March of Dimes - Bake for Babies

We're getting very close to the 2013 March of Dimes March for Babies! This is my favorite charity by far because, without their research, I wouldn't have my adorable niece and nephew.

Five years ago, my nephew kicked my niece's placenta (from the his own placenta) and her fluid started draining to the point that the doctors had to take them early. They were 26 weeks into the required 38-40 weeks. (This is my understanding of what happened. My sister-in-law can recite the technical story with aplomb.)

My twins came into the world the length of a pen with footprints the size of small fingernail clippers, weighing under 2 pounds each.

Needless to say, both of them remained in the NICU for quite some time. My nephew came home for the first time when he was 6 months old and the size of a normal newborn. A normal newborn with adorable huge cheeks!

My niece stayed in the hospital much longer. We actually lost my beautiful little girl for 5 minutes before God gave her back to us. Fortunately, she was home with her brother for their first birthday. Mom and I made them each a stand-up teddy bear cake - one pink and one blue.

Today, my twins are amazing 5-year-old kids who love to torment my brother (which I love), served as a perfect flower girl and "ring bear race car," and have beaten all of the odds against them.

I know that our story wouldn't have been so inspirational if it weren't for the tireless research backed by the March of Dimes and the dedication of their volunteers and those who walk in support of their cause. I've walked or donated every year since they were born. My brother and his family actually served as our local March of Dimes Ambassador Family a couple years ago because of the hope that my niece and nephew represent to those who are going through similar situations.

Last year, my sister-in-law partnered with another preemie Mom to take their fundraising to a new level. They rented out a local fire hall, organized local crafters and vendors, and put on a craft sale in support of the March of Dimes.

Remember that about this time last year, I also did my first wedding cake and was completely wrapped up in the excitement of my new hobby. (I'm still excited about my hobby!) I told my sister-in-law that I wanted to have my own cupcake table with all of my sales for the day going to the March of Dimes. So I took a day off of work, baked about 10-12 dozen cupcakes and packaged them for sale with the help of my mom and one of my older nieces.

There were a few cupcakes on that table that made me really proud:

Chocolate cayenne with spiced pecans, caramel and chocolate ganache

Chocolate Moose

White Puppy Cupcake

But my favorite cupcake of the entire event was the one that I created specifically for Team Handful of Hope:

Lemon Blueberry Handful of Hope Cupcake w/ Chocolate Sneaker

We raised over $200 in cupcakes alone for the March of Dimes that day. In a blizzard. In a town of less than 100 people. I would call that a resounding success and I would do it again in a heartbeat to support this cause and to support my twins.