And just like that, I'm 30

Welp, yesterday was my 30th birthday.  And it was a great day.  Granted, I didn't get to have a huge party (although my husband has something in the works for when I'm feeling more like myself).  In fact, I didn't do a lot.  I spent the day with my two daughters.  Still getting used to that. . . two daughters.  My parents brought me breakfast and coffee.  Joey brought me tulips.  And we went on a sushi date with our littlest sidekick.  It was pretty perfect.  Joey got me a new camera and gave it to me a little early since our old camera died and we wanted to take pictures of Marguerite's arrival.  Now I just need to start using it more!

So, how about the list?  Well, I failed.  Or maybe I got an incomplete?  Because I did accomplish a lot of the stuff on this list.  The things that I didn't accomplish are either in process or were held up by other items on the list.  Ah, let's be honest, I just didn't get it done.  Let's take a look back and I'll give some excuses.

1. Have a baby.  Totally got that one done!  Birth story coming soon!

I love post labor pictures where everyone looks a wreck, a wonderful, happy wreck.

2. Finish Aurelia's baby book.  I don't really know how to show that this one is accomplished.  But Aurelia's baby book is filled in as much as it can be.  

3. Get an article published.  Yep, that's right.  I published an article in MomSense magazine (the MOPS International publication), and I even got paid for it!  And on top of that, the Washington State Disability Services is using the article to promote their services and hopefully get more funding!

4. Go to a concert. Read about that here.

5. Have a glass of wine with Carlee, Anna, Shan, Holly, Emily, and any other Forest Fire ladies.  This one was partially complete.  Shan and I were able to hang out. . . we were both pretty darn pregnant so we opted for ice cream over wine.  And I think this crew will get together soon, and it will be epic!

6. Re-memorize the Gettysburg Address.  Four score and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.  Now we are engaged in a great civil war testing whether this nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated can long endure.  We are met on a great battlefield of that war. . . That's pretty good right?  I mean, I still have some work to do.  But at least I'm halfway there.

7. Make a life list.  Instead of a life list, I decided to do a 101 things in 1001 and one days.  Let's be honest, I'm a bit of a procrastinator and I would leave that whole list for my final days.  I want this list to be something that keeps my learning and trying new things, taking new adventures, and continually dreaming of what might happen next.  The new list will debut next week and any incomplete items on this list will make a reprisal appearance.

8. Make something for each of my daughters.  This is the one that I feel like I am the farthest from completing.  I embroidered a gift for my older sister for Christmas and it took A LOT of time.  And I think it used up most of my creative juices too.  

9. Get 6 consecutive hours (or more) of sleep.  I've actually gotten 6 consecutive hours of sleep more than once in the last 3 months, and it's been fantastic.  Sadly, I think those days have left me for awhile.

10. Come up with a name for our daughter.  Marguerite Jeanne Bell Hawkins.  Isn't it lovely?  She's named after my great-aunt and Joey's aunt (Marguerite and Margarita), my grandma Jeanne and sister Sarah Jeanne, and Bell after Joey's mom's maiden name.  We like to honor family in our naming process.

11. Deliver Christmas cookies to our neighbors.  Took care of this one Christmas Eve.

12. Meet Whitney Phelps for coffee.  And I forgot my camera, but it was so fun and refreshing to spend some quality time with an old friend.

13. Host a Christmas party.  Ok, so it was wasn't exactly a Christmas party, more a winter party/freezer shower.  But my MOPS table gathered at my house for a fun night of appetizers and great conversation the first week of February. 

14. Wear leggings. I don't know what my hold up was before.  Towards the end of my pregnancy, my leggings were my favorite pants!  This is the only picture I have to prove it, and it's not the best photo.

15. Paint my fingernails.  Seriously, what was my hold up?  I love having my nails painted now.  Joey even bought me a super cute green and blue color for Christmas. 

Yep, I had green nails when Marguerite was born.

16. Finish writing about Switzerland.  Still working on this one.

17. Not use shampoo.  100% complete!  I think that I might mix it up every once and awhile now and use some Dr. Bronner's and coconut oil.  I'm also experimenting with some more natural face cleansers too.

18. Finish my blog revamp.  This one is pretty close to being done too.  I have a new domain name purchased and I'm learning the ins and outs of Wordpress.  The design is in the works.  Having a baby pushed things to the back burner a little.   

19. Gain 10 lbs.  That's the fun part of being pregnant.  Weight gain is a good thing!  

20. Lose 20 lbs (or more).  That's the fun part of NOT being pregnant.  The weight loss is pretty rapid.  I still have a bit to go before I'm at my pre-pregnancy weight, but I'm feeling good!

21. Make salt.  This one was put on hold too.  We got a really great grill that we were planning on using for our salt making adventure.  But we haven't been able to have the gas guy hook it up yet.  I did make bath salts at MOPS. . . does that count?

22. Take Joey on a date.  Joey and I were able to go on lots of great dates, especially while we waited around for Miss Marguerite to arrive.  Thanks to all the friends and family that helped out with Aurelia.

