Birthday Party Video, courtsey of Susie.
March 25th 2012
So the day finally came. The day Mommy has been planning forever for. Your birthday party! There are too many pictures that will not fit in one post so this will be one of a few posts. There is also a lovely video I must post of your birthday courtesy of sweet sweet Sushi (Susie). She took the photos from your birthday, along with a few I was able to get in. It was pretty windy that day so decorating didn’t exactly go as planned but what ever does. You came with Grandma and Grandpa Burzo as we wanted you to get your nap in. Dressed in your birthday outfit and your homemade aviator hat (courtesy of Grandma Burzo) matching daddy’s, you looked so cute. There was a bounce house (which you wanted nothing of) , a snow cone machine, a sandbox and a pool. I made all of the gift bags, center pieces, cupcakes, airplane cake, birthday banner, 12 month photo banner, bubble station, cotton candy bags and any other decorations you see. I ordered your cloud balloons and Mommy, Daddy, Grandma Ducker, Aunt Margaret, Uncle Bubba, Shrimp and Will set everything up. So many friends and family came and everyone had such a great time. We lucked out with the weather and it turned out to be such a beautiful day. You got so many presents and birthday wishes and you enjoyed every minute of it. Here’s to more birthdays and planning to come. <3
11 Months Old
February 22nd 2012
20.10 lbs : 29.5 in
You get a bath every night, no matter where we are and you are in bed no later than 9pm. You always take 1 nap a day, sometimes 2 but very rarely and sleep no longer than 3 hours. You drink whole milk, water and juice and you eat pretty much everything (when you want to of course). You are on a pretty good schedule (thanks to your OCD mom) with sleep and food. We are still afraid to give you honey and nuts although you are aloud to have them. Everything to you is da-da and you point at whatever it is you want or where ever it is you want to go. You are pulling yourself up everywhere, walking while pushing something or holding onto anyone’s hands. You love going to the beach and we went to a gym where you hating doing somersaults. Some of our special memories are story time, beach, park and going for walks. You also met a new friend down the street, Daniel Jean who is only a month apart from you. Love you big boy, one more month till you are 1! <3
Way back when, you were just a tiny newborn, your Aunt Erica mentioned to me about a cake smash. I had been obsessing over it ever since. I had searched and searched and searched for ideas and inspirations. There were so many pictures out there of beautiful cake smashes. For anyone who may question, what is a cake smash. A cake smash is an event that takes place when your little one turns 1. You place a cake in front of them and simply let them do as they please with it, capturing every intrigued, peculiar moment along the way. You can say I’ve been planning this cake smash in my head for about a year. As the time closely approached I came upon one picture that inspired our cake smash (left photo). I knew I wanted wood as the background and base and was thinking how the heck am I going to execute that. I finally thought of using pallets (pieces of wood put together to hold sod or mulch) and thanks to Will (Shrimpy’s husband) I was able to go and pick out the best ones. Thanks to Home Depot as well. I already had a giant cupcake pan so I knew that would be our cake. I also had a cake stand that served as your father and I’s centerpieces at our wedding. I made the banner in the background and bought two balloons. I set it all up in our dining room where there are huge sliding glass doors allowing so much natural light. I went out and bought you a cute tie (courtesy of The Children’s Place), decided you would be topless and in a pair of old blue jeans you had. I couldn’t decide if I wanted your hair down and nice or a mohawk, so we did both. I took all the photos with my Iphone and with the help of Shrimp, the collage (right photo) is the finished product. It came out so perfect and I couldn’t have been more happier with our cake smash. You loved the icing and once you got a piece of the cake you liked that too. Happy 1st Birthday. <3
March 22nd 2012
You turned 1 today! I can’t believe 12 months has gone by already. I almost can’t remember you when you were 1 month old. Today was very eventful and instead of writing it all down here for you to read I decided to make it into a video for you to enjoy. From the time you woke up till the time you went to bed we celebrated your birthday. Everyone who celebrated with you were me, daddy, grandma & grandpa Burzo, Shrimpy, AJ, and Uncle Bubba. Although everyone would have loved to share this special day with you they could not as it fell on a weekday. Don’t worry, everyone will be at your party though. Enjoy your video where you get to relive your 1st birthday over and over. We love you! <3
March 22 2012
…….Continued from March 21.
