God Shout Out on 2012

I had every intention of posting my 2012 blessings in 2012, but Jan. 1, 2013 is pretty close. Obviously 2012 was an incredible year with the news of ABJ. It's been a whirlwind and making the last quarter of 2012 zoom by.

In the past my NYE plans have been set for many, many weeks.  This year I was busy and flat out too tired to plan.  Thankfully, Sar-Bear and Kym had the bright idea of a fun night at the Hibdon Hotel.  I love that they wanted to come hang.  Neither of them have kiddos and are soon approaching "their day", they could easily see their last wild and crazy times nearing.  However, they love Hibdon and me...and they are probably just as lazy as we are. (Just kidding girls)

So the plans were set and the Hardin's arrived at our house, or what Brent refers to as the Hibdon Hotel. They came a day early for some extra fun time. We played games, made more food than imaginable and rang in the New Year with the ball drop, champagne/water toast, hats and horns.  After our 2013 kisses and hugs we started talking about our best memories, days, achievements, trips ...of 2012. Of course I had a top three: Baby AnnaBella, new job and finishing my Masters, yes all in the same year.  Really all in the same month...sort of. This had my mind rolling and Mindy's, Russell recap to how God was so good.  Every single year, month, week and day he is so good to us.  Of course I will forget good things, but month-by-month here is my God Shout Out for our 2012 blessings.

Thank you Lord for this life you have given us, Forgive us if we don't appreciate it enough.

NYE 2012

January-  We celebrated New Years Eve with friends, but it started with a family dinner at PF Changs with SIL, Shayne, E, Sar-Bear and Speedy. It was the perfect way to start our 2012.  This began the month of Easton's first sleepover with Uncle Adam and Aunt B.  Also, this month was fairly mild in Oklahoma, which gave Hibdon his happy ending to hunting season by dragging Maddy and me to the deer stand.  We were troopers, but not very quiet.  There may have been a reason he didn't see anything.

Hunting with Hibdon

E's first sleepover...we were tired

February- Started out just perfect.  Hibdon's bday apprached and there wasn't a snow storm in our forecast, but there sure was love predicted.  A proposal to be exact.  On Hibdon's bday we fooled Sar-Bear into thinking we were having a night on the town for Hibdon's bday, really Speedy was proposing. He did great, we all cheered, gave hugs and maybe shed a happy tear or two. Again, Hibdon is a lucky man our Valentine's Day date was spent in the suite at the Thunder game.  He should say an extra prayer that I love them as much as he does.

Excited for the Gaches'....I'll be ready to fit into that dress again

She was glowing!

Lots of hugs that night

 

JLT D&D

March- Is typically cold, cold, cold in Oklahoma, but this year was slightly warm.  We celebrated this warm weather by going to the lake and fishing as much as Hibdon wanted.  I started staying weekends with Mema and soaking up her precious time.  Lastly, we boogied down and raised loads of money at the Junior League Denim and Diamonds event.  The JLT girls know how to have fun, but we worked so hard earning that night!

Loving the weather

Right where he wants to be

April- We celebrated Easter with the family, got all sentimental at a wedding and I ran my first 5k with Sar-Bear and Trist.

Look at that little tail!

Momma and I Easter Sunday

First 5K!!

Tator time at the wedding

More fishing for Hib

Girls at BH Day

May-This was a big month, a fun month.  I walked in graduation, all of my classes were finished, but I had one hairy test to pass. I ran my second and third 5K.  We had a blast at Big Heart Day and did a little more fishing.

Birthday Boy

Bachelorette Party Fun

Hibdon and his beloved Jeep

June- E turned 1!!!! He's such a big boy and growing this personality that makes me fall so deep in love with that little guy.  The temps rose and Hibdon starting running with me.  He pushed me so much more than I realized I could go.  We ended the month with Sar-Bear's bachelorette party on Grand Lake and her bridal shower.  Hibdon was very excited at the end of this month.  He finally bought his Jeep.  His old Jeep Wrangler that he has talked about for years. He's so in love with that thing.

Rehearsal Time

July-Sar-Bear and Speedy tied the knot, we had a blast at their after party.  Again the temps just climbed, so we climbed right into the pool.  E loves the pool!

Year #2 Boy I miss that blond hair.

August- This month was a doosey! I passed my final exam, school is out FOREVER. I started my new job, that I love, love, love, love, love. Hibdon and I celebrated our 2nd anniversary.  We also followed it up with the annual pictures at the spot he proposed at.

