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Happy Birthday Piper!

Im going to start this off by saying that I already actually wrote this blog post, however, since I'm still learning on this new computer, I pushed a button and the post was gone into cyberspace land.

With that said, we'll keep the words to a minimum and photos to the max.  All in all, May 20th 2012 was an amazing day.  It was quite the experience to see all of these people come together to celebrate our little lady.  I couldn't have asked for it be any better.

 Baking cupcakes the day before with Auntie was so much fun!

This was actually a super cool bonding moment for my sissy and I.  I think it's a tradition that just started:)

 This child has learned to take pictures of herself on the iPhone.  Oh, jeez!

 Piper can walk on her own just fine.  She LoVeS to take you by the hand and show you around.  Such a hostess!

 On Saturday, Matt & Christy came over early.  They couldn't wait any longer to give her the present they got her.

 LOVE this.  Her little ghetto booty with her skirt on, checking out her toys from Uncle Brother and Miss Maddy Mac.  Taking it all in.

 This is so much fun!

 Little Miss didn't want to get her hands dirty.  So the "Smash" cake ended up being a "nice-and-neat-tiny-bites" kind of cake:)

 Auntie!!

 Proud Godfather and Miss Maddy hanging with Pipey outside.

 Passed out hard-core mid party but when she woke up, she was ready to rock!

 9:30.  She stopped crying and fussing to take a picture.

 Swimmy time!!!

 Hello cutest girl ever in the cutest bathing suit ever!

 This bathing suit is so worth the ungodly amount I spent on it.  It also comes with a swim cap.  ADORABLE!!  Janie&Jack, check it.

Love you, girl.  Happy birthday my lovely.

approaching a year

alright, ready to get mushy?  go!

as i reflect on this past year with my munchie and hubs, one moment really sticks out to me.  the mothers day before i got pregnant with piper i remember asking my mom when she finally felt like a woman.  not a girl, but a real life woman!  sadly, i don't remember what her answer was-its filed away in my memory box for now.

when i asked her that question i thought how i would answer that question.  when i got married?  bought a house with my husband?  the first time i experienced "aunt flo"?  my honeymoon?  starting my career?  nope, still felt like a young lady but not quite a WOMAN just yet.

well everyone, it happened.  and i will never forget when it happened.

i became a "real life woman" when i gave birth to my beauty.  after the labor, pictures, tears, first feeding and all that happens the first moments in the hospital.  i remember it was my late night nurse, my favorite nurse, penny.  jeremy was asleep on the awful little bed, piper asleep in her baby bassinette.  penny came in to check on me and see if i needed anything.  i don't know what happened, maybe it was that she was the first non family member i had seen in a while, but i clung to her.  i had this intense connection to her.  she talked about her babies that weren't babies anymore, hopefully sleeping at home.  she answered all of my questions.  helped me go to the bathroom and get freshened up a little bit.  told me about how gorgeous my little lady was.  that conversation, that moment, it was sacred.  i will never forget it.  i connected to this woman in a way i never had before.  i connected to her woman to woman.

after that visit from my penny (yes, she's MY penny!:)) i looked at women in a totally different way.  my aunt that visited, she experienced this moment 3 different times.  the moms of the kids in my classroom.  my mom, my grandma, even my cousins and sister, because some day they will get that moment and experience that i just had.  i looked at all women in a respectful, empowering, loving, genuine way.  i almost wanted to give all these women a high five with a "Damn girl, we rock!"  we all have this amazing connection.  we all have that moment.  the moment that you will remember for the rest of your life.  the moment you look around and realize, yup i'm one hell of a woman.  didn't think it would take me until I'm almost 30 to get that moment, but i wouldn't change it for anything.

Mother's Day Goodies

Mother's Day.  It was my first experience getting to celebrate!  What a good day.  

