to keep my cool.  When you are in the throws of it, and when it is your first, it is terrifying when the thoughts come into your head that it will always be this way.  Praise Jesus, it came and went. 

And then Felicity turned 4.....oh man.  I love that girl to death but there is something about this age that just drives me right over the edge.  Is it her fault?  Was it Tavian's fault?  No, not even the slightest.  Which of course makes me feel all the more guilty.  It is most certainly my temperament, personality, and sinful nature that just revolts against the 4 year old behaviors.  Now that this is the second time going through it I think I have figured out just what makes it so hard for me. 

It feels like a super needy age.  Aren't three year olds needy too, you ask?  Yes, they are.  But they are rightfully needy.  I feel like 4 year olds can actually do a lot for themselves and have much more independence, but when convenient they like to act helpless.  And it drives me bananas.  I have higher expectations for a 4 year old.  I think it partially has to do with the fact that they aren't ready to take on the responsibilities of the big kid role, yet they are definitely a big kid.  I think Felicity has a hard time watching Beckett get attention and receive help in areas that she doesn't.  I exasperatedly want her to understand that she got that same help and attention at his age, but now that she can do those things herself, she should.  And this is also the stage where the baby talk starts to resurface.  Oh man..I might as well pull my hair out.  "Talk like a big girl" comes out of my mouth far too often.  And this is more specific to her being a girl, but her sensitivity and drama are off the charts.  The tiniest little inconvenience or discouragement can wage the biggest meltdown.  She cries and we would all swear that she had lost a finger or broken her arm, or was gushing blood.  But not so.  The same cry that warrants immediate attention is used when her water spills on the floor or someone makes a mean face at her.  It kills me!!!!

Just figured I would share these thoughts in case someone else was in the midst of the struggle.  And maybe for you it is a different age.  The good news is this really too shall pass.  I actually think preschool in the fall will help a lot.  It will give Felicity a real sense of having something that is just her own, and I think it is the start of really seeing the perks of living the big kid role.  Hopefully I'm right and we are just around the corner from some big changes.  But seriously, wish me luck.  And say some prayers.  Cause some days I just want to pull my hair out!

Hard to believe drama and sass can come from this sweet thing

How can she drive me so bonkers while at the same time I am so freakin in
love with her??!?  So glad I get to call this girl my own, even during the difficult stages.

Notables with Number 4

Even though every pregnancy is different, this one has definitely stood out as unique for a few reasons.  Good or bad, here are the notables...

* The first trimester was super unusual because for the first time I didn't have any morning sickness.  I was never someone who was throwing up every day but I definitely had quite a bit of nausea with the others three, especially for those first three months.  I kept waiting this time for it to hit me but thankfully it never did.  I didn't even really have many food aversions either.  It was strange.  It actually had me a little but on edge.  It's a hard balance between being thankful you aren't feeling sick, but trying not to worry that something is going wrong.  

* I may not have been sick but I was super tired.  I always get ridiculously tired when I'm pregnant but this seemed even worse.  Let's be real...it's probably harder each time because there is always another kiddo added to the bunch.  haha!  There were a few instances this time around that I even fell asleep randomly while hanging out with Cole at night...all of a sudden I would hear, "Babe, are you asleep?" Woops!

* Another change that definitely progresses with each pregnancy is the quickening pace at which I bust out all my maternity clothes.  First time around I probably didn't even really buy any until 17-20 weeks.  It keeps getting sooner and sooner...this time they came out at 6 weeks when I took the pregnancy test.  Ain't nobody got time for squeezing into small uncomfortable pants and feeling huge!

* That brings me to my next change...in general I show quicker and quicker each time.  This is usually the norm with most women.  But it doesn't make it any more fun!  All the really awesome questions about how I already am showing so much and questions about how far along I am.  It's super fun! (note the sarcasm)

* I also get the very real sense that I'm making a lot of people feel uncomfortable everywhere I go.  I get jaw drops, and stares, and of course the never ending "your hands are full", "how close in age are they", "is this your last", blah, blah, blah.  As much as I may be making others feel uncomfortable, I actually care less now more then ever about what others think.  I'm sorry, does it make you uneasy seeing my huge, stretch marked belly strutting around the swimming pool in my two piece?  Well, that's just too darn bad.  It's what I feel most comfortable in.  And no, I don't mean comfortable in the "I'm a glowing pregnant woman and I'm going to own this body and rock it"....I mean it in the very real sense that the thought of having a wet, clingy, stuck to my stomach swimsuit on makes me want to crawl out of my skin.  Plus they are so expensive.  So I suppose they can get over it or avert their eyes! :)

yup...stretch marks and all.  No shame in my game.
Good thing my hubs thinks I'm beautiful no matter what!

