Some updates

This week ended up being surprisingly productive. I found this great website Voice Boks. It's a website for female written blogs. It was started a few years ago by a female blogger and it's fantastic. Since joining the website I have increased my blog traffic and have met some great people. I have been working on some layout changes so keep an eye out!
I've really been trying to step up my social media game. As of now it's seriously lacking. I have no clue what Klout and Google + and Tumblr are? I'm on Twitter and participated in my 1st Twitter party last night, and it was a Doula Party! It was a lot of fun but very overwhelming! I totally felt like I couldn't keep up. But it was very cool and I was able to learn lots and meet some great Doulas. Of course there wasn't even 1 Doula from the CT area! Still struggling in that department but I'm going to keep trying.
I got permission from CAPPA to write my research paper on Teen Pregnancy so I am no longer dreading this task. On the contrary I'm a little excited to start. I know I keep saying it but there is such a need for Teen Mom support in CT. Hoping to have my research paper done by next weekend. Wish me luck!

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to my Dad!  This is the second birthday that we have celebrated without him.  I wish I could say that it has gotten easier but it hasn't.  I miss my Father more today than the day he passed.  It would be easy for me to be sad and cranky all day today.  I could spend the day fighting back tears with a smile on my face and telling everyone I am okay.  Or I could spend the day honoring my Father and the life that he lived.  So in honor of my Father's Birthday I am going to enjoy the day with my family.  The girls and I are going to sing and dance to all his favorite songs.  I'll tell them stories about their Grandfather so they will know the great man that he was. 
The passing of my Father has taught me to enjoy every moment of life, the good and bad.  I make an effort every day to live in the moments and not let them pass me bye.  

Corinne

Dear Corinne,
You are two years old now, I know that makes you a Big Girl, but you will always be my Baby.  It seems like just last night I was rocking you to sleep while singing to you and we were taking long naps on the couch together.  When Daddy and I fumbled our way through your first bath and dreaded cutting your nails.  I remember staring at you and wondering how it was possible to have so much love for another person.  Because of you I am a better wife, a better daughter, a better sister, and a better friend and I thank you.  
I just want to tell you that you are the coolest two year old girl I know.  You're so cute when you wear your Divas and dance to "Baby Baby".  Or when you're just sitting in your car seat gazing out the window.
 I look forward to watching you grow from a toddler to an adolescent.  From a teen to a young woman.  And from a woman to a Mom and wife.  
From the day you were born I have been so proud to be your Mother and I am lucky to have you in my life.  I cherish each and every moment we have together and I look forward to many more. 

Feature

I'm so excited to announce that my blog is going to be featured on the CT Bloggers website and Facebook page!  Woo Hoo!  I won't know until next week the exact day.  I'm hoping that this will help me reach more potential clients in the CT area.  Hopefully this happens before July 1st and I can meet my goal of 1,00 page views. 
The girls and I had a play date yesterday with a new Mommie to Be and we discussed Labor Doula services for her.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that she decides to book me, she's due the first week of January and she has a few girl friends that are due around the same time.  I'm hoping to have my three certification births done by then so these could be my first "official" births! 
I've been doing tons of research the last week on pregnancy services, or lack there of, in the CT area.  In my area there is not a place that offers childbirth prep classes, breastfeeding classes, support groups and teen pregnancy services to list a few.  Don't get me wrong, there are some great places in our area run by some wonderful Women but they are scattered.  I would love to open a Center.  A place that offered anything and everything to do with pregnancy and even postpartum services.  Maybe someday down the line this is what
Labor of Love can grow to?

Corinne's Sesame Street Party

After four months of late night crafting the big day finally came!  Corinne's party was a blast, the dessert table came out great and everyone loved it. 

Dirt Cake! Yummy!

Bubbles!

 

These three girls are going to be trouble!

Some much needed time with Ha cha cha!

Birthday Weekend

Happy 2nd Birthday to Corinne!  I can't believe my Baby is 2 already!  I know it's so cliche but it really does go by so fast.  What's been great this year is that Corinne gets it.  When you ask her "Who' s birthday is coming?" she raises her arm and yells "me!" She very cutely raises two fingers and says "I two"!  It's such a difference from last year when she had no clue what was going on.
This weekend was packed full of fun things to do, family and friends.  Friday morning Corinne had her last dance class at the Rec Center.  It's really cute to see how far her and the other girls have come in 6 classes.  I'm hoping to get her enrolled in an actual Dance School in the fall because she loves it.  After class we all went grocery shopping for the weekend and her birthday party.  We discovered these M&M Sweet and Salty bags, they are so good!  I think we ate a whole bag on the way home.  Then it was cupcake time.  I found online a tutorial for Sesame Street cupcakes and decided to take a crack at it.  First of all I need to give thanks to my Baby Cakes Cupcake Maker, without you I never would have made it.  I was able to make 60 cupcakes in about 30 minutes and they come out really moist.  The decorating even  went better then I had expected.  I try to be realistic about my decorating capabilities and not take on anything outside of my reach.  So I made Elmo, Big Bird, pink cupcakes with a 2 and a smash cake.

Not bad huh?  I was pretty impressed with myself.  The Big Bird's can definitely pass for Chick's though!
After the Girls went down for the night it was time to transform the play room.  This is what I was the most excited about, it really felt like Christmas Eve.  My hope was that Corinne would come downstairs on her Birthday and be blown away.  We brought up from the garage her new table, the computer desk and frame and the wall decorations.  I even took this opportunity to clean out her toy bins which was extremely overdue!
Here's the room before:

And here's the after!

Table for two!

Ready to start her own blog! 

 

First of many tea parties!

Needless to say she is a very happy girl.  She was so surprised when she came downstairs and saw
 the new and improved toy room.  We spent almost all morning lounging around, having tea parties and typing emails on her new computer. 
Josh's Mom, Aunt and cousins arrived around lunch time for the weekend.  After a quick lunch we made our way to the park to start setting up.  Of course Mother Nature decided to test my patience and sanity.  All week the weather predictions were sunny, humid, high 80's.  On Saturday there was a prediction of possible showers late morning then sunny for the remainder of the day.  Well, it drizzled on and off until we pulled up to the park!
The party was fabulous!  All Corinne's favorite people were in one place at the same time which made her a very happy girl! The dessert table came out exactly how I had planned it and was a big hit.  After we stuffed ourselves with yummy food and sweets we cleaned up and headed home.  Corinne really enjoyed having her younger cousin Caleb sleepover. 

Sunday morning we all went to Paisano's, one of our favorite restaurants for breakfast.  Hands down they have the best pancakes and homefries.  Sunday was spent lounging around, playing in the new playroom and enjoying each other's company. Unfortunately Josh's family had to leave early Monday morning, the ride to North Carolina is long so we really appreciate them coming. 
All in all I'd say Corinne had a great Birthday weekend.  Who knew turning 2 could be so fabulous?

Two more days!

Two more days! My decorations are done and our house is ready for family.  Tomorrow Corinne has her last dance class in the morning and then we are family grocery shopping  (don't get too excited for me)!  Then it's time to make 60 cupcakes, transform them into Sesame Street characters, and 1 giant cupcake.  I'm the most excited for putting Corinne to bed tomorrow night and transforming her playroom.  I can not wait to see the look on her face when she comes downstairs in the morning and sees all her surprises.  I will definitely be taking lots of pictures.  My plan for Saturday is to spend all morning playing with the Birthday Girl in her new playroom until it's party time! 
I will post pics soon!