Arkansas vs. Rutgers

September- The best month, we found out about AnnaBella! I was a hard secret to keep, but we kept it quiet for the most part.  I did tell Big Brother at the Arkansas game.


October-  It was slightly a blur.  I was avoiding most people to keep from slipping on the baby front.  I was feeling terrible and we were just flat out busy with life.  Hibdon  took a week to spend in the woods and then his annual fishing trip with Gpa.  I think he rather enjoyed himself.  I did celebrate another year of getting older. We don't have to worry about that though.

FB announcement

November-The cat's out of the bag! Everyone heard the news about Baby H and we were relieved.  We also found out that Baby H was a girl.  We enjoyed Thanksgiving in our usual locations, but I was still suffering from the morning sickness.

December- Christmas time with Christmas blessings and no morning sickness! I ate, oh boy did I eat.







This year has been fun, busy and perfect.  I can't believe next year is the year in which I will say at every doctors appointment and fill in every blank.  This will be the year I use for the rest of my life. The year of my AnnaBella. Bring it on 2013, we are sooooo ready for you!

Half Way There

Monday marks the half way point of my pregnancy..... HOLY CRAP
My princess will be here soon.  She will be sweet, beautiful, this little angel to change our lives. She will also probably wake us up in the middle of the night, cry when we are exhausted, poop all over the place, and still manage to have us wrapped around her little finger. If I could go to day one of my pregnancy and tell myself a few things that could make it easier or less stressful, I would.  I've compiled the below list for me to remember at the next pregnancy. Let's face it, if I wait until the end I won't remember half of these tips. I barely remember if I put conditioner in my hair as it is.

1) You are pregnant. It's God's design not yours. Get over it and move on. No, it's not your body. It's all going to change. Pull up your big girl panties. Turn the page. Dry your eyes, Cowgirls don't cry. Stop freaking out.
2) Lance Peanut Butter Cheese Crackers, buy in bulk.  Keep these in your purse, desk at work, night stand, console and pantry.
3) Know where your nearest toilet or trash can is at all times, you did pretty good with this.
4) Drink more water, even when you think you have drank enough, drink more. You thought you were a water drinker before.  You don't even compare to the water you need now.
5) Chocolate Boost will be the only thing you can keep down at times. Probably the best source of calcium you will get as well.
6) Start your spinach smoothies earlier, they are good for your and taste surprisingly delicious. I don't know what you were avoiding.
7) Potty breaks should be taken every hour on the hour. Make sure you go before you leave and as soon as you get there. Girl, there's no holding it.
8) Why did you stop running in the first trimester? Walking the dog was not enough exercise. Thankfully you found the elliptical at the beginning of the second trimester.
9) You need your sleep.  The first trimester you will only sleep.  Stop feeling guilty for that. Enjoy it. It's the only time you are allowed to be lazy, it's medically necessary.
10) Don't buy pants two sizes too big, they still don't fit you. That's was dumb.  Use the rubber band trick, even if you don't feel "put together". Or break down and buy maternity pants.
11) Bangs- they are really cute on you, but your hair grows too fast.  Getting them trimmed every week is not worth it. Try the swoopy kind, maybe those will last.
12) Find a prescription prenatal that is one pill and you like taking. The two pills at night are not fun.

Surely this will get me through next time. I can't remember much more.  I can't really remember if I actually bought the OJ at the store and left it yesterday or just never put it in my cart.  I don't think there are any tips and tricks for pregnancy brain.

Half way there.  Can't believe it. Baby H will be here before we know it.  I've gained 8 lbs.  I read up on it and this is the lower end of normal. I am okay with it, as long as it's normal. All of my blood tests have came back with normal reports. Thyroid is doing good. My hair is growing like crazy and my nails are strong. No real significant cravings other than sugar, the good and bad kind.  The Hibdon's are just truckin' along.

Christmas Blessings

This Christmas I really tried to take a mental picture of how wonderful it was.  I tried to hold in the blessings and cherish them.  I really wanted to savor the holiday, family time and remember the last Christmas before Hibdon and I become parents.  I did, I enjoyed, but my mind kept thinking to next year and my AnnaBella. All the family talks were about next year, this and next year, that. I guess we can't contain our excitement. I will savor this cold Christmas and remember it with warm blessings.

