It honestly hasn't sunk in that Presley is four... it really hasn't even hit me that it was her birthday (and that it's already passed). I don't know what my problem is but it feels like the moment bounced off of me before I could absorb it. We've had a lot going on lately, and maybe that's why, but I wanted to write about it in hopes that maybe my exceptionally thick skull could interpret what I may/should be feeling.
Labor and delivery for Miss Presley was so scary - mostly because it was such an unknown realm. Could I do this? Could my body actually do what it's supposed to (for once) and help me bring a baby into the world? My labor started February 18th and didn't end until the early hours of February 20th. I don't think I've ever been that hungry, scared, and tired in my life.
Not to mention, my amazing doctor who I trusted and wanted there so much was out of town. Luckily, I was sent an angel to help deliver Presley in the form of my doctor's midwife, Rita. It was the midwife who found out that Presley was flipped sunny side up and who helped us to get her flipped. It was that amazing woman who had never met me before but decided to come in and help me give birth. I'm so grateful for women like her.
Having Presley placed on my chest was a moment that altered me deeply. I remember feeling wave after wave of emotion and just about every feeling in the book (good, bad, ugly, you name it) and I swear the warmth of this little baby lit me from within. Four years later Presley is still doing that for me. She is such a light in our lives.
This year we decided to have her party at a hotel - much like we did for her 2nd party - so that she could swim. She LOVES swimming! The biggest difference between that party and this one is that it was just me and Presley back then - no Molly yet. Which meant I had a lot more free time to devote to planning! I remember checking out several hotels and talking to the staff before choosing a hotel. This time? I think I picked the first one that met our criteria. And there was no visiting the hotel beforehand this time around.
We reserved a two room suite in case the breakfast/common area was being used at the time of the party since you can't reserve that space. That way we'd have plenty of room in the suite for party guests to spread out IF we had to have the party in the room. We get there to check in and we did not book a suite. I have no idea how that happened. So we had a regular room. Plus, and this is hilarious, the breakfast room was a restaurant! We can't use a restaurant or a one bedroom hotel room for a party! Enter freak out mode.
Tony noticed there were conference rooms available and we inquired about renting one. (Meanwhile, the first party guests have arrived!) The women on staff that evening were so helpful, understanding, and went above and beyond to accommodate us! The manager that night let us know usually you book these rooms in advance but that one very small board room was available for rental if we'd be interested. We. Will. Take. It.
And thus began Presley's board room birthday bash!
Thankfully there was a common area for guests to hang out since we all didn't fit in the main room that was not far from the board room. It made visiting everyone at once a little more difficult but I was just happy to see everyone! Of course we spent way more time than we anticipated eating, visiting, and opening presents so mostly everyone left by the time we swam but man... that was so nice and so much fun!!!
After we said goodbye to the last party guests we finally headed up to our room - which was actually our second room already since our first room was overrun by lady bugs. By the time we got up to this room we realized this one was also full of ladybugs. When we got up to our third room we'd lost all our baby wipes somewhere along the way and this third room was also decorated by many, many ladybugs. It was late, Molly hadn't napped, and we were all tired. (But I was not about to sleep with ladybugs after the price we paid for a room!) Since we booked the hotel room through a third party we had to deal with Hotels.com AND the sweet staff at the hotel. Note to self and others: Don't book hotel rooms through third parties. Just don't.
Finally, we got the price of the room refunded to us and we were leaving. Presley was beside herself because she wanted so much to spend her birthday in a hotel! The sweet, sweet manager told us she would put us up at a nearby hotel room, free of charge. What! So incredibly kind. We packed everything up with two tired girls, lost Presley's favorite birthday balloon to the wind on the way to the car, and headed to the second hotel with two VERY upset little girls in the backseat. (Presley was crying about her lost balloon - I was crying a bit on the inside because the balloon that flew away cost $12 - and Molly was hysterical at the sight of Presley being so upset!)
After getting settled in our new room and playing for a bit, it was finally bedtime. Everyone eventually fell asleep and I could.not.sleep! Around 1am Molly woke up SCREAMING and was completely inconsolable. It was so bad that Tony and I decided the only way any of us would get any sleep was if I took Molly home and we went back to pick Tony and Presley up in the morning. Thankfully Presley slept through all the late night shenanigans and Molly slept just fine once we were home. What a funny story for a 4th birthday party! I'm beginning to feel like a lightning rod for oddities.
Despite the craziness, it was such a wonderful birthday party and I was so grateful to spend some time with the people we love so much. After occasions like that I always wonder WHY we don't get together with the people we love more often than we do. It's just the way life goes but I loved seeing each and every person who was there and we are so blessed to have you in our lives. Presley is four and had a happy day and that's the most I could have asked for!
Oh, not to mention she had THE COOLEST birthday cake out there thanks to her wonderful Grandmommy! Not only was the cake beautiful but it was one of the best tasting cakes I've had in a long time. Speaking of Selena, 99% of the photos from Presley's party were taken by my mother-in-law so THANK YOU for those!!!
Thank you to our Presley Rose for making the last four years of our life some of the strangest and most unforgettable years of our lives. I look forward to making all the wonderful memories with you and look forward to greeting your beautiful spirit every morning. I love you like I never knew I could love! You are the glue of our Duggan clan without knowing that's what you are. You've shown me I can do so many things I never knew I was capable of - just by existing - and I hope to do the same for you someday. You are special to me, I'm lucky to have you as part of my life.