I remember the moment we started labor. They inserted a device that was suppose to help encourage labor. That did nothing. They then removed that device and proceeded to break my water. This was a bittersweet feeling because on one hand I knew we were getting closer to meeting you but on the other that was like your home that kept you safe from everything inside my womb. Then came the pitocin. Oh hell that pitocin. It progresses the natural acts of labor. On came the contractions. At first they weren’t so bad. Then they gradually got worse. I knew I wanted that angel the epidural when the contractions were so bad I could not control my body as it shivered and shake and I even got sick. That was no fun. Once that angel came and took away all my pain man was I in heaven. I couldn’t move my legs but I was able to rest as I needed it for the next stage to come. My doctor came in periodically checking to see how far along I was and to let me know when it was time to push. I remember a nurse came in to check me and I was about 6 centimeters dilated. Then my doctor came in and told me she was going to get her nails done and for me not to do anything till she came back. I remember thinking, WhAt?!?!?!? I am about to have a baby and you want to go get your nails done. She wn’t going to check my progress since the nurse had done it not too long ago but something told her to anyway. Sure enough I was 9 centimeters and she couldn’t go anywhere. It was time to start pushing. Legs up, knees back, chin to your neck, push from the bottom. All I remember with every push was pain. I had an IV in my arm that was causing pain, your tiny little foot was gauging into my rib with every push. I couldn’t feel the contractions so I had to be told when to push. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. And again. He’s right there Angela, he’s right there, said everyone. Right there my ass (excuse my language) This pushing went on for an hour and 45 minutes. There was a mirror at one point and I could see as I was pushing your tiny little head come out a little and seem to go completely back in. He’s never coming out, I remember screaming. But on and on I pushed till finally your little body made its way from the inside out. I did not know this at the time but the umbilical cord was wrapped around your neck several times. I didn’t see this till I watched back the footage. Then out came your little cry and out came the tears. They placed you on my chest and your hand met my finger for the first time and I said Hello. That was 8 pounds, 4 ounces and 21 inches ago. Today at 7:54pm you turned 1.
We have spent an entire year together and it has been such a pleasure getting to know you and watch you grow and progress into a little toddler. I cannot wait to continue to grow with you and teach you new things as you do the same with me.
Happy Birthday my Son. We love you always and forever.
Video of your entire day coming next.
March 21 2012
About this time a year ago your father and I were just settling into bed. Said our good nights and closed our eyes. My phone was right by me just in case the hospital called. Surely enough just as we fell asleep my phone rang. It was about 11:15pm. I remember, as it was ringing, laying there and thinking if I should answer it. I was nervous. I answered the phone. It was the hospital letting me know there was a room available if I wanted to come. I was hesitant but I said yes. Our bags had been packed for about a week. I was shaking a little as we were getting ready. This was it. Go time. The drive to the hospital was the most quiet drive we’ve ever taken. We didn’t say a word practically the whole way. We exchanged a few words basically letting each other know we were nervous. We got to the hospital and we left our bags in the car as we weren’t sure what was going to happen. We got to labor and delivery and they triaged us and hooked me up to the monitor. That was the first time in my entire 9 months of pregnancy that I found out I was having contractions, I just couldn’t feel them. I loved hearing your heartbeat the entire time. I don’t know what it was but the sound was kind of soothing. It was a pretty long night and I don’t think anything could have prepared us for the next day.
That was a year ago today. Tomorrow we will have spent 365 days together and they have been the happiest, most joyful days of my life. I’ve cherished every second, every day and every month with you and I can’t believe it’s all going to be behind us. Thankfully I am in love with capturing moments and I think I’ve captured as much of your first year a mom could. I love you kid. We’ve got one under I belt and I can promise you that it will only get better. <3
………..To be continued