December 21st- Hibdon and I were cozy in the house, fire going and tree lit.  Maddy snugged up next to me. We spent some quality time together and then I notice a facial mask sticking out of my stocking.  Oh, P.S., Hibdon enjoys stuffing my stocking the first week of December.  It's the most self control I can ever muster to not peak. I did see the mask and thought of our upcoming date, my favorite date, the tradition he started our first Christmas seeing one another. So I causally informed Hibdon I would be using that, for beauty purposes.  I tried to get him to join in...men's skin could benefit as well. It was a no-go, but my face felt amazing!

December 22nd- Sar-Bear and I made the trip to OKC to get a last shop at the outlets in. We claimed we couldn't find what we wanted in Tulsa, but we really just needed and excuse for Kym time. We just love her. She met us, we had a ball. The Hardin's need to move closer.  We were back in Green Country by 3, just enough time for Hibdon and I to do our gift exchange and get pretty for our date night.

Date night was finally here, The Nutcracker.  I love this date night. Hibdon and I started dating one another in October, not too serious in December.  Instead of getting gifts he bought tickets to the Nutcracker and I bought a pretty dress to wear. This would mark the 5th Nutcracker Anniversary for us.  Hibdon isn't the biggest ballet fan, but he goes and enjoys himself for me.  Which makes me love him even more. So maybe I was a little late getting ready and the night forced me to say "You're right" three times. Those words taste awful coming out. I still loved the night. We had Flemings, the made it right on time.  Right after Hibdon had to drive like a manic to get there, we had to pay for parking in quarters because I forgot to grab cash and I about knocked over a 8 year old getting to the restroom. I spent the night seeing little girls with their Daddy's excited to see the ballerinas.  I thought of AnnaBella. I asked Adam if he was excited to do this with her. His reply, " This is our date Barbie Doll, I like it being us. Her Gpa can take her, that can be their special date. I want to save this for you." My reply, "You're right".

December 23rd- Church with Momma and Hibdon, then present time with Momma. Loved it, so did Maddy, she got a new bed. Oh to be a dog. The night consisted of Momma and I whipping up a million Christmas goodies with the new Kitchen Aide mixer Hibdon bought me. We made cinnamon rolls (PW style), Snickers cheesecake (my first ever), cupcakes, fudge, chex mix and tortilla roll ups. Mema always said, "the fastest way to a man's heart is through his belly".  I think Momma and I nailed it. This night I thought of AnnaBella in a little apron right in the middle of us helping. In due time.

December 24th- Off to Gpa and Hon's we had loads of E time.  He had a good practice Christmas, of opening presents before AnnaBella gets here. He's ready to help her next year.  Lots of card games. Hibdon won in Jubile, he didn't even have to play on his looks. Shayne and Hibdon beat SIL and I in Spades, a blind neal went bad. Loads of laugh until you cry moments, videos from the past, and new memories made.

December 25th- Up at 7 to a little man saying Choo Choo at his new train. Watched him open presents, ate a breakfast feast with Hon's special casseroles and visited family throughout Barnsdall.  Couldn't have made it better.

AnnaBella, I'm excited for all the Christmas blessings you will have coming your way. I hope you felt the warmth this year.

Angel Cousins

As I said last week, Papa had surgery.  He is recovering really well and things are going great.  A little catch to having Papa out is that he is the primary care giver for my Mema.  Mema has Parkinson's disease, is aging quickly, has a broken hip that refuses to heal and is down to incredible 78 lbs.  We have the most amazing nurses who care for Mema from 5 am- 7 pm.  After that Papa picks up the slack and all of us rotate weekend stays with Mema to give Papa a break.  My Aunt Nita has really been taking the brunt of staying with Mema.  I have been staying a few nights to give her a break.  The last time I stayed with Mema it really got to me physically.  I realized that I am slowly not able to care for her as much.  

So Monday Aunt Nita messages me at work to ask if I could stay Wednesday.  Aunt Nita has a high fever and is feeling terrible.  I knew she needed rest and had been doing way too much.  I told her yes, I could do it, but in the back of my mind I just felt exhausted.  I sent a text to my cousin T to tell her I really needed to chat.  Once we got on the phone I filled her in and told her my worries, frustrations and concerns.  She clued me into the she and J feel about things and that she would talk to J about how I feel. 

A few hours later I get a text from J saying, "we will stay with Mema. Love you!" They are so amazing, I didn't call to get them to stay with her. I called to vent/whine/problem solve. T knew that I wasn't trying to get them to do anything, we just needed to communicate.  So there you have it, my sweet cousins came in like angels and protected the health of Aunt Nita and I.  They gave us peace and comfort.  I am so thankful for them and my sweet family.  It's so nice to know the amount of love I will raise my baby in.  

