At the beginning of this year, my Aunt Lynn started treatment to beat a recurrence of the breast cancer she first beat twenty-five years ago. Throughout the surgeries, procedures, and chemotherapy treatments, she kept up an amazingly positive attitude, always finding the bright side of every negative side effect. When her chemo treatments were plotted out, we realized that the baby would likely arrive within a few weeks of her final round. We knew that the end of May would bring a lot to celebrate.
My mom, cousin Leah, and I wanted to treat my aunt to a fun girls’ day in honor of Lynn finishing chemo, and we thought an afternoon tea would be perfect. We decided to bring Annabel, and she was thrilled to be included. She’s very into the Fancy Nancy books right now, so she was extremely excited to dress up and basically live out the plot of one of the books.
It was the first time I’ve left James, but I knew he’d be fine with Mike. I was so happy to be out wearing regular clothes! It was great to be able to celebrate my aunt, and to also be able to eat without worrying about my blood sugar or vomiting. It really cannot be emphasized enough how great it is to not constantly be thinking about food!
Annabel also thrived being out with the grown-ups, away from newborn baby land. The waiter brought her a special glass of chocolate milk, and we put it in a tea cup so she could, “drink it fancy.”
She also enjoyed the dessert portion of the tea (but who wouldn’t?):
And she kept us entertained by telling us stories that she “read” from an imaginary book:
But, she couldn’t wait to get home and tell James all about “special girls’ tea.”
My aunt has a few more steps in her cancer battle, but hopefully the hardest parts are behind her. We’ll be cheering her on – Annabel and I have big plans for many celebrations with Lynn in the future.
amourningmom says:
I am cheering for your Aunt Lynn too! I love that you had a tea party for her and I am so glad that you could eat without being sick. I so wish that a cure for cancer is found soon. Sending you all hugs and hope! xo
Annalisa says:
I love how Annie had to tell James all about it when she came home.
Paola says:
I love the pinky up while drinking milk from a cup, very posh Miss Annie, very posh. I wish your aunt the best and wish you all many more celebratory tea dates.
Jenn says:
GO AUNT Lynn GO!!!! Is that Leah’s mom??? Glad you all had a great time!! I love the picture of little Miss. Annie with her wee little pinky in the air!! So CUTE!! Wishing you and your family MANY MORE CELEBRATIONS and HAPPY Times!!! xoxo
Sue says:
You looked so pretty,in your blue dress, Heather! All of the pics were just beautiful! It looks like you all had a wonderful celebration! Many, many, many good wishes to your Aunt Lynn!
JoAnn says:
I am so happy to hear about you out celebrating, enjoying this wonderfully positive step in your Aunt’s treatment. And also: HOLY SHIZZ, you look FABULOUS in that dress! I am becoming borderline anxious about how this second pregnancy is going to impact my body and wow- you make my mind feel more at ease!
Tracy says:
Holy cow woman! You look like you have the figure of a stripper! LOL! Love Annie’s fancy pinkie drinking tea!
Tam. says:
What a sweet day! Heather, you look amazing!
Lamb says:
You look great, Heather! I’m glad to read that your aunt is doing well.
Maris says:
I wish her the best
Molly says:
You look amazing!! Congrats to your aunt on finishing chemo and to you on being able to enjoy food again!
Karen says:
Heather,
You look amazing! You and Annie are just beautiful!
I am praying for your Aunt and hope her victory is long, relaxing and healthy!!!
TamaraL says:
#1 Best wishes to your aunt!!
#2 Annie’s little pinky when drinking her ‘tea’ is adorable!
#3 Keep an eye out for mold between the layers of the baby’s rock’n play sleeper. I am sure you are aware of the recall…my granddaughter’s had mold in it and we were MORTIFIED.
Heather says:
Yes, I am OBSESSIVE about checking it! Like…multiple times a day!
TamaraL says:
Good mama! Just make sure you are checking in between the layers, that is where we found the mold.
Lisa says:
She is so adorable. Love the pinky!
I’ll be thinking of your Aunt and hoping the last few steps go smoothly and she is done with it all soon.
Beth says:
I’m glad you got out of the house and you do not like you JUST had a baby!
