booze, biscuits, and bassinets: St. Patty's

I drink. A lot. I drink so much in fact that I honestly considered that my extreme nausea and vomiting when I first got pregnant was actually my body detoxing. I also love being outside. It's no wonder then that St. Patty's Day is one of my favorite holidays. Dallas really embraces this holiday so it truly is something that my husband and I look forward to every year.

That being said, I had no idea what my St. Patty's Day with a two-month-old would look like. To be honest, I wasn't really looking forward to it. From the day you get pregnant EVERYONE tells you that life will never be the same. I got really sick of hearing this. What was my response supposed to be? "What?! Really?! Well never mind then, no baby for me." Everyone gives you this knowing look like you have no idea what you are in store for. TJ calmed my fears by always saying that we will be ourselves and continue to do what we've always done, it's just going to look a little different.

How different is the question. I'm still working on that answer, but so far it's pretty damn different. Instead of stumbling from party to party with my only concern being the inevitable hangover the next day, I would be responsible for a delicate little baby. What cruel joke is this? For the past 9 months my body has been to hell and back and all I want to do is sit outside and enjoy time with my friends and drink my weight in green beer. Can't I have my cake and eat it to? No. This is what my day looked like.

7:00 - 7:15: Wake Teddy up, change his diaper and outfit
7:15 - 7:30: First feeding
7:30 - 8:30: Play time on the activity mat for me and Teddy. TJ is organizing the cooler, stroller, diaper bag, camping chairs, chips and dips.
8:30 - 9:30: Teddy napping, TJ and I frantically packing the truck and taking a shower
9:30 - 10:00: Debating on whether or not to bring Moose (our chocolate lab) who normally gets to attend the day;s festivities. We said we wouldn't let having a baby change us, but there's just not enough extra hands or mental energy to go around. Sorry girl...home for you.
10:00 - 11:30 - Finish packing up the car, dry my hair, forgo make up for big sunglasses, grab breakfast while trying to keep Teddy entertained.
11:30 - 12:00 - Teddy's second feeding. We are officially 2.5 hours late for the first party, causing a heated debate. By heated debate, I mean we are both frazzled and have no idea where our time has gone. This used to be easy.
12:00 - 2:00 - Arrive at 2nd party. Argue over whether he should be in his car seat, wrapped in the Moby carrier, or just held so everyone can see his cute outfit. Held it is. Instead of mingling from group to group, I find a bench in the shade and praise Jesus that a handful of my friends are sober enough to talk to me.
2:00 - 2:30 - Go to next party. This should only take 5 minutes. Now we have to unpack everything and get set up at the new party. Bonus! Great friend from Lubbock is there.
2:30 - 3:00 - Catch up and talk and share baby stories. I'm starving, dying of thirst, and really just want a beer and a nap. The food has just come out and I have just enough time to inhale a few ribs.
3:00 - 3:15 - Honestly? I'm pumping. I've crept upstairs with my breast pump, hoping against hope that no one noticed, and I have 15 minutes to consider how different my life is now.
3:15 - 3:45 - Teddy's 3rd Feeding
3:45 - 4:00 - Holy Moly! Teddy almost has his first blow out. TJ changes him on the kitchen floor and I panic as I realize that we didn't bring a spare outfit or enough wipes if he has another crazy diaper.
4:00 - 4:30 - Back outside to enjoy time with friends. I realize that my arms are burnt even though I've applied sunscreen and have tried to stay in the shade. I begin panicking that Teddy is burning.
4:30 - 5:45 - Packing up, driving with every drunk person in Dallas kicking myself for even having him in the car with us, and unpacking
5:45 - 6:45 - Teddy napping, TJ and I high fiving ourselves for surviving the day. We did it. We made it to both parties, had fun, kept Teddy safe and happy. Win.
6:45 - 7:30 - Bath time, diaper, lotion, pajamas, 4th feeding, prayers, sleep.

TJ and I are so exhausted we go to sleep without dinner and pray that we'll get enough rest before he wakes up around 1:00am. Things have changed. The responsibility of having a child looms over you constantly. Things that you once enjoyed are steeped in danger and anxiety. All you can do is figure out what works for you now. Next year, we'll get a babysitter.

Here are some St. Patty's Day favorites from years passed.

2012 - Sporting a kid