The mamas of Brickyard Buffalo are here! Two inspiring business women and mothers whom we love and adore. And don’t forget their third Blair, who is as hard-working as she is hilarious and will make the best mother some day!
First up, Kami!
My mom had just arrived to town and I took a big sigh of relief. The two people that calm my nerves are my husband and mom. Now that she was in town, baby boy could come! As we sent my husband off to school, we headed to Wal-mart for a few last minute things. The next thing I know, my water broke…in Wal-mart! We had a good laugh. I mean, of all places! My husband was carless for the day so he bummed a ride to the hospital from his buddy who just so happened to ride his motorcycle to school. I wish so badly that I had a picture of those two on the bike– his friend with the handle bars in his armpits and my husband dangling off the back wheel to avoid too much contact.
Fast forward through 4 nurses, 1 epidural and 23 hours of labor with 4.5 hours of pushing and my beautiful first born son came into our world. I will never forget his goofy looking cone head and his chubby cheeks. Love at first sight!
1. What is one thing you would go back to tell your new-mom self?
Calm down! It’s really hard to not be anxious bringing a newborn home. You’ve heard so much advice and it can be hard to sift through it and determine what is useful. I would tell myself, it’s fine if your baby uses a pacifier. It’s fine if your baby doesn’t sleep through the night at six months old. It’s fine if you get the baby blues.
2. Was there anything surprising or shocking that happened that no one warned you about?
It seemed like every friend of mine just popped their baby out in 15 minutes. I was shocked to push for hours! Why didn’t someone tell me that most people don’t push for just 15 minutes?
3. Do you have a bedtime routine? Our nightly routine varies a little but one thing that is consistent is a snuggle song. As an infant I would choose a song for them but now that they can express their opinion on which song they want– they request it and we snuggle and sing.
And next we have Karlee:
Our little Perry Shea Dutson safely arrived on Friday, October 29th, 2010. This is her birth story.
At my 39 week OB appointment I was informed that I had an “unfavorable cervix.” (Sounds harsh, right?) Long story short, I was carrying her very high and it was unlikely that she was going to drop on her own. After discussing some possible scenarios, we decided a C-section was our best option. Just like that, we were scheduled to meet our little girl the following morning!
The rest of my day was a blur. I got in my car and drove around aimlessly as it sunk in. Once I made it home I took the longest shower of my life, packed our bags (that’s right, I still hadn’t packed the bags), and we headed out on our final childless dinner date.
Waking up at 4 A.M. the next day was a cinch knowing we were about to meet our baby. We hit up McDonalds and headed up to the hospital. As soon as I stepped foot into the OR I couldn’t stop shaking. I’m talking major shakes, people. I should have felt right at home given I spent 40+ hours a week working in the OR. But I knew too much and I was scared. Brad held my hands as the anesthesiologist popped the spinal block in my back and I immediately felt relaxed.
Surgery began and it was time for her to come out. Normally, they would just scoop the baby right out. But, as my sore ribs already knew, that little gal was tucked way up under my rib cage. After a lot of (them) pushing and pulling, I heard the cutest little cry. My doctor held Perry up long enough for us to spot some dark hair and fall right in love with her. Brad and Perry were swept away to clean her off and I was closed back up.
We spent the next couple of days at the hospital recovering and cuddling our little girl. We were blessed with a perfectly healthy, happy and sleepy baby. We didn’t know we were capable of loving her this much and can’t wait to raise this little beauty!
What is one thing you would go back to tell your new-mom self?
To stop crying! No really, I was a never-ending waterfall of happy, sad, scared and crazy tears. I would tell myself to relax and soak up that newborn baby love.
Was there anything surprising or shocking that happened that no one warned you about?
I read Jenny McCarthy’s book, Belly Laughs, so I was prepared for the good, the bad and the ugly. The only thing that truly surprised me was how much fun it is to be a Mom. I knew I would like being a Mom, I didn’t know I would love it.
Do you have a bedtime routine?
One of my favorite routines was smothering Johnson & Johnson’s Bedtime baby lotion on her every night. (Purple bottle.) The smell of that stuff will always bring back the greatest memories of our little Perry Shea as a baby.
58 Comments
April Swisher
February 18, 2014 at 6:56 amAll these baby pics and giveaways make it even harder to wait 3 more weeks for my little one to get here!
Andrea
February 18, 2014 at 6:58 amThe diaper organizer is so chic and much needed.
Peggy c
February 18, 2014 at 8:11 amLove this giveaway!
Julie Edmonds
February 18, 2014 at 8:14 amJust found your website, I love it!!!
Jannelle Howerton
February 18, 2014 at 8:18 amLove Boon! I dream of their high chairs. Just discovered your blog, love it!
Julie
February 18, 2014 at 8:22 amSo exciting to read about all these birth stories. It seems like forever ago that I gave birth to my son who will be turning one in just a few weeks! Love see all the new baby things that are available especially because we are expecting baby number 2!!
Lindsey S
February 18, 2014 at 8:33 amAs an expectant mom this was a nice post to read and see what these mom’s have as a little bit of advice in hindsight.
Bre
February 18, 2014 at 8:33 amI’m loving the nightlight! That would sooooo come in handy! Awesome giveaways.
Melanie
February 18, 2014 at 8:37 amLove them all!!
