mamasraspberry

Birthday Girl at Chuck E. Cheese

Last of the Maryland b-day pics

Sharisse and Logan

Poor Lolo.  She was SO overwhelmed :-(

My step-sister Sharea and Mr. Caleb

My Uncle Billy and his beautiful daughter Lexi

The Three Cousin Amigos: Lexi, Jay and Boo

Sweet Lexi and Caleb stuffing his mouth with cake :-)

 

The whole family!

Yes.  He is playing the guitar.  Yes.  He is playing the guitar in his Thomas The Train underpants!  Ha!

Hey guys!  I'm The Birthday Girl!!

party time!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOGAN!

One year ago today I gave birth to my second angel...Logan Corde.

It was funny because the night before my scheduled C-Section I made a joke and said, "Hey what if my water breaks!?"  Well it did!  At 3am a gush of water woke me up!!  It only took an hour for the pain to set in.  So different from Caleb. 

After 30min of running to the bathroom, I calmly I woke up Michael and told him that I think my water broke.  Ha ha "think".  He jumped up and we did our best to get ready for the hospital (four hours before my C-section was scheduled for).

Meanwhile, Kay Kay (our babysitter extrodinaire) was fast asleep downstairs.  As was Caleb in his room.  It took me all of two seconds to put my clothes on and grab my bag.  I'm downstairs with Katelyn waiting for Michae while breathing through contractions.  YES!  Contractions had started and they were NO JOKE.  So different from Caleb.

Then Boogie woke up.  Funny.  It's like he knew a big event was taking place.  So now it's me (in pain, breathing and concentrating), Kay Kay and a sleepy Caleb all waiting downstairs for Michael.

Where is Michael?  What is taking him so long?

Finally after 20 min (WTH?) he comes down and we get in the car and begin the longest drive to Visalia ever.  Contractions geting worse.  Contractions getting closer together.  Contractions making me want to jump out of my skin.  So different from Caleb.

I see the light!  Kaweah Delta!  Go go go!  Michael wants to go through the Emergency room and get me a wheelchair but I'm insistent on walking and just getting up there myself.

I win.

But the contractions kick my ass.

Finally!

 The Birthing Floor.  Hallelujah! Okay so we're thinking we'll tell them that my water broke but I'm scheduled for a C-Section so they'll page Doctor Boken right away and in 30min I'm sure to have this baby.

WRONG!

We walk up to the desk and in between contractions I tell the receptionist (who is 90 yearsold) what's going on.  I specifically said three times, I am supposed to be here at 7am for my C-Section but my water broke at 3:30am and contractions are 4 min apart.

Okay dear go sit.

We sat for 30min!!!!!!  NO LIE!!!  30 min!!

We sat and I contracted.  We sat and I cussed.  We sat and floods of water soaked the chair I was sitting in.  We sat and I did my best to be calm and breathe.  Finally, I tell Michael to please go kill the old woman who has obviously lost her mind and has forgotten all about me.

Michael walks up to the desk and all I hear is Oh!  I didn't know her water broke!

WHAT??!!  Lady are you kidding?!!  Lady are you deaf?!

Well you can imagine the frenzy that set in once everyone behind the desk got their heads outta their asses and realized that I needed to deliver my baby.  NOW.

Within 2 min a nurse comes out to take us back.  Let's weigh you. Really?  As soon as I stand on the scale a tidal wave of water comes out.  She looks at me and says....okay we'll just skip that.

Fastest walk ever to the birthing room where I can put on that fabulous gown, be poked, prodded and asked questions I care not to answer because I feel like I'm about to give birth NOW. 

So the fun begins....they hook me up to the monitor, attempt to put in the I.V., and check to see how dialated I am.

Oh my!  You're 4.5 cm dialated!!  DUH!!!  This baby is coming!

Finally they wheel me into the Operating Room, give me the Epidural and begin the fun task of the C-Section.

And right there beside me is my Michael.  Telling me how strong I am.  Telling me how much he loves me.  Telling me that's it's almost over.  Being the best supporter ever.

Finally!  At 5:51am Logan Corde Powell was born.

Dr. Boken said uh Tiff guess how much she weighs?  I'm thinking 7 pounds.  I was scared to ask.  She laughed and said 8.1oz!!!!  WHAT?!  I had an 8 pound baby inside me?! 

Yup.  My butterball Lolo :-)

She was beautiful, she was healthy, she was fat and she was all mine.

So that is the birth story of Logan. 

My sweet baby girl.  My beautiful angel baby.  A total miracle.

I love you Lolo.  Happy first Birthday!

My Birthday ROCKED!

So...I turned 34 years old today and I'm still amazed that I'm that old. 

But I mean old in a good way.  Let me explain.

34 means I'm accomplished, I know myself, I've experienced and experimented the world, I've found myself and trust myself, I've loved hard and lost love, I've made mistakes that will not be repeated, I've learned to accept what's before me, I've learned to give it to God and move on.  That I've made a fool of myself and that I know that everything happens for a reason.  34 means that I've made it this far with plenty of blessings to show for it.

I am so happy to be 34.  And I am so looking forward to what this year has to offer.

Thanks to everyone for your birthday text's, emails, cards and Facebook wishes.  I felt so loved today :-)

What does 34 look like?

