Confession time...
While I can proudly say I treaded water for the first 6 months or so of baby growing...I have progressively sank over the past few months. I think it all started the night we went to labor and delivery at 27 weeks. Figuring out that the random sucky PMS-like pain I had been having was actually contractions was scary. Claiming I held it together beautifully is a lie. I did manage to grit my teeth and look confident as they put me in a wheelchair and took me from the exam room through the hospital to the elevator and up to labor and delivery. I think I can say my voice only cracked a little when I called my Mom to tell her where I was headed and to please come quickly before I fell apart. She's such a "unspastic" person it's hard to completely break down with her nearby to ask questions.
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| Grandma Pat, Me, Parker bump and Mom |
So...while I can't claim to have handled the unexpectedness beautifully I can say between Mike and his youtube watching, my Mother and her comments, Parker Baby's never-ending monitor karate kicking and a nurse who managed to completely miss when putting in the IV, we made it through. One full IV bag of fluids and a shot to stop the contractions over the course of about 4 hours, and we were finally back on our way home with Parker still happily growing and kicking inside.
We've had two ginormous showers to get ready for this little girl. First, one at school given by my amazing co-workers. They managed to supply us with such an exuberant (wow what a word) amount of baby items that our house was, without a doubt baby friendly.
A week ago (November 17) we had another shower. The whole day was filled with friends and family. It all started with my cousins stopping by on the their way to the OSU game at 9, then my Big (Jill!!) swinging by around 9:30 followed closely by my little sister and the most precious cake/decorations ever...the event was beautiful.
Our sweet little DZ hippo baby was celebrated to the fullest extent. The amount of generosity and overall excitement in the room was contagious. When I figured out at the end of the day that my Big, Sibling and her two littles had all been in the same room on the same day for the same event...not to mention my Mom, Mike's Mom as well as a plethora (another fun word) of grandmas, aunts, cousins and friends; I was reminded again just how special my daughter is and how much a baby can bring people together.
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| Talara's diaper cake and turtle topper for Parker baby |
We were truly blessed by all the hard work that went in to the day. Parker's Grandmas and Aunt worked tirelessly to give her an amazing party.
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| It was like Christmas morning after the shower!! Took us an entire day to put everything away! |
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| Thanks Jess for the swaddler practice animal! :) |
We wasted no time playing with the new baby things. Parker's pack 'n play went into our bedroom on DADDY'S side. :) And we practiced using our new swaddlers on a bunny rabbit that evoked a very excited "Awwww" from Mr. Maverick when opened.
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| Pack 'n Play & Moses basket (or "Jesus basket" as Mike calls it) |
Believe it or not after cleaning up that crazy tornado from the shower, Christmas arrived at the Curtsinger home. Mikey put up the tree and then we decorated it together.
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| Cowboy hat and boa feathers |
Within a week we had a tree worthy of Christmas magic, twinkle lights beaming in the darkness, a mantle that for now holds two stockings but is more than ready to add a third and holiday balls complete with fake presents and red sparkley beads.
Parker baby and I can't help but enjoy the view. From where we're sitting (in shorts no less) life might be exhausting, a bit overwhelming and insanely emotional...but overall it looks pretty beautiful. I'm not sure which magic and excitement is stronger right now...the type that arrives when Christmas is only one month away or the kind that makes itself known with every gift, every kick and every hiccup that seems to come in its own shade of pink.
I think, it's possible the Christmas magic and baby magic are strengthened by the presence of each other.
A week ago (November 17) we had another shower. The whole day was filled with friends and family. It all started with my cousins stopping by on the their way to the OSU game at 9, then my Big (Jill!!) swinging by around 9:30 followed closely by my little sister and the most precious cake/decorations ever...the event was beautiful. 
Our sweet little DZ hippo baby was celebrated to the fullest extent. The amount of generosity and overall excitement in the room was contagious. When I figured out at the end of the day that my Big, Sibling and her two littles had all been in the same room on the same day for the same event...not to mention my Mom, Mike's Mom as well as a plethora (another fun word) of grandmas, aunts, cousins and friends; I was reminded again just how special my daughter is and how much a baby can bring people together. 
Within a week we had a tree worthy of Christmas magic, twinkle lights beaming in the darkness, a mantle that for now holds two stockings but is more than ready to add a third and holiday balls complete with fake presents and red sparkley beads. 
