Ryan's Old Lady

On October 4th I turned 21.  (Haaaaaa.)  I know, I know- exciting milestone!  My sweet hubs and friends ensured that I didn't let this occasion go without notice by planning a joint fiesta for myself and my fellow October compadres.  Between kids, travel (not us clearly), and busy social calendars (also not us) - it's tough to get everyone together so this was perfection.

Melanie, Brendan and Ryan planned - ok, let's be honest- Melanie planned with minimal text interference from Brendan and Ryan- for us all to have dinner at El Tiempo.  Never ones to disappoint the wait staff, we ate more than our fair share of fajitas and downed more than half our side of the restaurant's share of skinny marg pitchers.

Afterwards we all headed over to Melanie and Jonathan's to have cake, more wine and supervise the men so that no one tried to jump over any pools or off any ledges.  I'm happy to report it was a success.  No injuries were sustained in this year's celebration.  Does this mean we're adults?  Or that Obamacare is making us think twice about how much these decisions cost us in dignity AND currency?  Hard to say.

Either way- thank you to all participants.  I love you so very much and am grateful for the temporary distraction from crying to myself while watching LTN thinking of how old I'm getting.  Smooches to you all!

Not good at selfies.

Very good at consuming desserts.

Jen's new boyfran.

The most delicious, and heaviest, cake I think HEB has ever made.

October 4th, 5th & 16th.

 This series of pictures is epic.  #nocaptionneeded

And in case you were worried that the adults were having all the fun, here's a few pictures of what Emmy Poo was busy doing with Grandma & PawPaw Martin.  

Just sitting like a big girl at the fire pit.

Apparently she was really into burning them.  Jen, maybe she's your's?

Another Year... Wiser?

Author's Note:  You'll notice in the upcoming slew of blog posts that there is one underlying theme- an utter lack of quality pictures.  Apparently I have not only been slacking on keeping this scrapbook up to date, but also my iPhone camera roll.  Failing all around!  However, I committed to getting caught up and doing so means documenting events whether or not there's much visual accompaniment.  I apologize in advance.  :c)

This year Ryan's 29th (take 4) birthday fell on a Saturday.  There were quite a few things going on at the time, so at the last minute the birthday boy decided he wanted to celebrate at Watson's with a few of those nearest and dearest to him.  As luck would have it, that day they happened to be having a Beer Fest- a clear indication that he made the right choice.

My parents were kind enough to come over to wrangle our children for the afternoon so that we could enjoy some time acting like college kids adults.  We were all treated to more samples from some fab breweries (Blue Moon, No Label, etc) than we knew what to do with.  And we noshed on more orders of french fries than the waitstaff knew what to do with.  Suffice it to say that a fabulous time was had by all, most especially my Baby Daddy.  Thank you to everyone who moved things around to join us and to my parents for watching our bebes.  Happiest of Birthdays Big Daddy Long Legs!  I hope this is your best year yet.

All Ryan's ever wanted for his birthday- a prom pose pic with Jonathan.

Grown ups.  Some of whom are responsible for children.  Is that not what you glean from this pic?

The group's shining accomplishment for the day- sneaking every free sticker we got onto the birthday boy's back while he remained blissfully ignorant.  We done good, kids.

All's well that ends with Lynda thieving ketchup.

My Favorite Birthday

You may have noticed that this post is titled "My Favorite Birthday."  This might lead you to worry that upon her arrival our newest edition ousted big sister from her thrown.  Do not fear, that is the title of Emery's birthday post as well.  Why not a sequel like my pregnancy posts?  Because they are both legitimately my favorite birthdays.  Neither is more special, sacred or important to me than the other.  That might sound like I'm trying to be diplomatic, but it's sincerely just the truth.  Before you have your second you wonder how on earth you can love another creature as much as you love your existing earth-dwelling child.  At 10:14 AM on November 18th when our newest pride and joy, Miss Brynn Marie, arrived - I suddenly understood.