Honestly, I'm not a fan of Mother's Day, or any other holiday where you feel the obligation to do something.  Father's Day, Valentine's Day and Mother's Day-just not a fan.  I understand the meaning and importance, yes.  But, I would much rather receive a thoughtful love note or random flowers on a day that I wasn't expecting it, instead of Valentine's Day.  

I'm also one of those people who will become a romantic the day before these holidays and expect a grand surprise or something ridiculous and then become disappointed when it doesn't happen-thank you romantic comedies/chick flicks. GrRr:)

Anywho, my hubby knows exactly how I feel about these holidays.  Poor guy.  And it came full force on Saturday.  I got to thinking about what was happening on Sunday and realized it was a day about me and yet I wasn't going to do anything I wanted to do!  (Insert bitchy moment here)  The good thing is, Jeremy was able to see that one coming with the plans for Sunday already being in the works the week before.  Seriously, he knows me too well.

With that said, my super sweet Mr. made my "day" on Saturday.  And it was amazing, I say!  It was everything I wanted/didn't want and MoRe!  He surprised me with a new computer.  And by surprised I mean totally shocked since I actually thought he might have forgotten what weekend it was, oops!  Gotta give this guy more credit!  We grabbed lunch, relaxed, cleaned, took happy nappy's with Piper and went to a friends house for a barbecue.  A great day, so similar to other weekends and yet so different:)

 Sunday with Babz-Piper you so goofy!

 Selfish moment of mine.  Napping with my little on my chest for a solid 2 hours while watching some trash tv.  Bliss.

 The one that made me a mommy

 My main squeeze that know just how weird I get around certain "holidays" ;)

...Just love this one...

"The Net"

"The Net".  Everyone has one and sometimes they don't realize they have it until they need it.  "The Net" is the tight-knit group of friends and family you have that when you need someone to catch you and pick you up from a fall, they're there without hesitation.  These are most likely the first people you call when you have news, good or bad!

This past week was absolute craziness for me.  I was stressed like I had never been before and was experiencing a range of emotions like no other.  I never even felt like this when I was prego-well maybe once when Piper scared us when she was still somersaultin' in the tum tum.  Anywho, Friday hit and a new form of stress hit 15 minutes before the kids were to come into my classroom.  Fabulous.

I broke down.  I cried.  I said words that should never come out of one's mouth.  I freaked.

My "net" was there.  They caught me.  Picked me up.  Gave me strength and courage when I didn't have any for myself.  God Bless the "net".

After school, I continued to feel embarassed, humiliated and broken down.  At that point in time, I was surprised to see who else just knew I needed something. 

I got the random text from one of my dearest friends saying, "Just thinking about you and hoping you're okay".  Don't know how she knew something was off, but she did.  I called her and she helped pick me up. 

Then of course the usual people in my net like my sister and brother in law who dropped off my favorite candies with a text that said, "Check your doorstop.  F*&K stress!"  Ahhh, just what I needed:)

I love my "net" and I hope they know that I will be part of their "net" when they need it.  It's an amazing thing, really, to see who is willing and ready to drop whatever they are doing to either celebrate with you or lend you some of their courage and bravery when you need it.

 Sunday evening consisted of picnic dinner in our backyard, splashin in the pool, bubbles and otterpops!


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FUN CHANGES

TOMORROW JEREMY STARTS HiS NEW JOB.  i AM SO EXCiTED FOR HiM.  HE DESERVES THiS AND NEEDS iT. 

WE ALSO REDiD OUR LiViNG ROOM.  iTS FABULOUS AND A BiT DARiNG!:)

One of our new chairs!  We have two of them, so nicely placed in front of our staircase.

Purple, white and lime green are the colors.  Dont mind the computer on the couch, I'm a lazy one and didn't want to move it while it was charging.  SOO LaZY!