Labor and delivery for Miss Presley was so scary - mostly because it was such an unknown realm. Could I do this? Could my body actually do what it's supposed to (for once) and help me bring a baby into the world? My labor started February 18th and didn't end until the early hours of February 20th. I don't think I've ever been that hungry, scared, and tired in my life.
Not to mention, my amazing doctor who I trusted and wanted there so much was out of town. Luckily, I was sent an angel to help deliver Presley in the form of my doctor's midwife, Rita. It was the midwife who found out that Presley was flipped sunny side up and who helped us to get her flipped. It was that amazing woman who had never met me before but decided to come in and help me give birth. I'm so grateful for women like her.
Having Presley placed on my chest was a moment that altered me deeply. I remember feeling wave after wave of emotion and just about every feeling in the book (good, bad, ugly, you name it) and I swear the warmth of this little baby lit me from within. Four years later Presley is still doing that for me. She is such a light in our lives.
This year we decided to have her party at a hotel - much like we did for her 2nd party - so that she could swim. She LOVES swimming! The biggest difference between that party and this one is that it was just me and Presley back then - no Molly yet. Which meant I had a lot more free time to devote to planning! I remember checking out several hotels and talking to the staff before choosing a hotel. This time? I think I picked the first one that met our criteria. And there was no visiting the hotel beforehand this time around.
We reserved a two room suite in case the breakfast/common area was being used at the time of the party since you can't reserve that space. That way we'd have plenty of room in the suite for party guests to spread out IF we had to have the party in the room. We get there to check in and we did not book a suite. I have no idea how that happened. So we had a regular room. Plus, and this is hilarious, the breakfast room was a restaurant! We can't use a restaurant or a one bedroom hotel room for a party! Enter freak out mode.
Tony noticed there were conference rooms available and we inquired about renting one. (Meanwhile, the first party guests have arrived!) The women on staff that evening were so helpful, understanding, and went above and beyond to accommodate us! The manager that night let us know usually you book these rooms in advance but that one very small board room was available for rental if we'd be interested. We. Will. Take. It.
And thus began Presley's board room birthday bash!
 |
| A perfect mix of new friends, old friends, family and unfailing friends who have become family. |
Thankfully there was a common area for guests to hang out since we all didn't fit in the main room that was not far from the board room. It made visiting everyone at once a little more difficult but I was just happy to see everyone! Of course we spent way more time than we anticipated eating, visiting, and opening presents so mostly everyone left by the time we swam but man... that was so nice and so much fun!!!
After we said goodbye to the last party guests we finally headed up to our room - which was actually our second room already since our first room was overrun by lady bugs. By the time we got up to this room we realized this one was also full of ladybugs. When we got up to our third room we'd lost all our baby wipes somewhere along the way and this third room was also decorated by many, many ladybugs. It was late, Molly hadn't napped, and we were all tired. (But I was not about to sleep with ladybugs after the price we paid for a room!) Since we booked the hotel room through a third party we had to deal with Hotels.com AND the sweet staff at the hotel. Note to self and others: Don't book hotel rooms through third parties. Just don't.
Finally, we got the price of the room refunded to us and we were leaving. Presley was beside herself because she wanted so much to spend her birthday in a hotel! The sweet, sweet manager told us she would put us up at a nearby hotel room, free of charge. What! So incredibly kind. We packed everything up with two tired girls, lost Presley's favorite birthday balloon to the wind on the way to the car, and headed to the second hotel with two VERY upset little girls in the backseat. (Presley was crying about her lost balloon - I was crying a bit on the inside because the balloon that flew away cost $12 - and Molly was hysterical at the sight of Presley being so upset!)
After getting settled in our new room and playing for a bit, it was finally bedtime. Everyone eventually fell asleep and I could.not.sleep! Around 1am Molly woke up SCREAMING and was completely inconsolable. It was so bad that Tony and I decided the only way any of us would get any sleep was if I took Molly home and we went back to pick Tony and Presley up in the morning. Thankfully Presley slept through all the late night shenanigans and Molly slept just fine once we were home. What a funny story for a 4th birthday party! I'm beginning to feel like a lightning rod for oddities.
Despite the craziness, it was such a wonderful birthday party and I was so grateful to spend some time with the people we love so much. After occasions like that I always wonder WHY we don't get together with the people we love more often than we do. It's just the way life goes but I loved seeing each and every person who was there and we are so blessed to have you in our lives. Presley is four and had a happy day and that's the most I could have asked for!
Oh, not to mention she had THE COOLEST birthday cake out there thanks to her wonderful Grandmommy! Not only was the cake beautiful but it was one of the best tasting cakes I've had in a long time. Speaking of Selena, 99% of the photos from Presley's party were taken by my mother-in-law so THANK YOU for those!!!
 |
| Elsa, Anna, and Olaf featuring a picture of Presley and Elsa from our WDW trip!!! |
Happy birthday beautiful Presley! Looks like you had a fun, and very memorable birthday!
ReplyDeleteP.S. Where did you get that Jasmine nightgown???!?!? Abi is obsessed with Jasmine and I'd love to get her one! LOL
It was on clearance at the Disney Store a couple weeks ago! Was available on their website back then, too!
DeleteTHank you!! We found one! :)
Delete