Friday Faves - Austin's Birth Story

Well - it's been a HECK of a past 4 weeks. I mean. NOTHING could prepare me for the craziness that has gone down since my baby shower on March 13th. NOTHING.

The weekend of March 12/13 was on my schedule for a long time.

I knew that Friday I was going to clean my house all day and get ready for my cousins to come from PA. I was clearing things out and making room for my baby shower stuff since my shower was that Sunday. Things were pretty typical. Or so I thought.

Rewind to Thursday March 10th.

That night my back was killing me. So I had Ted rub it.

Then of course I "over did" things on Friday with all the cleaning and didn't quite feel right.

Thought nothing of it though.

Saturday - we had a 1st birthday for our friends' son.

I felt awful. Huge, uncomfortable and AWFUL.

Back hurt Saturday too....had Ted rub it again til I fell asleep.

Sunday - my shower.

It was BEAUTIFUL!

However, I felt terrible.

But - like a lady, I put on a happy face and hammered through it.

Everyone helped bring things back to our house.

The unfinished nursery and our guest room were FULL of bags and gifts and boxes etc.

So we go to bed around 11pm.

11:45pm - I get up to use the bathroom, I feel terrible still and my back is killing me.

12:35am I get woken up by my water breaking.

Exactly 4 weeks early.

36 weeks pregnant.

12 hours after my shower.

Nothing ready.

I was terrified. 

I thought it was too early.

I was scared the baby wouldn't be big enough.

I was nervous because my plan was a scheduled C-Section for April 5th

I didn't prepare for LABOR

Mentally. Physically. Everything. I was NOT ready.

But God had other plans....

So here we are in the middle of the night Calling the Dr.

Calling my mom.

Calling my best friend.

Scared.

Ted was in GO mode. He was so good. I'm so thankful for his calmness in my complete state of panic. It was bad. I might have been in shock.

After FINALLY getting word from a midwife from my doctors office, we were headed to the hospital. At this point, contractions were pretty close and strong.

Again, things that my naïve self was NOT prepared for.

 We got to the hospital around 1:30

I was 3cm dilated and 70% effaced.

In my mind - this wasn't good.

I was still high risk.

Baby boy was still breech and NOT moving out of that position.

I was checked by the midwife who told me my doctor was on his way.

Thank God my doctor was on call!

He walked in, looked at me and my chart and said Ok lets go.

I was off to surgery within minutes.

I was prepped and in the surgery room by 2:45

Ted joined me as soon as I was fully prepped.

He looked so cute in the scrubs.

I was shaking like crazy.

Nerves, medicine, being cold, I don't know but I couldn't stop.

Then before we knew it, at 4:06am

He was here.

7lbs 2oz 19" long

Austin Frank

Perfect.

All my concerns and issues - gone. 

He was here and he was HEALTHY. 

His weight was perfect. 

He didn't need oxygen. 

He didn't need a thing. 

I was so happy. 

Ted was so happy. 

We became mommy and daddy in that moment and we are forever changed. 

In the next week or so I promise to share my nursery reveal because it's FINALLY done after little stinker came in the middle of finishing it!

And I'll share my baby shower pictures too! But for now, some pictures from Austin's big welcome to the world...

At the hospital...ready to meet our boy!

He is here!!

Perfection 

Up for 24 hours but don't care!

The sweetest little nose!

Leaving the hospital! 

(I'll post again on what we grabbed because you know my bag wasn't packed lol) and what I needed and what I didn't need... I'm such a minimalist!

Best daddy ever 

Heading home!

We love you!

~Tiffany~

Friday Favorites

Happy Friday! 

I've been a busy bee this week. I'm happy it's the weekend. Ted is off tomorrow and we don't have anything planned except finalize the baby's room. 

Speaking of which... My number one on my favorites is our glider/rocker and ottoman. 

I had a different one picked out originally but had a lot of problems ordering it. The first one I wanted was $599. I had a 15% off furniture coupon and opened a credit card for an additional 15% off. And Babies R Us has free shipping over $19. So I thought it was going to be a great deal. Except the furniture coupon didn't work on the chair. Because apparently the gliders "don't count as furniture" and my 15% off for opening the card didn't work online either (this was an online only item) and finally, I had free shipping, but apparently there is a freight surcharge of $130! 