As I mentioned before, I was stubbornly resisting a scheduled induction.  The last few weeks at my regular appointments Brynn was measuring large (7 lbs 9 oz at 36 weeks and 8 lbs and 9 oz at 38.5 weeks), I was making good progress (4 cm & 70% at 38 weeks) and my doctor reminded me regularly that she would be happy to schedule an induction if I wanted.  I felt very strongly that I wanted Brynn to pick her own birthday though.  Heaven knows I'll control enough other things in her life, whether I mean to or not.

November 17th, her due date, came and went with no baby arrival much to mine and Nonnie's chagrin.  I'd been having irritating contractions for weeks, so I didn't think too much of the contractions I felt that day during my lunch-time walk nor than evening before Ryan and I went to sleep.  When I term them "irritating", I believe it's warranted.  I kept having what I'd deem peek-a-boo contractions.  They would come very regularly for about an hour and then just... disappear.  I thought on the evening of November 17th that they were a little stronger but given my history I was pretty hesitant to tell anyone that.

At 4:30 am on Tuesday November 18th I woke up, as I'd done many times in the weeks leading up to it, and felt a contraction.  I opened my iPhone timing app and started timing.  The same way I had maaaaaany times in the 3 weeks before.  After 2 contractions I felt in my gut that this was probably the real deal.  I figured I should go ahead and take a shower to make sure they hung around before I got anyone worked up.  After a quick shower I told Ryan he needed to wake up because I thought we needed to go to the hospital.  Sleepy Papa Bear kindly responded, "why?"  Even he didn't trust my contractions at this point.  After he witnessed a yelp during a contraction he called his Dad to come stay with Emery and quickly got ready himself.

The wait for Ryan's dad to arrive around 6:15 felt like the longest 45 minutes of my life.  My contractions continued to get stronger and by the end I was hunching over and squeezing the crap out of Ryan's hand during them.  We got to the hospital around 6:30 and they wheeled me up to Labor & Delivery.  They sent me to triage where more waiting that felt like years ensued.  By the time they finally checked me the nurse said "Oh- we're going to have a baby.  Soon."  I was at 7 cm and I immediately burst into tears as I was sure that meant I wasn't going to get an epidural.

Around 7:30 they got me into a room and my Mom arrived.  By the time they checked me then I was at an 8 bordering on 9.  Thankfully they got the anesthesiologist in there stat and I got my epidural around 8:35.  My doctor also came by and broke my water.  Life got a lot better post epidural.  Puppy dogs and rainbows, people.

As you may recall from Emery's birth story, Ryan finds documentation of traffic conditions imperative.  Here are the roadways from Sir Hospital Sky Eye on Brynn's birthday.

Ryan talked me into "one last pregnant picture."  I blame that on how excited I was for the relief the epidural provided.

Around 9:25 or so the nurse came by and told me I was at a solid 9 but that Brynn's head wasn't positioned exactly correctly.  She rotated me into some very yoga-esque pose and told me she'd be back to check on me in 30 minutes but that I should call if I thought I needed her before.  About 5 minutes later I stopped my Mom mid-sentence and told her to call the nurse.  The nurse came and confirmed it was go time.  

Again- more waiting.  It felt like it took forevvvvver for my doctor to make it from the medical building next door.  Then, miraculously, at 10:14 am our darling lovebug joined us.  She had a head full of dark hair, the cutest chipmunk cheeks anyone has ever seen and dark eyes.  Love at first sight is equally as fulfilling the second time around as it is the first.  

Oh, and she tipped the scales at 9 lbs 4 oz and 21" long.  This is funny because at 36 weeks the two measured EXACTLY the same size.  With Emery, everyone was convinced she was going to be a big girl.  When she was born (8 lbs and 21.5") my doctor's direct quote was "Oh, you aren't as big as I thought you'd be."  So I assumed that Brynn would be roughly the same size.  This time around everyone was surprised at, and commented on, how big she was.  Not the last time that these two will surprise us, I'm sure.

Just getting her stretches in.  Emery warned her the real world is rough.

Pondering why she decided to ditch her previous abode for THIS.