Danya says:
You look so great Heather, and hip frickin hooray for food!!! My very best to your aunt, I’m also fighting a BC recurrance. I’m 32 with a 3 year old son and my reccurance came only 6 months after completing a year of surgery, chemo, and radiation. Now I get to do it all again, plus some! Wop wop. Anywhoo, James is adorable, and your aunts strength gives me strength so keep on keepin on! :).
Heather says:
Oh Dayna! I am so sorry to hear this! But I wish you all the luck in the world. Lots of love to you!!
Sarah says:
Heather, you look INCREDIBLE!!!! So happy to hear your is doing well! Annie is just too dang cute drinking her tea with her pinkie in the air
Trisha says:
Glad you got to go out and dress up. You look fantastic and I love that blue dress.
Wishing your Aunt well in her final stages of treatment.
Nellie says:
Tears well my eyes and I send lots of positive and loving wishes to your Aunt and your entire family! My daughter and I will continue to say a special prayer for your Aunt and that today and always, your lives are filled with great joy, peace and happiness!!!!
OMG, on another note – girlfriend, you look AMAZING!!! I totally want that dress. You look spectacular but I thought that even when you’d post pictures while pregnant. It’s no wonder your children are beautiful!!
Chelsea says:
I just started reading your blog a few weeks ago, and I started way back when you were pregnant with Maddie. I’m finally all caught up, and I have to say I love your family! I feel so blessed to be able to follow you all on your journey. I’ve fallen in love with, and grieved over Maddie, I’ve been overjoyed to watch Annie grow, and I’m so happy to finally “meet” James! Oh, and Rigby too! You and Mike are amazing people and parents. Thank you for sharing your lives and your incredible babies with the world! My 15 month old, Addie, loves to watch videos of Maddie and Annie, she laughs and dances along. And even though my 12 week old Silas isn’t much old than James, you have me missing and longing for those first few weeks again. Again, I love you guys! i feel so connected with you all.
Ok, now that that’s out of my system, I’m so happy your aunt has so much strength and I wish her a long life of happiness after she kicks this cancer in the behind! Annie is such a lovely little lady, and I’m glad she enjoyed her fancy big girl tea! And it’s been said before, but stands to be said again, you look amazing!
Mikia says:
HEATHER. There is no way you had a baby less than a month ago. No flippin’ way. Just saying. You look amazing.
Annalisa says:
Yup. The one plus I loved about breast feeding is that it definitely helps shed those pregnancy pounds… But even then, it took me a couple of months before I started looking the same as I did before being pregnant. I’m jealous!
Caroline says:
Such a fun day! Love your blue dress – where did you get it?
Leslie says:
Sending love to Lynn.
Heath- you look gorgeous!
Abby Leviss says:
I cannot BELIEVE how amazing you look. Wow! Are you really a new mom? That is not how I have looked ever after having either of my boys. My mom’s last radiation treatment was the morning Max was born. It was really incredible to be celebrating both things in one morning.
Melissa says:
How sweet! I love Annie’s “pinky up” when drinking tea! Poor James is going to end up like my little brother. I was Annie’s age when he was born and he was like my living doll. Poor guy. We have pictures of him with curlers in his hair and make-up on him as a baby.
And YOU! You look AMAZING! I actually had to re-read the first paragraph to be sure this was after James was born. You’ve inspired me to get into shape so I can look like that after I’ve had a baby too. WOW. You should be so proud of yourself!!
Glenda says:
You look AMAZING! And sending positive vibes to your Aunt Lynn. Love Annie’s pinky
Greis says:
Keeping Lynn in my thoughts as she continues to battle. Love you all!
Christina says:
You really do look fantastic! Love that color on you. So glad everything is going so well post-birth.
lauren says:
prayers for your aunt! you look amazing and Annie’s dress is too cute! love her pinkie up drinking her “tea”
Leslie K says:
What a wonderful reason to celebrate! Prayers for your aunt!
You look beautiful!!
Amy S. says:
You look A.M.A.Z.I.N.G! Annie is adorable with her pinkie up and telling brother about her day!! Congratulations to your Aunt for finishing chemo and wishing for continued improvement!
Auntie_M says:
Ack!!! The little pinky up!!!! Precious!!!!
Hooray for Aunt Lynn!!!! Bad ol’ cancer!!! Go away forever!!!
I love that you ladies did a formal celebratory tea! How special!!!
And you look bloody, flippin’ marvelous!!!!!!!!! Good grief woman!!!!!!
Oh, and cheers for being able to eat freely again!