23. Decorate our home.  I realize that this will be a work in progress, but we're on our way now.  We've moved some furniture around, bought a few new things, and put a few things up on the wall.  This house is starting to feel more and more like home.

24. Go to the cabin.  Went to the cabin twice.  There was definitely A LOT of snow the second trip.

25. Read an Alison Weir book.  I'm about half-way done with Eleanor of Aquitaine, and it is fascinating!  

26. Memorize "The Journey of the Magi." By T.S. Eliot.  Got some more work to do on this one.  I've read the poem probably 100 times.  It's beautiful and interesting and I'm excited to have it memorized.  

27. Get Aurelia to army crawl.  Check this out:

28. Get Aurelia to say or sign something.  It's official.  This last week, Aurelia started saying "Dada" very clearly.

29. Meet Lisa Sorenson and family.  

30. Readers choice.  Anya suggested I watch the last season of Big Love.  Done and done.  Nikki suggested I try a new recipe.  I made my mother-in-law's cinnamon rolls for Christmas morning.  They were delicious. 

I'm 22 for 30.  That's pretty decent considering I gave birth in the middle of all of it!  And I would say I'm days away from accomplishing about 5 of them.  So, I guess I'm a bit of a failure. . . but I still feel pretty accomplished.   

Introducing. . .

Marguerite Jeanne Bell Hawkins

Born at 11:23 AM on Monday, February 13th.

7 lbs 12 oz, 21 inches long, and absolutely lovely.

Big sister is a little uncertain still.  And in typical Hawkins family style, we had to rush Aurelia to the ER during our first night home as a family of four due to projectile vomiting and very un-Aurelia behavior.  Thankfully it looks like whatever is going on is not shunt related.  But it confirmed our suspicions that life with two littles is going to keep us very busy.

More details on the birth and our new addition coming soon!

Stick a fork in me, I'm done

Still here, still pregnant.  This may come as a surprise to some of you as I was scheduled for a repeat c-section that was supposed to occur yesterday.  That obviously did not happen since I'm still pregnant.  To make a long story short. . . I switched doctors Monday since my doctor was going to be out of town for my c-scetion anyways.  I love my new doctor and she'll let me continue to try for a more natural birth until 42 weeks as long as I'm healthy and baby is healthy.  Really, I should have switched much early.  I always tell people that if you don't like a healthcare provider, find a new one.  It took me a little while to heed my own advice this time.

Waiting for a baby to arrive on their own puts me in a strange new position.  I used get frustrated when soon-to-be mamas would complain about still being pregnant.  Facebook statuses about eviction notices and demands to vacate really irked me.  Because up until 4 days ago, I knew when my babies would arrive and I was envious of those who got to wait, and nest, and pace, and wait some more.  But now that I'm in that position myself, I find myself saying things like, "I think I'm going to be pregnant forever."  

It probably doesn't help that I worked hard to prepare for that February 8th arrival date. . . 'cause now I'm out of stuff to do.  My house is so clean.  We're tackling so many little projects as we wait.  And I think I've tried every old wives tale in the book and every suggestion given to me.  My favorite was from my sister-in-law who mentioned having a Blizzard the night before she went into labor.  It didn't work, but it was delicious.  I'm eating spicy foods (which we kinda do already, so I don't know if it still works).  I'm going for long, brisk walks thanks to the beautiful weather we were having.  I'm taking all kinds of supplements, drinking tea, and many other things that will go unsaid because, well, they're personal.  I've even scrubbed my floors as suggested by Anya.  Oh, and did I mention doing acupuncture?  I highly recommend it.  I am really really ready to meet this little person.  We've narrowed it down to three names and are pretty set on one of them.  You'll have to wait for the big unveil.  Our bag is packed.  Aurelia's bag is packed for the grandparents.  I even had time for a pedicure.  I am feeling good to go.  Instead, I'm sitting here adding things to my completed to do list.  And I'm twiddling my thumbs.  And I'm sitting on an exercise ball.  And I'm doing lunges around the house.  And I'm scrubbing my bathtub.  And I'm answering all the gasping, "You're still pregnant?!?"  

It's hard not to get frustrated with this period of waiting.  It's hard not to complain.  After all, I'm not really sleeping.  I waddle when I walk.  I visit the bathroom every 15 minutes.  And my cute maternity clothes are getting snugger by the day.  But it's also hard not to really enjoy this relaxed pace.  I love spending time with my little family that will be growing so soon.  I love nesting (seriously, when has housecleaning ever felt so cathartic and fulfilling?).  I love that our schedule is clear and we start each day with, "If we don't have a baby today, let's do this."  And I love that I constantly have to remind myself that this child's birth date (and ultimately everything else in life) is completely out of my control.  It's a great lesson in patience and trust.  So, I'll continue to wait on this little one's arrival with eager anticipation.  I'll continue to hope that it's soon, I'd love to be able to roll over in my sleep again.  But I will savor these moments knowing that she will arrive at exactly the moment God planned to bring her into this world.