* I can't remember if I have been asked if I was having twins with every pregnancy but definitely the majority.  Felicity may have been the only one that escaped that scrutiny.  As always, I'm just amazed at the expectations that the world has for pregnant women in general.  Um...you know there is a human being inside of me, right?  Plus women carry pregnancies so very differently that there really doesn't need to be expectations for any individual.  Just a few weeks ago I had a funny (?) conversation with a mid-twenties guy that clearly, although I'm sure well intentioned, has no knowledge about women or pregnancy etc.  He started by asking me if I was due any day.  Woah, rule number one, don't say that!  Don't ever say that!  I responded, "You realize that is like a total no no to say to a pregnant woman"...It must not have really sunk in though because when I told him I had 8 weeks left he looked at me in shock and asked, "You're going to get bigger?!?"  Awesome!

Thank goodness for Sundays...I actually get dressed and look somewhat presentable!

*My pelvis has gone to crap again just like last time.  It sucks.  This time I think the extreme pain was kept at bay a little longer, which I'm thankful for, but I'm pretty sure it's down hill from here.  I got my handicap sticker for my car yesterday like I did with Beckett and I'm actually really relieved to have it.  I've also noticed that even though my pelvis feels shattered, I am also experiencing much more pain wrapped around in my sacrum.  Sounds fun, right?!?

See that smile?...it fades soon below when you see how quickly I realize I'm exhausted and must
fall asleep immediately

*This is the first time I am having a baby born around the summer time.  I have two Decembers and a March so this is very different.  The pros of a September delivery, you ask?  -you have the summer to live it up with the fam without the craziness of adding a new born to the mix.  - I think birthday parties from here on out will be really awesome...December and March aren't near as fun when it comes to celebrating while in living in Colorado.  -It tempers my desire to have this pregnancy over already because I don't want to wish the summer away. -By next summer the baby will be big enough to participate and do a lot of fun stuff with us! -The pool is open and it is wonderful getting all the weight off while in the water -I don't have to worry as much about slipping or falling which is a big plus when the aftermath could be absolutely catastrophic for my body  - I also assume/hope that it is less likely for the babe to get a cold first thing in September.  (although with Tave in school I could end up being totally wrong)  The cons?  I feel like that's pretty obvious.  -The hot, hot summer.  So freaking hot.  -I love yummy alcoholic drinks in the summer and there are so many fun occasions to have a cold one...:( -Harder to hide the ever growing, very large belly. -Makes me struggle to want to wish the summer away just so I can be DONE! - Probably the hardest part of a September baby for me is that Tavian will be back in school and gone the entire day!  I know he will want to be soaking in the memories and experiences with his new baby brother and I will want to be sharing that with him.  (I may just pull him for a week...after all, this experience doesn't happen all the time and family is the most important thing to us!)

This is the most accurate portrayal of how I live day to day.  Hubby's boxers, sweaty,
and hair pulled back.  Glamorous, right?

*I'm not quite sure who really participates in the 2nd trimester reprieve, but that has just never been the case for me.  There is never a magic moment where I suddenly don't feel like crap or couldn't collapse from exhaustion at any time.  Nope.  My pregnancy exhaustion and discomfort are with me the whole way through! 

Cole can usually bet on finding me passed out somewhere around the house or yard.  Lol.

*My fibroid also grew larger then it has with my other pregnancies.  Not too significantly, at least not that I know of, but it will be interesting to see what happens if I end up getting another ultrasound before I'm due.  The last was at 20 weeks so there is a good possibility things could have changed since then.  Also, this time around, I can feel my fibroid.  I've been able to since super early on.  And let me tell you, it kills!!!  It is like having a super sore muscle.  Of course it hurts when you rub it, but you also have that constant urge that you want to rub it!  I've had a lot of people feel it along the way...for some reason I feel the need to share it with others! haha

*Cravings this time around?  Let me give you a hint.  I came home the other day from Sprouts with grapes, apples, pears, apples, nectarines, peaches, strawberries, blueberries, watermelon, bananas, blackberries....I think that may have been it.  Ha!  Cole was impressed, to say the least.  But fruit just tastes so good to me right now!  And with these intense cravings nothing goes to waste :)  Don't take this as a healthy option.  I still eat plenty of unhealthy foods, and I'm pretty sure my pull towards the fruit is probably for the sugar! lol

I'll end this post with some of our maternity photos.  We are so lucky that my sister Ellen is super talented with her camera and that she was willing to snap a few pictures of us after our huge family photo session.  I think I was 32 weeks at this point!

The 21st Grandchild on our side...pretty awesome!

Can't wait to meet you sweet baby!