Footprints.  Baby's first autograph.

Do you not just want to pinch those cheeks through your screen?  No?  Just me?

For about an hour, Miss Brynn hung out with just Mama, Daddy & Nonnie.  The bonus of the second time around is that you know how special those first few moments of soaking her in on your own are and I was so much better at actively doing it.  After our initial bonding sesh, Brynn's fan club started to arrive.  First Grandma came by to see her.  

Hi Grandma!

At some point, I don't even know what time because who can keep track of such things when there's a gorgeous baby to snuggle, we got transferred to our post partum room.  Then Aunt Julie came by, bearing Panera I might add, to meet the newest target of all her spoiling.  Bringing Panera might have made her my second favorite person that day (after Brynn- duh).  She knows that the way to all good Boarman women's hearts is through their tummy.

Ugh.  Guys.  Enough with these pictures.  Can't a girl just get some sleep?

Proud Grandma.

Proud Auntie.

Gah, I just love her.

Proud parents.  Not sure Brynn was so proud to call us her's with that hair I was rocking.

Later that evening, both Pawpaws, David, Jen and Brendan came by to dote on baby B as well.  Of COURSE, Brynn also got to meet her big sister that day but I'm saving that for it's own post just because being gifted a sister will hopefully be one of the most important moments in both of their lives.  Obviously that deserves it's own moment in the sun.  Plus... there are probably too many pictures.  Shocking?

Jen and Brendan.  I promise they didn't actually look like they were interviewing Julie about her new child in real life.

As with Emery, and I am sure any new parents' stay in the hospital, those first few days are a total whirlwind of sleeplessness, groggy discussions with doctors and much screaming... typically by baby.  Photographic documentation of this time:

Awake and just admiring her Daddy.

My precious baby.

We got to take our newest family member home on Thursday November 20th to start life as a family of four, which we were so, so ready to do.

Oh #*%#.  Do they know you guys think you're going to take me from here?  I hear there's a needy dog and a noisy kid where you live.  I'm not sure I'm on board.

Mom, does this giant flower make me look fat?

So you're my chauffeur for the past 9 months, huh?  Let's talk about that singing, shall we?

Sister told me genetically I'm supposed to hate this thing.

Once again, November 18th was the greatest day of my life.  I can't thank my team enough for all their love, support and encouragement.  From texts to phone calls to emails to flowers to bringing us food- you all helped immensely.  As if meeting the newest love of your life isn't smile-inducing enough, being reminded of how loved you are through others' thoughtfulness and actions truly makes your heart feel like it might burst.  Of course, very special thank yous to my amazing husband, who knows when to make me laugh and when to just let me squeeze the crap out of his hand, and to my mother, because there's no one who can soothe your soul the way your mama can.  I am not sure what I would have done without either of you.  We are just almost as blessed to have you in our lives as we are to have two healthy, gorgeous daughters to call our own.  In conclusion- happiest of birthdays to the piece of our family we didn't realize was missing.  We all love you to bits Brynn Marie!

Mama (and Yanny Mac) are OLD(er)...

... but trust me when I say that no one is wiser.  See below.

In the chaos of trying to furiously finish up Bucket's room, finish 57 hours of CPE and all the other last minute oh-m-gee-a-baby-is-coming-soon to-do's, my birthday nearly came and went without my even noticing.  Melanie, ever the considerate wife and friend, combined powers with Ryan and they planned a small little joint shindig for my birthday (October 4th) and Jonathan's (October 5th).

We got babysitters, actually did our hair and met at El Tiempo for dinner and then headed over to Chateau McClain for an after party.  You would think with a total of 4.5 kids combined between the 10 of us and the fact that most of us kissed our college years good-bye more than 5 years ago that this would equate to a fairly quiet little evening.  You would be completely mistaken and I wouldn't have it any other way.  There's no need to get into details because as mentioned before, we are role models now, but suffice it to say that a fellow restaurant patron and his 15 year old son were so amused by the girls' end of the table's conversation that they sent over a pitcher of margs on them.