11 months

Piper is 11 months old which means a party is rapidly approaching!  It's so bittersweet.  Time has gone by so fast, it's insane.  I like doing these monthly updates since it gives me some time to reflect on the month, what we've done as a family, how much Piper has learned or what milestone she has reached and it's fun to see how much Jer and my relationship has changed in that month.  Whether we would test each other's patience or how much we support each other-honestly it's mostly Jeremy who has to bring me down a notch, especially when our child busts her lip open when trying to walk and I can't do anything but cry.  Great reaction MOM!!  Damn.  Thank the lord almighty for that man!

She likes taking pictures of herself on the phone, so silly. 

Well, we have a theme set for the big day.  And that's about it.  ha!  We know it's going to be Minnie Mouse since our tagalong loves the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.  Other than that, not so sure.  Location?  Invite list?  Food?  Drinks?  Invites?  Negative!  Either way I know it's going to come together perfectly for our little and it will be a special day for her with all the people that love her.

 Dollhouse Toy Store is our favorite place to be!

Now onto some fun milestones for Piper girl.  The past few months have kind of blended together so I'm just going to list some things, and they might have happened the month before, but just roll with it;)

• This child loves music!  Doesn't matter what kind she is happiest when music is on, much like mommy and daddy.
• Her new favorite toy other than her books are her pillows and blankies.  She also likes her tamborine and xylophone and actually plays them!  She is so stinking smart!
• No more baby food, ma!  This kid likes to eat.  Like a lot.  She eats all the time and is no longer a fan of baby food especially if she sees people around her eating food.
• She is a big fan of the swimming pool and has no fear.  This summer will be spent out in the pool splishin and splashin!  Can't wait for swimmy lessons with some friends and her boyfriend, Owen:)
• BIG GIRL SEAT AND STROLLER!  AH!  Is it wrong to tear up when you look back while driving and see a happy gal dancing in the backseat and be reminded that it was only a year ago when daddy drove 20 miles an hour on the freeway to go home from the hospital?

 Dancing in the backseat.  Yes, she fist pumps.

Other big things happening in the Hornbeck house.  Jeremy got a new job!!  I am so proud of him.  He saw this family needed a change and he provided.  Man, if he only knew how much I really appreciate and love him.   This is going to be so nice to have him home on holidays and have a set schedule, rather than never knowing when we'll see him!

My beauty

Kid, you're too fast to take a picture of!

:)

HE SAiD WHAT?

I am starting a new "post" on here.  My husband keeps me entertained on the daily with what he says, some I don't know if anyone would believe me.  I have to start writing them down and I figured y'all would get a kick out of them, so on the bloggy blog it shall go!!!:)  Stay tuned...

Yep, I got pee'd on

Oh brother!  One of the top embarassing moments of being a mommy happened on Saturday morning.  Jer and I decided to go to our fave brunch spot, The Perk, in the morn.  Well, lil missy was in a feisty but good mood that morning. 

"This will be fun!  Done it a million times," we thought.

First 20 minutes, best baby ever.  Got compliments from the waitress, people sitting next to us loved her leg warmers and ribbon skirt, she was giggling and sitting in her highchair.

BOOM!  It hits.  From the table next to us I get hit with a spit wad.  Awesome.  Laugh it off, whatever.  Then, the demon in our child comes out.  Doesn't want to sit in her seat.  Go to hold her, food goes flying everywhere.  Decide to put her next to daddy so she can stand, tries to swan dive it off the seat.

Here comes the best part.

I go to pick her up and realize I should go change the diaper.  At that very moment in time, my hand becomes sopping wet and I feel a trickle begin to go down my front.  What do I do??  Freeze and mouth to Jeremy, "She's peeing on me". 

Oh goodness gracious what was I thinking?!

I continue to bolt out of the restaurant with a handful of pee and the front of me looking like a disaster.  The poor hostess looks at me in complete confusion with the thought of, What the hell?!

As soon as I get outside, I couldn't help but just laugh.  Laugh.  And then laugh some more.  I mean, who gets peed on while the diaper is still on?! 

Baby Girl, rockin the new toddler stroller.  Loved it and the big jacket that she got to wear since it was FREEZiNG!