Pregnant with Possibilites

I have this friend, Mrs. D.  She used to be a coworker of mine.  Since we have both traveled in different career directions we still keep in touch often.  Our lives are busy and getting phone time is limited.  On the few days she is traveling early in the morning she will call me and we talk as I drive to work.  It's a nice change of pace from the typical morning drive.

This morning was a Mrs. D kind of morning. We caught up on what's new. Hibdon's promotion, her work/life balance, pregnancy and her 4 kiddos. It was pretty general until she said, "I just wanted you to know  you have been on my heart, your pregnancy was something I've really been praying for".  It was slightly out of nowhere, but not out of the ordinary for a Mrs. D convo. When she said that, I got chills. Just last Thursday I had a high power hormone/anxiety moment.  I was sitting in the chair and felt AnnaBella move, as always I tell Hibdon to quickly come feel. Right after I had this major rush of claustrophobia.  My head was spinning and I honestly didn't know if I could carry this baby anymore, let alone until May.  I told Hibdon and he reassured me it was probably hormones and he's sure every woman feels that way at some point. I felt so guilty for the next two days, well still do a little, but Friday and Saturday were heavy.  Especially after the tragedy that stole so much joy in this country. I felt so guilty for wanting to rush the pregnancy.

Back to Mrs. D---- When she told me she had been praying for me, I blurted out how I felt the other day.  Now I have been reassured by Hibdon and my Momma, but Mrs. D provided clarity to me.  Of course she told me that won't be the last time I feel like that, but not to worry to pray.  She told me right now I am realizing more and more every day that this is not my body.  I could really convince myself that it was my body before the baby, controlling anything I didn't like.  Really I belong to God and pregnancy will never be something I can control.  We talked about how I can be a slight overachiever and blow through time lines, finish early, beat the expectations. Well, it doesn't work like that with pregnancy.  Having a baby is all in God's time. Just like getting pregnant is all in God's time.  I am learning all of this more and more each day.  Mrs. D talked to me about how not only is God preparing my heart for AnnaBella, but Hibdon's too.  To rush him wouldn't be fair, to Hibdon or AnnaBella. She deserves parents who are ready mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually, financially, and more. Mrs. D also clued me in to something she learned with her hubs, it opens you into a new level of your relationship you didn't know was possible.

So as I became so comforted, encouraged and excited for God's perfect timing I realized Mrs. D was the best person to talk to.  I am so happy to have a growing little princess inside of me.  I hope she is comfortable, can feel my love and is getting every little thing she needs.  Mrs. D told me one last thing that I have been thinking about all day.  She said, "You are pregnant with possibilities". I'm just so excited at the possibilities that my sweet angel will provide. That just makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Before Baby Bucket List

Last week my sweet friend Tiff, who has an awesome blog, updated her 30 by 30 list. She is pretty impressive with her bucket listing.  She has always kept a bucket list and she checks it off.  Hibdon and I made our on bucket list one weekend trip to a winery.  It was fun and we are good about checking things off.  This 30 by 30 list had me thinking about my bucket list before the baby.  I told Tiff I was going to copy her idea, make a little before baby bucket list.  She told me I could as long as I blogged about it, she must of learned this trickery in her fancy pants law school.

So below is my before baby bucket list.  Sweet Meg brought it to my attention that I am almost half way through my pregnancy. Game plan is to finish this bucket list before my sweet angel gets here.

1) Read a new nonbaby/pregnant book once a month
2) Read a baby raising/healthy life style book once a month
3) Learn to bake all the sweets in my Jessica Seinfeld cookbook
4) Make one of the million pinterest projects that I have pinned-once a month
5) Make a new pinterest meal once a week
6) Drop everything and take a weekend get-a-way with Hibdon
7) Drop everything and go to the land with Hibdon
8) Schedule a massage once a month
9) Take E on Aunt B only dates
10) Organize my Life
11) Start a sewing or knitting or crocheting class
12) Start a new devotional to prepare my heart for motherhood
13) Take a meal to the neighbors once a week
14) Anonymously buy a family's meal
15) Spend an evening once a week with Hibdon and no tv, phone or ipad.  Just QT
16) Call all three grandma's and say "I love you". Once a week
17) Invite all the friends that we keep "meaning" to have to dinner with over for a pot luck. All of them at once.
18) Add all of my friends birthdays to a reminder on my phone.
19) Take up pregnancy yoga
20) Send a gift to my friends once a month (straight from Tiff)

So there you have it.  I have just a little under 19 weeks to get this accomplished. I got this.