Afterwards we took our margs, our ridiculous conversation and brilliant ideas back to Mel & Jonathan's where we were treated to some DELISH homemade cake from Melanie, a heartfelt rendition of "Happy Birthday" from the crew and a troubling plan for a future compound with a chicken nugget shooter from the men of the bunch.  Many laughs were had, a few terrible-tasting drinks were made (*cough* Shawna *cough*) and lots and lots of memories were made.  Muchas gracias to the muchacho and muchacha who planned this get together.  It was absolutely just what the doctor ordered.  I think it's a sign that this is going to be a great year!

Big men.  Little seats.

I think we've now shared 19 birthdays together?  Is that right?  Someone should audit that math.

These 3 look like they'd make great sister wives, right?

Derrick & Ryan were pretty amped about chips.  Austin, not-so-much.

If margaritas to go aren't on the menu sometimes you have to take matters into you own hands.

Oh, and I would be remiss if I did not give a shout out to my ah-mazing coworkers who decorated for my birthday AND treated me to Starbucks.  Molly & Becca are THE BEST.

Good thing I'm not in charge of HSE because I'm pretty sure a chair had to be used for those top stars.

Julie's Wedding - The Outakes

Okay, and now to round out your Herndon wedding tour, I bring to you all the things that didn't fit into the other two posts.  So basically this will be a montage of the well-mannered and sharply-dressed people you have seen in the previous posts behaving slightly less well-mannered and looking much more scantily clad in most cases.  Sound exciting?  It was.

What did we do with our in-between events time, you may be asking?  Oh, you know.  We admired the scenery.

It's like a postcard.  Only it was real life.

Mmmm... reminds me of Galveston.  Right?!

This is what the beach looks like from a boat.

This is what a beach looks like from a different angle on a boat.

We lounged at the pool or by the beach.

This is the adult pool where my family could be found 95% of the time.  Also a group of drunken cougars from Tennessee could be found here about 95% of the time.  No correlation.

Sunscreen in one hand & beer in the other.  Double-fisting island style.

I have no doubt that Aunt Jean was imparting priceless wisdom upon these kids.

We wandered around the resort aimlessly trying to find one another.

... and we looked good doing it?

Seriously.  We wandered around a lot.

We ate a lot.

Perhaps this heading should also mention that we drank a lot.

I couldn't drink a lot.  I requested decaf coffee.  I did not realize it would be a DIY situation but it was.  Apparently no one has requested that since 1971 because I am fairly certain this tub they brought me was hanging around since then.

Mom & Dad having a wild night out.

John & Aunt Jean getting their grub on.

More evidence that my Dad's goal was to stand on every possible surface of the resort to take group photographs.  Also, a bunch of hotties.

My Mom's stellar friends, the Luchts & Mrs. Howarth.

It looks like Brendan is trying to discipline these children.  Good luck, sir.

We tried to babysit our husbands.

Small flotation belt?  Not enough support for this "man" (see below).  Essentially styrofoam, unstructually-sound horse?  Sure- game on.

Pesos make $100 look like a lot more.

A few of the men in the family, both my Mom's side and Dad's side, were brave enough to do a deep-sea fishing excursion.  Of the crew a fair number had done it before and a fair number hadn't.  Two newbies experienced vom sessions and probably won't become seasoned deep-sea fishing veterans as a result.  However, the group did manage to catch a really big marlin.  So I think the vast majority would chalk the excursion up as a W.

View of the beach from the boat.

Deadliest catch has nothing on this motley crew.

And then, my friends, we decided to take an excursion.  Jen, Shawna & I decided on day 1 while our other halves were golfing to go look into what adventures we could sign up for.  Apparently if you are with child there's only one excursion deemed safe enough for you.  Luckily said excursion was one we were considering in the first place, so I don't think that Shawna & Jen are too angry with me.  The excursion that we settled on defaulted to was one where you go out on a boat, snorkel for a bit, swim with stingrays and sharks and then end your trip with a cool down in the water complete with a "floating bar."  We thought surely the boys would be amiable to this and asked them to meet us in the excursion office to book our tickets as golf wrapped up.  