So it was a horrendous experience. So once Ted got home from work I was basically in tears. So we took a ride to the store and got the one I fell in love with first. And was able to use both coupons and had no surcharge! So all together we spent $510 for a $625 chair/ottoman combo. And it will be here in 5 days which is awesome!! So excited!!! 

So lately I've been really really wanting peach iced tea from Olive Garden. So my bff and I went to lunch there last week. Well, the other day, in the pouring rain mind you, I went to OG and got a peach iced tea to go... 

I was one happy girl! Haha 

I saw this on the Internet and laughed pretty hard. The struggle is real on this one. My hubby is pretty good about picking up after himself but he definitely does this from time to time. Just leaves his clothes in front of the hamper. 

So I'm super excited about this! I ordered this dress from Pink Blush Maternity for my baby shower... I'm so anxious for it to arrive! It is sure to be a new favorite!

Oh by the way, when I picked up the peach tea, I also ordered another with no ice to save for later, soup, salad, bread sticks, Alfredo sipping sauce for the bread and a pice of chocolate mousse cake. Hahaha. #preggo

Have a great weekend!

~Tiffany~

Friday Favorites

It's Friday!  

 

It's the second week I've been home since stopping work and I'm loving it. 

I've gotten so much done and have lists of everything else I need to do. 

Here are a few of my faves for this week 

This chair

Well. It's a rocker/recliner.  

We're getting it for the nursery. 

It's comfy and I love it!

~

I made

Quesadillas last week and they were so good!! I'll have to post the recipe next week because it was delicious!! 

Definitely beat any restaurant I've ever had. Ted agrees. 

~

My nephews. 

After the blizzard, they (with the help from my mom and Ted) made this cute snowman! 

They are just so cute. And getting so big!

~

OMG

Bananas Foster Pancakes

We found a new breakfast spot!!

This was a seriously amazing breakfast.

Might be my new favorite!

I mean, just, yeah....amazing!

~

After breakfast on this day after breakfast, we took a ride over to the beach.

The beach is for sure my favorite, but seeing all the erosion and crap that washed up or unearthed from the storm was NOT.

This guy....definitely my fave...

It was cold and windy and bitter but I love him :)

~

This is a view of the boardwalk covered in snow...

It looks so different in the winter...

But there's a calm about it too...

~

And then I read this...

With the amount of heartburn/reflux/indigestion I've had - I'd be seriously surprised if this boy wasn't born with a full head of hair!

Heartburn is NOT my favorite, but it's ALL worth it!

#amen

~

And I've FINALLY begun doing the album from my favorite day!!!

Hey - a year and a half later is better than never right?!

 

That's all I've got for today!

Have a great weekend!

 

~Tiffany~

Life Lately & Favorites

Life Lately

 

::sigh::

 

It's been so busy - some in a good way, some not so much.

Our house listing expired, so it's officially off the market...

Well that is until January 4th

 

We decided to renovate the kitchen and spruce up the bathroom a bit.

Obviously not the road we wanted to go down because who wants to put money into a house they are selling, but it's what we have to do to get a bite.

 

All the new items will be delivered next Friday.

The Friday before Christmas - good times.

And this is because Ted has to travel to California for work next week

(insert me ugly crying here)

 

So between being a paranoid maniac when it comes to flying,

and being 5 1/2 months pregnant,

and just generally NOT wanting my hubby away for 4 days a week before Christmas...

I'm less than thrilled that he's going on such short notice.

BUT ALAS - I must put on my big girl panties and deal with it.

I have plans already set up with my mom those 4 days to stay occupied.

We're going to pack up my kitchen so it's ready for the reno when Ted gets back.

That should be a real hoot!

Packing it up, then unpacking then packing it again when we move.

I keep telling my self its all going to be SO worth it when we move into our new beautiful home with its country/beachy theme....

I mean....

 

 

Our new house looks like it's all Pottery Barn... I mean, I know those are HER decorations and everything but since we know the owner well she is kind of downsizing, she will be leaving lots of her stuff behind for us when she moves - lucky us!

