Better Than the Royal Wedding

As most of you may know, I'm obsessed with Instagram. If I was paid a nickel for each time I checked my beloved Instagram feed - I would be a rich rich woman. 

Anyways, through Instagram I have 'met' and made some wonderful friends. It is a crazy thing that you may not understand. I love it. It's awesome and I'm making friends all over the world.

You see I found this family, or maybe they found me. One day a special blog friend of mine featured something she bought from me on her page. A few of you are here because of her. Without that post I never would have met her. Her Stephanie. 

I always try to check out new followers who come here to visit or those who comment.  I kid you not, I thought she was barely older than me. I started to peruse her blog and when I read she was a grandma to three I about fell over. I was stumped. How in the world did she already have three grandkids at such a young age. 

Due to my above average stalking skills I decided to do a little Instagram re-con and I fell in love over time. Not just with her but her entire family. As I began to unfold their life and who they are (average Janes and Joes I promise they aren't celebrities except to me) I can't help but be totally captivated by their family. Even the Dad is an Instagramer. Now that is cool y'all. Ah the love that overflows from the Holdens.

In the last few months she...had her youngest daughter graduate (homeschooled by the way), helped move her oldest daughter, and prepared for the wedding of the year. She also runs an adorable shop called The Honey Pot. Besides being a rockstar Mom and Grandma Honey, it's clear that she is an excellent wife too. I look up to her in so many ways. I plan on meeting her soon. Here is one of my favorite posts of hers if you're interested. I know you are, go on check. it. out.

Anyways, today is Lydia's wedding!!! Well Lydia and the banjo picking Marcus. I've been anticipating this wedding more than I did the royal wedding in 2011. William and Kate who? I love a good handmade wedding. I love the wedding of an awesome couple. I love a wedding that is overflowing with love. Check. Check. Check. The Holdens have been on my mind all week and today I wanted to personally (via blog) congratulate the newlyweds and their families on this happy day. 

I stole some of your IG photos, don't be mad :)

Now I'm going to anxiously wait all day for updates.

LD

Crying in Baseball

The truth about baseball is, it's an emotional game. For me anyways. My husband among many other guys have been dreaming of playing this game as a career since they were little. When that is taken away from you, it's hard not to be emotional. 

I mentioned that our roommates moved out. I am sad even writing about it. In one short month we met and made some awesome friends. I fall hard for people. I can't help it.

We spent several nights eating dinner together, had movie nights, and went to dinners like one big happy family. We even had a little one to make us laugh and to greet us with her precious smiles and even an occasional tantrum. 

I had a friend in another baseball wife who knows the struggles and deals with some of the same things I do. A friend to keep me company when the guys went on the road. We could discuss the worries and fears that come with this game.

I'm sad that they are no longer with our team. In an instant that's how it happens. You get called into the office and are told that you're being released. They don't give you an option, they tell you what decision has already been made. So you clean out your locker and report to your wife and family what just happened. It's frustrating, sad, and emotional. It's part of the game. The part of the game I do not like, because these are my new friends. I don't like when my friends are hurting. 

We were like the twin couple. Our guys both loved food. Their wardrobes were about the same and their love for movies made them the most compatible. We ladies laughed at how similar they were and bonded over new craft ideas and so much more. We even share the same anniversary date. 

I cried when I found out. I truly love our new friends and plan to go visit them whenever we get the chance. I know they are going to be okay whether another team picks them up or not. I'm so thankful for them and for the friendship we have. I'm hoping that our baseball paths cross again sometime soon. 

So there you have it, sometimes there is crying in baseball. 

Roommates

Roommates...you either love them or hate them. Cool thing is we love ours. They provide us a sense of normalcy. A chick that can relate to what I'm going through each day. Friends to watch movies and laugh with. Friends to help us not want a baby any time soon.


Luckily, I've only had baby fever once, and it was pretty fierce right in the middle of my nanny days. Now that it's just us we are okay with that. For right now we still have a little one around, it's just not our little one. Best of both worlds. 


It's not that our roommates child is bad. In all honesty, she is the most well behaved child I've been around. It amazes me how good she is. This is life that pretty much has NO routine. Kids need that routine. Little Miss P rolls with the punches. She is so sweet and loving and at an awesome stage just learning to talk. She is a kid nonetheless that will throw a tantrum, be overly tired, and need discipline every now and again. I can't help but read books to her, teach her nursery rhymes, tickle her and take her off her momma's hands for a little while whenever I can. Just look at this adorable face and darling curls.