The three of them wandered in and immediately Austin and Ryan turned into terrified school girls.  Austin kept asking us if we had heard what happened to Steve Irwin.  Ryan peppered the lady with questions about the sting rays and sharks including, but not limited to, "do the sharks have teeth," and "have you removed the sting rays' wieners?"  Brendan was definitely husband of the hour.

As the excursion lady laughed and Shawna and I questioned our life choices to date, eventually the men somehow came around.  Probably because Jen kept telling them they needed to get their lady bits in check and come "protect Amy and her unborn child."  So we paid the lady and promised to arrive at 8 am on Friday morning.

At 8 am on Friday morning, we all met at the agreed upon location and Austin had already bailed.  Stingrays/sharks - 1, Excursioners- 0.  Undeterred, the 5 of us set out on this excursion amped up to see some wildlife.  Ryan had his party hat on which I can only assume is the one thing that kept him calm.  

Things went swimmingly (see what I did there?) until we all hit the water to snorkel.  I have snorkeled before, but somehow each time my anxiety when I hit the water ratchets up just a bit higher.  I eventually mellowed out, caught up with Jen, Brendan and Shawna only to realize that Ryan was not around.  We all seemed to realize this at the same time.  So we turned around to locate him and spotted him, several yards behind the whole group, snorkel gear on head yelling, "I HATE the ocean.  This is miserable.  Where are the sharks?  Tell them to take me now."  This moment answered the long-standing question of where Emery inherited her flair for the dramatic from.  He went on to spew off borderline incoherent statements about how the life-jacket belt "was made for people like Shawna," and "wasn't ready for a 200 pound MAN."  (This is my real life guys.)

Luckily he managed to dig down deep within his soul and propel himself along to catch up with the rest of us- including his pregnant wife.  It's a real survival story, I tell you.  Once in the area with the stingrays and sharks he found himself outraged that the stingers were not removed and that they were definitely "real sharks."  He also refused to touch the stingray claiming that it "looked like a dinosaur."

Despite Ryan's Mariah Carey-esque moments, we all made it back to the boat un-maimed.  Thankfully then we all got to relax and enjoy something much more his highness' speed- drinking and hanging out in the water.  All in all, it was actually an awesome excursion and I'm glad that we did it.  Mad props to Shawna and Jen for being the instigators.  Also, don't believe Ryan when he tries to tell you his survival tales from Punta Cana.  

Nothing scares off wild-life like a little pre-snorkel flexing.

3/4ths of the Martin fam.

Take another one Brendan- take another one!

My fellow stingray survivalists.

Snorkel gear: making people look hot since... whenever it was invented.

The girls.

Jendan.  The one true man who adventured with us.

The official excursion photographer loved Shawna.  He took about 50 pictures of her.

Our devilishly handsome crew sporting some JT-esque dance moves.

The gang meets a dinosaur.

Last, but certainly not least, I would be remiss if I didn't fill you in on what Miss Emery was doing while her parents were galavanting about in paradise, wouldn't I?  Emery was originally supposed to go with us and due to a mosquito virus we found out about last minute, she stayed home with a combination of Aunt Melanie, Uncle Jonathan, Jakey & Avery and her Grandma & Pawpaw Martin.  As luck would have it, while we were gone she also came down with a respiratory infection and an ear infection.  Aunt Melanie was a superstar and took her to the pediatrician and managed to ignore the looks she was getting for having a 15 month old and nearly 5 month old.  We are eternally grateful to all parties for taking such good care of baby girl so that we didn't have any added stress.  It was comforting to know she was in such good hands, even though we missed this little love bug terribly.  You guys are the BEST!

We skyped with our confused Princess.

Aunt Melanie, are you SUUUURE my parents have to come back?  Your house is way more fun.

Sooooomewhere out theeeeeere.

Getting her spa treatment on at Grandma & Pawpaw's.

Hard to say whether we were more relaxed or she was during this vacation.

Just having a deep conversation with Lola & Grandma.