I hope she leaves those Pottery Barn stools!! #wishfulthinking.

I wish I could go there and photograph every square inch....

 

Ok Moving On!!!!!!

 

Between all my doctor appointments every two weeks...

Christmas gatherings...

Christmas shopping....

Hair appointment...

Dinners with friends....

yada yada yada

I feel like yesterday was Thanksgiving & tomorrow is Christmas!

SLOW.DOWN!

I'll be so excited next year when I'm home for this entire season with a little one...

I can just relax and enjoy being a mom and soak it all up!!

 

On Sunday we cut down out Christmas tree...

My handsome hubby dragging out our tree and my moms

 *One of my favorite pictures :)

 

This is the sign that I made for the front of my office....

Had to keep it "correct" and write "holiday" instead of Christmas.

Hearing the kids talk about my fun marker boards is my favorite 

 

 If there is a Gertrude Hawk candy store near you, I suggest you go get this immediately!!!
This is by far my new favorite cookie!

Dark chocolate covered raspberry cookie! YES PLEASE!!!!

It's like their dark chocolate raspberry schmidgen with a thin chocolate cookie inside.

It's amazing.

 

This is one of my favorite Christmas pillows...

I love this saying.... And not just on Christmas, all the time

 

I chopped 4" off my hair and had a few highlights put in to feel better about my humongous roots.

I was nervous to do this because of the baby, but I was reassured that foils don't touch the scalp.

I'm still paranoid about it, not gonna lie.

The only pic I have that shows my hair.... me and my munchkins haha

I decided that I NEED this diaper bag.

I mentioned it here when I declared my love for Barrington...

I need this bag and every accessory that matches!

**hint hint**

 

 I mean......cutest diaper bag ever!

 Definitely my new favorite Barrington Tote!!!

~

 

I saw this on Pinterest... and I NEED to make it!

I'm not a huge fan of hunting. Like at all.

In fact, I hate it.

HOWEVER - deer naturally shed their antlers...

And my father-in-law works for a company located on a huge huge amount of land where there are lots of deer. So he often sees these shed antlers and grabs them.
He has quite a few so I asked for a couple to make these for some people.

Hopefully it comes out good!

Details when I do it!

I made Cajun Chicken Alfredo a few nights ago...
(Pasta is definitely my favorite during this pregnancy)
yeah.. had a TON left over and was planning on having it the next night...
I put it in a glass container to cool before putting the lid on and putting it in the fridge...
Yup - left it on the counter all night and the whole day while I was at work the next day.
AWESOME!
I was so upset.
#pregnancybrain

YUM!

 This is a picture I took in Seaside Park after the Boardwalk fire which was after Sandy...
This is a place called The Sawmill. It's a bar/restaurant with huge slices of pizza.
In the picture you can see all the siding melted...
They have since patched everything up and are better than ever !
This pic came up in my time hop - so I wanted to share

 

Meal Prep! Haha

Sort of.

Each day I made Teds lunch/breakfast

Last week I made him breakfast burritos.

I made chorizo/cheese/egg/jalapeno burritos.

They were a HUGE hit.

Like HUGE. The guys he works with all want me to make them for them.

Hahah...Definitely Ted's favorite

I forget why I wrapped that one in foil...

 

I also made bacon wrapped meatloaf...

I mean YUM.

I've shared this recipe before here ...

 

 

And this is something I think every preggo lady should have!!

Haha looks so silly but would get the job done!

 

So I've talked about homemade pizza before too..

Its one of my favorite things

Listen, if you're not getting your dough from a local pizzeria, you're doing it wrong!

It's so much easier and it's so good!!

When I made pizza I sauté grape tomatoes and garlic in a pan for the "sauce"

I use a block of mozzarella a instead of fresh because fresh is too watery on pizza

and I usually cook up some sausage and garlic too and put it all on there...

SO GOOD!!!!!! 

 

Also in my time hop was this picture from the summer a few years back...

 That was a margarita with a beer in it haha yummy!
This is a Mexican place with a big balcony over looking the boardwalk.
I remember we had nachos and quesadillas and it was SO hot.