Jami
February 18, 2014 at 8:58 amAwesome giveaway! Thanks for the chance to win!
Audrey Brames
February 18, 2014 at 9:08 amLove the boon products!
Stephanie R
February 18, 2014 at 9:20 amIt’s boonerific!
Sarah Erwin
February 18, 2014 at 9:23 amLove your website! Thanks for the awesome giveaways!
Meredith
February 18, 2014 at 9:34 amBeautiful pictures 🙂
Lindsay
February 18, 2014 at 9:50 amAs a first time mom, this giveaway would be amazing! Love the blog!
Jemaica
February 18, 2014 at 9:56 amWOOOOO! Love you guys!!
Gillian
February 18, 2014 at 10:40 ambaby girl gets here in a little over a moth – I need to get prepared!
Kaylene
February 18, 2014 at 10:47 amI need them all!! I really love the diaper caddy most of all though (totally need it). Boon products rock my socks! I already have their convenient bathtub and bottle drying grass with accessories. You can’t go wrong with their products!
Whitney
February 18, 2014 at 10:49 amI’ve never heard of this night light before, how cool is that!
Ashley L
February 18, 2014 at 11:06 amBaby number 2 is on his way and I would just love to
Try these products!
Sheila R
February 18, 2014 at 11:08 amCrossing my fingers here. I love Boon products.
Megan
February 18, 2014 at 11:09 amSo fun to read the birth stories! Love everything about this post!
Adrianna Butler
February 18, 2014 at 11:30 amSuch cool looking products! Great giveaway!
Tina Marie McCallum
February 18, 2014 at 11:32 amAwesome blog! I am bummed I didn’t know about it sooner!
Alicia
February 18, 2014 at 12:13 pmThis is a great giveaway. All these products would come in super handy! T-8 weeks and counting!
Jessica
February 18, 2014 at 1:12 pmPick me!!
Jen P
February 18, 2014 at 2:13 pmI would feel so lucky to have these Boon products. And so would my baby boy!
Sarah Boonsirichai
February 18, 2014 at 2:21 pmSo cute!
Amanda Vallejo
February 18, 2014 at 2:51 pmThat night light is fantastic!
Amy Landis
February 18, 2014 at 3:02 pmThis would be dreamy!!!
Amy Landis
February 18, 2014 at 3:02 pm❤️❤️❤️
Rachel
February 18, 2014 at 6:05 pmBoon is awesome!! (So is smallfryblog!
Jordan
February 18, 2014 at 8:30 pmI love these products, they look so fresh and so clean! They would be perfect for baby number 2!
Amber
February 18, 2014 at 9:47 pmI have the boon highchair, and love it! I didn’t know they made other products. Would live to win these for baby no.2, due in May.
marissa m
February 18, 2014 at 9:55 pmI love the modern look of all the items in this giveaway! Boon is the bomb!
Tara
February 18, 2014 at 9:58 pmI love all these modern baby items!!
Marie
February 18, 2014 at 10:00 pmSuch an amazing site, love reading the daily blogs
Alexis
February 18, 2014 at 10:03 pmThese give aways are so fun!!
Olivia
February 19, 2014 at 12:23 amSuper rad!!
lale
February 19, 2014 at 12:23 amamazing giveaway! any mama would be lucky and humbled to receive such a lovely package from an amazing brand!
midweek links | Good News Santa Barbara
February 19, 2014 at 6:42 am[…] love this series going on over at Small Fry, and the giveaways are so good […]
Katie
February 19, 2014 at 8:14 amThanks for sharing such inspiring new baby stories. These giveaways are amazing too!
Chantele D
February 19, 2014 at 8:31 amLOVE Boon products!!
Jessica
February 19, 2014 at 9:08 amI love this segment on advice for new moms (due in 6 weeks- yikes) and the giveaways are a bonus!
Abigail
February 19, 2014 at 10:15 amJust love the simplistic design and fresh colors!
Miranda Cheng
February 19, 2014 at 10:18 amLove all the giveaways -Thanks for doing this for all the new moms out there!! 🙂
Maren
February 19, 2014 at 12:24 pmL
Love these products!
Steph
February 19, 2014 at 8:34 pmWe love the Boon Lawn and love these new products!
Maressa Chord
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Leah
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veronica
February 20, 2014 at 12:07 pmLOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!!
noelle l
February 21, 2014 at 5:02 pmBoon Inc. products are amazing! they make life as a busy mama so easy and my little loves to use their feeding products. He is a big eater!
sheena childs
February 22, 2014 at 3:24 pmI love BOON!
Kari
February 24, 2014 at 10:24 pmAll these birth stories make my heart happy!! 🙂 awesome compilation from so many fantastic mommas!
Sara Bogdan
February 25, 2014 at 1:00 pmSuch a wonderful story!!!!
Jami
February 25, 2014 at 9:35 pmLove these! Boon isn’t just an incredible baby spoon…
Bethany
February 25, 2014 at 10:42 pmThis would be just lovely!!
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January 28, 2018 at 7:01 pm[…] Say Yes! // Anna of In Honor of Design // Danielle of Sometimes Sweet // Little Baby Garvin // The Brickyard Buffalo Girls // And a whole slew of blogger favorites sharing what They Didn’t Expect When They Were […]