Happy Birthday Baby Girl!

Three years ago today- I was living in the other house still.  I was waking in the middle of the night (many times) and peeing into a yogurt cup in the kitchen (TMI- I know).  We had no bathroom (literally, no floor, no toilet, no lighting- it was pretty bad- we were deserted by a contractor after the demo).  I was only 34 weeks along and was getting ready for my baby shower which was being thrown for me the next day.  I was feeling pretty large, and swollen, not super psyched to wear a dress and have my picture taken.  I went to bed that night uncomfortable, but relieved that Donell had temporarily put the toilet in for me for the night!  I woke up at 4am- and woke Donell with some confusing feelings (especially since I couldn't see what was going on due to the bathroom situation). I always new she would come to us early- and it probably made everything go a lot faster because I didn't associate all of the early labor with actual labor.  By the time we got the hospital, I was 7 cm dilated.  The midwife was only there for a 1/2 hour before she came into a calm, quiet (you could hear a pin drop) delivery room.   It was amazing.....

I can't say that "the years have flown by"- because I really do feel like I've been as concious as possible to soak in every moment of these early years. I look at her, and feel like it was so long ago that she was a newborn in my arms....

 

She was a good size, 6lbs. 6ozs, but because she was early (6 weeks)- she was in the NICU for 2 weeks.  It was the roughest 2 weeks of my life thus far- but I stayed there with her until she could come home- the experience made me stronger but very overprotective.

Sleeping in her crib in the first few weeks- always swaddled, even in the 100 degree heat.

Flower baby- she was 5 weeks old during this photo shoot.

Apple picking in the fall.

She's always loved to take baths- it was our nightly ritual together before bedtime (it's not nearly as consistent with 2- but we still manage in our tiny tub)- for the first month or so, she slept all the time- even while in the tub:)

In the snow with Beau for the first time.

Christmas tree hunting in the Mei Tai.

Standing in her crib in her first bedroom.

At her baby blessing on her first Birthday!

At the beach on vacation.

Very first drawing! 16 months old.

Christmas Eve

She's always loved the sparkles- here she is admiring herself in the mirror in her new sparkly red shoes.

Reading Babybug with Daddy

Helping Mommy through a contraction during Moses' birth- so precious.

Holding Moses for the first time- 1 day old.

Holding Moses Moses flattening Zella 2 months old:)

This is what happens when you have more then 1 child- child #1 gets into things....

and once again...acrylic paint (non-toxic) this time- gotta love it!

She is an amazing little girl

Creative, loving, artistic, shy, intelligent, athletic, imaginative, cautious, outgoing, dramatic, expressive, strong willed, sensitive,  musical, compassionate...

I am so blessed to be her mother and be able to watch her grow every day.