So that is it for some Faves... and Life Lately!

I hope you all have the best weekend!!

 

~Tiffany~

 

 

 

Friday Favorites & A Giveaway !!

Friday Favorites!

 

Linking up with Erika, Narci & Andrea to share my faves....

 

 

A whole lot of random !

 

First of all, I mentioned the other day that I was no longer a fan of the Pumpkin Spice Latte.

I know, I know, blasphemy!
But luckily Starbucks has Gingerbread already, so I've been thoroughly enjoying a
Grande Iced Gingerbread Decaf Latte
*decaf of course for the little babe growing in my belly ;)*

 

1

 The Iced Gingerbread Latte

 So as I said above, I love this drink!
I get it with caramel on top instead of the molasses drizzle because the molasses smells like spaghetti-o's (lol)
Plus, the caramel just gives it a good flavor kick!
Mmm I might have to go get one right now!
What is your favorite Fall/Christmas Starbucks drink?
I need  suggestions, I need to branch out... haha

 2

 The Container Store

How have I not been shopping here my entire life?!

I've randomly seen them in traveling, but never really knew that it was THIS. I thought it was a storage store. The closest one to me is about an hour and a half away, so that explains why I've never physically been to one, but ONLINE?!?!
Omg... I'm in heaven! I'm such an organizer and love containers for everything.

I have been looking for a better way to store my baking ingredients, similar to how all the pro chefs on the food network have theirs. In large containers easy to stick a cup measure in there to get what you need. So I was reading Shay's blog the other morning and remembered seeing the kind of jars I was looking for in her pantry. So I shot her an e-mail and she wrote back and told me about The Container Store...

 

This is Shay's Pantry & the containers I'm talking about... Her pantry is dreamy!
 

These are the containers she has from there.

 

So naturally I ordered 8 of them because I need them in all sizes!

I need to spend some time on that website and make some serious purchases!

Oh my goodness that place is fantastic!!

#latetothegame

 

 3

Spode

For my Wedding Shower, my bridesmaids all got me the Christmas dishes I wanted. It was really cute, they even wrapped it in Christmas paper. I got so many pieces and I just absolutely love it. I know Spode Christmas stuff has been around for a while, but it's timeless and you can find so many fun random pieces at places like The Christmas Tree Shop or HomeGoods. So for me, it's perfect. And growing up, I had a "Cookies for Santa" plate that was Spode which was my inspiration to start my own collection...

 

Since my shower was July 2014, and we haven't had the opportunity to host Christmas yet because we don't have enough room to do so in our current house, all these wonderful pieces are sitting boxed up in my moms basement :(

In all of the shopping that my mom and I did last week, I came across so many fun pieces that I really had to hold back from buying because I can't justify it knowing I won't be hosting Christmas yet again this year, unfortunately.

 

How stinkin' cute is this?! #needit

 

 

And this serving dish! LOVE it !

 

4

 Pregnancy Cravings
I know it's an odd "favorite" but it's pretty entertaining...
Especially when I crave things that aren't readily available....

For Example:

Hawaiin Shaved Iced
Not something you can get easily

We stumbled across an ice truck at car show late September, so I got my ice!

*
Hot Sam's 10 pretzel stixs with nacho cheese sauce 

 Hot Sam's chain went out of business in 2003
So in the mean time, I'm trying to figure out how to get the nacho cheese and so far it seems its only available in a can hahaah yum!!
*
Pickles from The Ritz which is no longer in business

 

Oh man, I could eat ALL the pickles....

*

Mexican Food - but from Texas

Particularly from Alamo Café

 

The Tortillas.....so fresh, made right there...mmmmm

The Queso...omg...a bowl of heaven

The Flautas with avocado cream!

 

 :sigh:

I could eat it all!

5
Starbucks Giveaway!!

 

So because it's fall, and because it's red cup season, and because it's Friday
and especially because I love giving things away.....
 

I'm giving away 2 $10 Starbucks Gift Cards
to ONE lucky winner!!
One for YOU and one for a FRIEND!

*

 

Wooo!!

 

To enter simply use the Rafflecopter below!

Good Luck!

  ~Tiffany~

a Rafflecopter giveaway