On the Day That You Were Born.....

Dearest Lydia,

When Daddy and I started this journey a little over a year ago, we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into. All we knew is that we loved you so much already that there were no other options but to educate ourselves to the best of our ability and prepare as best as we could for whatever God threw our way.

How blessed are we that He gave us you!

One year ago today, you slid into this world after three full days of doctors tacking up eviction notice after eviction notice. After almost 3 (slow and agonizing) days of labor, everything progressed rather quickly that 4th day. The epideral was started at 11 am, the doctor removed the last barrier impeding your progress at 11:30 am, pitocin drip started by 12, at which point we called Grandma and Grandpa to tell them not to rush. At 12:50, I was still dilated 2 cm. The resident left the room, and shortly after my water broke. At 1:00 pm, I told the nurse I needed to push.She looked at me with shock and left to get the resident who entered the room muttering that she had JUST checked 10 minutes ago...there was no way I had progressed that far in 10 minutes.....until she actually looked. There you were. SURPRISE!

As neonatologists and nurses scrambled through the door, suiting up as they ran, I tried my hardest to resist pushing, with the, now near panic, resident begging me to hold on for just a minute more. And then, after waiting so long, you decided your patience had worn off and you promptly delivered yourself at 1:07 pm. 

You were whisked away to the dreaded room across the hall almost immediately....I barely got a glimpse of your face. I didn't know if you were ok. I was stuck on the sidelines of the day I had waited on so long......

And then, the typically hushed tones of the nurses across the hall gave way to laughter (a whole lot of it) and excited footsteps leaving and entering, amid bubbly bursts of happy chatter. My heart heaved such a huge sigh of relief. In three days of constant watch, not one other baby was ever greeted in the resuscitation island with as much joy as you were. 

You were here. You were perfect. You were already stealing hearts.

It took until almost 8 pm that night for me to get to study you as much as I wanted and to get to hold you for the first time. I cried. 

You were so much more amazing than I had ever dreamed.
While we faced the great unknown, there was never a doubt how very loved you already were and how thankful we were that you arrived safely.

Now a year into the journey, I can look back on those first days of your life with peace, with happiness. I can see, that although some of your milestones are slightly delayed, you will make it to each one, in your own time. You are growing slowly but surely, which really just means that you are still very tiny. Petite like some other ladies that we know. ;) Yet despite your slow growth in size, you are changing every day before my eyes, leaving the look of a baby behind, giving us glimpses of the beautiful little girl you are now becoming.

A year later...and you still take my breath away.

On the day that you were born, angels danced at the head of your tiny bed, the stars sparkled a little brighter, and God rejoiced at a job well done.

Happy 1st birthday, my sweetest Bug.
I love you so very much and I can't wait to see what amazing things are coming in the next year!

Dedicated to my baby girl.......