Baby Boy Miracles

Yesterday we were supposed to go visit our friend Rebecca in the hospital. She is pregnant with twin boys. This is our friend who sang and her husband played the guitar for us at our wedding.  This is the friend who visited Brandon's granddad while he was in the hospital when we couldn't be here. We miscalculated our time schedule and  the errands we had to run and did not make it by to see her. I was really bummed. I wanted to show her that we did care about her. We decided we would go today and then run the rest of the errands after BD worked out. But that didn't quite happen... 

Here is a little background on the subject. Rebecca has had multiple complications with this pregnancy. It began from the beginning with struggles getting pregnant and IVF treatments. She even lost one of the babies after the IVF was successful. They didn't give up. Once she became pregnant, with twins, the doctors saw little hope in the babies surviving and advised her to abort both babies. That was not an option for this family. As a result of their strong faith and loving families they continued to hold on. They knew this would be a struggle and that any moment their children, twin boys could be taken from them. 

Numerous trips to specialists and doctors happened. A procedure was done on Baby B the day before our wedding. They were having troubles with their kidneys. I don't know all the details so I'm sorry that it seems vague. After the procedure and for the last few months each time they returned to the doctor for ultrasounds they continued to see improved results often times with no medical reasoning to back them just God's miracles. 

As of last Friday our dear friend was placed on bed rest due to leaking amniotic fluid. Then Monday they admitted her to the hospital as this became a concern for the doctors and of course the babies well being. 

We arrived about 1 and I didn't expect anything less. Rebecca aka always bubbly and chatty was nothing less. It was as if we were spending time with her outside of the hospital. There wasn't the dreadful hospital stigma in her room. We talked about things the doctors told her and some of her concerns for the boys. I could tell deep down she was nervous. Nervous that she was going to have to spend the next six weeks in the hospital waiting. Or nervous that the boys were coming sooner than planned. 

Her husband arrived while we were there. He is also very upbeat and well spirited. We seriously love this couple. While we were there they were monitoring the babies hearts and it was so neat hearing them. I'd never heard that before. Then the nurse came in and told her that she was actually having some Braxton Hicks contractions. 

Whaaaaaa (Despicable Me voice)  --- we said peace out we gotta roll! No, not really, but I know my husband was thinking it. We left the room while they had to do some nurse/private things and when we came back we chatted a few more then said goodbye about 2:30ish.

I couldn't quit thinking about her on our ten minute ride to the gym and text her one more time telling her not to be nervous, not to worry that everything will be fine and that it's in God's control.  Her response ...

Are you JOKING me? Not possible. We just left the hospital and your nurse said nothing was happening yet. 

As soon as Brandon finished working out and I finished some computer work for the trainer we ate and headed to the hospital. We spent the rest of the afternoon at the hospital with their family and friends. This evening we got to see the babies in the NICU. They are precious little miracles. 

Aaron and Benjamin were born at 3:50 today. 

Aaron weighs 2 lbs 6 oz and is 15 inches. 

Ben weighs 2lb 7 oz 13 3/4 inches.  

These photos don't show how tiny they are but they are oh so small and adorable! 

These babies were born a little over an hour after we were there visiting. Now she blames it on us that we sent her into labor. How will we ever repay her?

As of tomorrow the babies are only 29 weeks old. We believe these little miracles are going to be fine. They will have to stay until they are at least 35 weeks old. They still have a long road ahead of them but with their faith and good spirits we know the babies will surprise us yet again to overcome the odds. 

{The lesson in this for me. I have been running myself ragged stressing over all these things I want to do before we leave. And more things I need to get done before we leave. Today I realized that they will get done in time. There are some things more important that need attending to first. Being there for our friend was one of them.}

San Francisco

I got back from San Francisco Sunday night and promised myself I would document the trip before life gets away from me. My dear friend moved out west beginning of this year and I was really wanting to get out there to visit. Lucky for me, my friend hooked me up big time with some perks of her new job and a trip west was planned.


I arrived Friday and we walked down by the pier and wharf to eat so delicious Mexican. It was freezing, at least to me. I am used to the STL summer heat not 60 degrees with a chilly breeze of the bay. We picked up some ice cream and headed back to her apartment. I know I was freezing but I really wanted ice cream. 

