One Year Old

Everyone,

My baby is one year old. I can't believe that in a few short hours, we will mark what time she took her first breath. It was 11:31 am, and I was not handling labor very well. I don't think I've ever told Butterfly's birth story on here. Let me start at the beginning.

It was a Friday and I had my regular weekly doctor's visit. He had checked me the week before and I was 2-3 centimeters dilated. They weren't too excited; women sit at 3 centimeters for a while. That week I had little off and on contractions, and made it to Friday again. This time when he checked, I was 5 centimeters dilated. He said he had only seen a handful of women who were that dilated and still walking around. We all kind of laughed about it, and he sent me home with instructions to call when I've had an hour of steady contractions or they were coming 2 minutes apart. Saturday passed, then Sunday...nothing. Monday morning I got a call from my doctor's office wanting me to schedule an induction. I think my doctor was thinking of me all weekend and expecting to see me at the hospital. So we scheduled the induction for the next day. May 10, 2005. It's weird to know your child's birthday ahead of time.

We checked in to the hospital, they got me in a lovely gown and stuck IVs in my arm. They started me on pitocin to get my contractions regular, and let us be. I was in no pain. Juice read to me, I took a short nap, and we chatted with the nurses. After about an hour or so, my doctor came in to break my water. There was a huge gush and my stomach suddenly felt tighter. And then a contraction came. H.o.l.y. c.o.w. I was not a happy camper. I think I had 2 or 3 contractions right on top of one another (it's a little hazy) and then I felt the need to push. The nurse checked, frantically called the doctor back in and got the room ready for Butterfly's arrival. I remember being annoyed at the nurse for not helping me hold my leg, and for making me hold my leg in the first place. Juice seemed nervous. And my doctor just sat down there looking a little bored. I pushed for about 15 minutes. I remember saying "no no no no" a lot. I remember Juice telling me she had hair. And then I remember looking down to see this squirming little person with long arms and legs in my doctor's hands. She was so small and so perfect. She didn't cry much but had these long long fingers and toes. My fingers and toes.

She weighed 8 lbs, 10 oz and was 22 inches long. And she was 10 days early. Big girl! We spent 3 days in the hospital just watching movies late at night (The Wedding Singer) and getting to know each other. She grew, and grew, and grew! She is now about 23 lbs, and 33 inches long.

I can't believe a year has gone by. What did we do without her? She makes our family what it is. Happy Birthday Baby Girl!

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Butterfly, we can't believe how fast you've grown up. We can't wait to see what happens this next year! You are such a little book worm and will sit and "read" books to yourself (turn the pages and talk). You will calm down almost instantly with a book. You are a social laugher, and will laugh whenever someone else laughs. It's really fun to be able to chuckle on purpose and have your eyes light up and you chuckle back. And speaking of your eyes, they are so luminous! Like someone stuck little lamps behind them. They just light up when you are happy or excited. It's amazing.

I get strangers that stop me and tell me how much you look like me. Or how beautiful you are. When we went to the zoo, people kept coming up to me and telling me what a beautiful baby you are. What can I say? You have good genes. :)

Your favorite thing in the world is still Soot. You will chase that poor puppy around the house and love on her as long as she'll let you. I've been trying to teach you to be a little more gentle with your loving.

You love to stack things and then knock them down. You also love to move things from one container to another. We spend a lot of time taking out your toys and then putting them back into their box. Fun times.

You are still a messy eater. Seriously, you get food in your hair with every single meal. And you're not the happiest eater. Some kids just chow down and open their mouths wide...not you. It's a challenge to feed you, but you're happier when you're full.

You have become very clingy in the past few weeks. I think your teeth are coming in because you have to be touching me at all times. It makes getting anything else done very difficult. But I keep telling myself that sooner or later you will not want to be around me and I should cherish this closeness. Although it would be nice if you could nap without this closeness. :) Mommy would like that.

Time is just flying by and you get bigger every day. Daddy and I are so happy that you are in our lives. We love you Baby Girl!

Love,
Mommy and Daddy