This is what 34 look like to me.  It's my family.  It's my Michael, my Caleb and my Logan.  It's love.  It's what I created with my blue eyed beau and it's perfect...it's my comfortable quiet....

Here's to a fabulous year!!

Michael's BIRTHDAY!

Happy 31st birthday Michael!

The day started off gloomy but the sun has come out and I can see the mountains.  And I know how much you love a view of those gorgeous snowy peeks ;-)

You are so special to Caleb and I...

You are a great husband, an exceptional father (a dream come true) and a wonderful provider.   We so enjoy laughing, dancing, singing and exploring life with you.

And your family adores and love you too.  You're always there to support your parents and sisters whenever they need it.  You're generous, loving, a comedian (ha ha) and the heart of our lives.

So this year don't forget to "Do Michael".  Take time out for yourself and go for a hike in Three Rivers, kick your own butt at the gym, fix your snake room up how you want, read about Shipping Container Housing, and prefab living.  Bone up on Jackson Polluck so we can create our own splatter-piece ;-) hop on your bike and get lost, go to Borders and stay an hour too long, get yourself organized and do those things that make your heart smile. 

I know life changes when you have a family, especially when your the sole provider and you own your own company...but you can't forget you.  It's important that you don't lose those special things that YOU enjoy.  I worry that you've forgotten.  And it's those things that made me fall in love with you back in the Summer of 2004...

...your love for the outdoors and animals.  The way you could talk for hours on end about your dreams and the things that insipre you.  How we'd go to Borders and split up to read & sip coffee.  Our long and challenging bike rides along the Potamac, random drives through Maryland and Virginia and so much more.

I know we've got another baby on the way which will challenge our schedule and lives.  But my wish for you this year is that you really take the time to get back to you. 

You Deserve It.

This year will really be a great one.  You've got a baby girl coming your way and Caleb continues to love love love and look up to you. 

So take this year and make it yours!

happy birthday love.

I love you,

Tiff

It's my party!!

Today is my 33rd birthday Yeah!!!

I'm 10 weeks pregnant, feeling MUCH MUCH better, Caleb is being too too sweet, my husband made me a birthday cake late last night and the sun is shinning.  :-) 

What more could a girl ask for? 

October Babies

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO BREEZY!! Easy Breezy Beautiful Brianna turns 7 today!! October 5th

Cassieopia turns the BIG 28 on October 20th

Ryan turns 5 on October 17???

ANNIVERSARIES!!

Abby & James 4th anniversary - October 4th

Bendee celebrate their ONE year anniversary October 8th!! Congrats Lindee & Ben!

Yeah!!! Birthday's!!

Birthday details :-)

My birthday was super special because of Michael.

Saturday morning he brought me a beautiful bouquet of flowers and while I was off at the studio rehearsing for Miracle on Main he and Caleb were out doing sneaky birthday things ;-)

After rehearsing for three hours..phew...I returned home to find balloons balloons and more balloons in my driveway!!! Yes, at the front door was a big bunch of pink, red and yellow balloons and three mylar balloons that read Happy Birthday Mom, Birthday Girl and my favorite, I Demand A Recount!

I know. SO sweeeet!!!

But there's more!

I walk inside the house and there are my two guys wearing pink birthday hats! Doo doo and doo.

Michael says a cheerful Happy Birthday Mommy!! And Caleb gives me a toofy smile.

I just love my guys :-)

But there's more!

Michael put a pink hat on me and handed me my crown. YES. A birthday crown that LIGHT UP!! HA!!

So there I was... pink hat, big bunch of balloons, crown of lights, cute baby and awesome hubby. PERFECT.

But there's more!

The Birthday Cake! My super awesome hubby got me an ice cream cake (with cake batter flavor) from Coldstone Creamery that said Happy Birthday Mommy on it!!! Awwwwww!!!!! :-)

Um, I HEART Coldstone and the fact that it said happy birthday mommy on it...aw man it put the icing on the cake ;-)

He also gave me the BEST b-day card and a great big kiss.

My day was super duper speical. It was totally unexpected and totally perfect. Michael did such a good job making me feel like a birthday princess.

But there's more!!

My super sister's and mom & dad hooked me up too! They all pitched in and got me the sofest, most cuddley, most omfortable, dreamy robe in the entire world!

It's lavendar, it's the bomb and it's ALL mine! The girls got it from The Pauline Collection, a cute gift boutique shop that Maci used to work at. Now me and Mai Mai can wear our robes and watch our boys play together! HA!

Thanks sistas for the sweet card & the best robe ever!! I LOOOOOVE IT!!!

But there's more!!!

Michael is whisking us away to Monterey for a birthday get-away tomorrow!!!!!

Me and my two guys will spend the weekend in beautiful Monterey. We've never been so it's going to be tons of fun! And this time we're bringing the video-camera-FUN!

I can't wait!!!

So that was mamas b-day. I'm 32, I got gray hair and I LOVE my life!!!

**THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to all my friends and family for the lovely presents, cards, emails, phone calls and well wishes.

I love you!!!!!

And a BIG thank you to my husband.

You are my one....i love you as high as the sky baby.

Mama's special birthday!!!