Praying for Papa with the Big Hearts

This is the blog where I tell you my overwhelming love for my Daddy, AnnaBella's Papa.  Today I spent the entire day (starting at 4 a.m.) with my Daddy and the staff at St. John's.  Papa had his third lumbar surgery today.  The one performed today was slightly cutting edge.  His doctor hadn't performed this before, so I was slightly more nervous than usual.  The staff was amazing and they went through extra measures to ensure everything went according to plan.  While their plan was great and the surgery went well, it took an hour and a half longer than it was supposed to.  Not cool Doc, I'm preggo, up way too early and my emotions are slightly erratic from time to time.

Last night I got a little anxious to get this over with and Papa feeling good again.  I sent a text to a few prayer warrior friends to get the comfort of a community of believers praying for my guy.  I had a little trouble falling asleep thinking of Papa and AnnaBella.  I desperately wanted this surgery to make him feel good again.  I want him rid of his pain and ailments.  It's very difficult seeing your big strong Papa Bear in pain, not being able to lift things too heavy, not being able sit for too long, not being able to drive in a car too long.  He's always been great at making me feel just like Daddy's girl.  Starting in elementary Papa bought me a mum every year for homecoming, the card would always say "You're my homecoming queen".  He's great at writing letters, he would write me the sweetest letters when he and Big Brother would go on trips.  Still to this day, he wrote me a note giving me a key to the new locks at this house. "You have always had the key to my heart".  I will probably never be too old to get a bear and a rose for Valentine's Day nor will I get too old for the phone call telling me to get home before the weather gets bad. My entire life he has always said I could be whatever I wanted, maybe the first female President.  He stills says that, even though politics stress me out. I can only imagine how Little AnnaBella will be treated.  She's going to be his baby's baby, that's a big ace in the hole. She is probably smiling deviously right now at all the spoiling she is going to receive.

So today when AnnaBella's Papa crossed through the double doors that kept me out, my stomach came to knots.  I was good at first grabbed breakfast and then read a Dixie Cash book to take my mind off of things.  Then I got a call from the nurse saying the surgery has started and things were great. He said he thought the surgery would be finished in 45 minutes, he would call then.  Well, an hour and half came and not a call.  So I continued my prayers and started reading scriptures of faith and healing.  I was NOT going to let Satan shake my faith.  Then out of nowhere, two men asked if someone was with the McCauley family.  I stood up and they introduced themselves as the Pastor of the First Baptist Church and Boys Basketball Coach of Barnsdall.  Now I haven't lived in Barnsdall in 7 years and these are positions that have changed a little, so not knowing them seemed reasonable.  They came to check in on Papa and then asked if I would like to pray with them.  Wow, what sweet relief.  Yes, please, let's pray! I needed that, I needed them to walk in and pray with me.  God just knew I needed that.  So we chatted and then they told me the church would have a special prayer for Papa tonight for healing. They were so kind and I was in awe.  Awe of how quickly God responded to my need and of the sweet, sweet hearts of the people in my hometown.

Barnsdall started out as Big Heart, a very long time ago.  I can't remember the year, but it changed to Barnsdall.  To honor the first name the town has Big Heart Day the last Saturday in May.  I haven't missed it in years, now I don't think I could.  Today these men, who weren't raised in the town, gave me a good dose of home cookin'.  I ate it with a big spoon, it fed my soul. They showed their Big Heart for Papa. So kind.

So Papa finished surgery 2 hours and 15 minutes later.  I grabbed lunch and waited for him to get a room.  Once we were there he was in pain.  I helped him get tons of water and force down a few crackers.  Once he was comfortable and in his silk pjs, we took a 30 minute nap.  After that he was walking around again and had a little food.  Now he won't be running marathons tonight, but hopefully he gets some rest and is released tomorrow.  I'll bring him home and do my best pregnancy nursing possible. For now, this preggo is pooped. It may be slightly early, but I am heading to bed and putting on my oversized Victoria Secret pj pants and one of Hibdon's old baseball t-shirts, the kind with his name and number on the back.  I'll get right in the middle of my California king bed and sleep the crap out of it.

Night Y'all