Bay Bridge

The Wharf

Coldstone

Saturday we headed out for some morning java and boarded the San Francisco street car. I love doing touristy stuff. We took the trolley across town to Union Square where we did some shopping. Then we had lunch at The Rotunda at Nieman Marcus with my Aunt, Uncle, and cousin. I'm not going to lie here, I felt pretty out of my element. I've never been a lunch so fancy. I enjoyed it though the food was delicious and the view couldn't have been better. From there we bummed a ride from my fam back to the apartment.

Riding the Street Car

Hanging Out

Shopping at Sephora

Because I LOVE baseball so much we headed down to AT&T Park to watch the world champion Giants take on the Houston Astros. No, actually we went because my friend's mom got her stellar tickets to the game. To top it all off, my cousin works for the Giants and just so happened to get us on the field at the tail end of batting practice. 

Friends

Family

View From My Seat

We ate well, got plenty of exercise, and I even got to visit family. Looking forward to going back next year for a friendly Cards/Giants game. And if you are wondering, I only packed stripes. I'm not sure what that was about. I guess I'm jumping on that wagon.

Shower (re)Cap

My eyes are always open for things to make, DIY projects, or fun photos to take especially since I started taking this blog thing so serious.  The bridal shower of my dear friend offered up all kinds of goodness besides catching up with old friends. When I walked through the door I felt like some of my favorite blog's party ideas had come to life. I snatched the camera and started clicking away. 

[Sweets Table - the Pink cup candlestick was homemade. Glue, spray paint, and some cheap cups from a flea market. Great idea]

[Cupcake Wrapper PomPom]

[Strawberry, Banana, Angel Food Cake Kabobs eat with Chocolate Mousse]

[Pretty drinks]

[Yumazing Cupcakes]

[Tomato, Mozzarella, and Basil]

[Pretty hostesses and Bride]

Now and Then

This weekend I got a nice lesson on jealousy, a chance to till up old memories, and see some of my very special friends. I've made it a point to learn from every experience and situation I am in. Sometimes I don't recognize or learn right away but I still give it a shot.


These were my first friends when I moved off to college. Emily and Teresa were my neighbors in the dorm. Meggie was friends with my brother before I even moved to Columbia and she lived on the floor below us. We all clicked and we all bring different personalities to the group. I promise you would laugh if you got to hang out with us. We spent lots of time together. I can't even remember all the things we've done but we continue to be friends to this day and I am so grateful. 

[Emily, Teresa, Meggie, Me]

So fast forward from the college days to today. We all currently live in different cities and don't get to see each other very often. In fact we don't really talk that much except for some Facebook messages or texts. We blame it on our busy schedules and daily life. Easy excuse. But these are the friends when you get together, its seems no time has passed at all and things pick up where they left off. Time has passed and now Meggie and I are both engaged and getting married within the next three months. 


Her bridal shower was yesterday bringing us all back together again. It was an awesome shower at her mom and dad's home. Major props to the maids and moms they will get their own post for the food and decorations soon. This is also where the wedding will take place. It is seriously going to be gorgeous. And as we were looking around at everything I was overwhelmed with jealousy, and I hated that I felt this way. There is six weeks difference in wedding dates and I was freaking out inside with all the wedding talk. All the details, things I have overlooked and don't have planned. There were so many things that I loved that she is doing for her wedding that I want to do for mine. I don't want to be a copycat though.


I prayed that my heart wouldn't be jealous about a zillion times. And then something happened after the shower, after we had assembled all the programs (which may have been my favorite and funniest part of the night), after I had come to realize that my wedding will have its own uniqueness and timing and will, in the end, be wonderful  and exactly what I want. God answered my prayer, and quick. Meggie offered for me to use any of the decorations of hers I wanted after her wedding was over. {Heart sinks}


I was so worried about doing things she was doing and that she might be upset if I copied I was blindsided by the offer.  Then I kicked myself and the flood of jealousy retreated and my heart was overwhelmed with thankfulness for such a good friend. She has shared part of her bride gene that I am so desperately in need of. 


I drove home today feeling an insane amount of joy for my dear friend. I know she truly appreciates all her friends and family and love that they have shown her through this amazing time in her life. We forgot a picture of our foursome that probably has grown to more than just four but none the less we all love Megs just the same. I couldn't ask for a better friend, I'm so blessed!

[Meggie and her bridesmaids]