It was the night of April 16th when she started to make her way into this world. I was sitting downstairs watching television with Daddy and I was having some light contractions. A few days earlier I had experienced some false labour so I didn't want to get my hopes up this time. I decided to just go to bed and not think too much about it. It dawned on me when I was still awake at 2:00am and the contractions were coming on stronger that this is possibly the real deal. I had always wanted to have the experience of calling my Mom in the middle of the night to tell her that I was in labour and I finally got to. Although she surprised me by picking up on the second ring. Seems that her Mother intuition is still strongly intact, because she told me that she just knew that I was going to call her. Well we gathered up our stuff and my Mom arrived shortly. We were on our way to the hospital.
I walked into the ER (since it was in the middle of the night we have to register there) and the lady asked me if I was in labour. I wanted to give her a sarcastic answer and say "No I make my husband drive me to the hospital in the middle of the night all the time to make sure he knows where he is going." But instead I just answered with a simple "yes." Daddy came in after parking and we made our way up to labour and delivery. We got there and the nurse asked "So are you in labour?" What is with these people! No people we just want to take a tour at 3:00am! "Yes" again was my answer. Surprisingly I was the only one there that night to deliver a baby.
We got all set up in the room and found out that I was already 4cm along. So I got my epidural right away and was in heaven. Usually when you deliver you are not guaranteed to get your own O.B, but I got lucky for the second time and mine was on shift that night. She came in smiling, because we were just at the hospital earlier that day to set an induction date for Saturday. Turns out our little girl didn't want to wait. Daddy and I were in the room and we start to hear this alarm go off. We just look at each other because we both figured any alarm is probably not a good thing. The nurse comes in and just switches it off. I enquire as to what the alarm was and she just says casually "oh that is just the baby's heart rate." I have to say she was really good at not getting me scared about it because she was so calm, but I was still worried. The alarm kept going off and I got more worried. She had me turn on my side, but it didn't really help. She went and got my O.B and it turns out, with every contraction I was having the baby's heart rate was dropping.
Now I am not sure if anyone has ever watched any baby shows, but I have seen my fair share and I always know that when they bring out the oxygen mask it usually is never a good thing. Well my fear just escalated when they put it on me. All I could think was, this is not a good thing.
It was time for her arrival. It was so nice just having the O.B and the nurse in the room this time, opposed to like the 15 when I had Logan. With just a few pushes she made her debut into the world. She was perfect. Brynleigh weighed in at exactly 8lbs and just over 21 inches. It was instant love.
This past year I had been met with so many new challenges, but growing from each one. The first three months were less then ideal for me, and I struggled through each one of those days. But today, there is nothing I love more then seeing Brynleigh and Logan playing together. To see her crazy toothy smile. I wasn't sure at first how going from one to two kids would be, but she fits so perfectly into our family. Our lives would not be the same without her.
Today you turn from being a baby to a toddler (although don't take those first steps without me being present!) And even though the first year has gone by so quickly, there is still so much more to add to the chapters in your life. There is still tons of time to make thousands of memories together. So much more to teach and learn. So as you complete the first year, know that I am sad about it ending, but so excited about what is to come still. You have the whole world at the tips of your tiny fingers. And I know that you are going to make your very own special path in this world and I can't wait to walk along side you with every experience we share.
As You Turn One
Time flies fast when you’re nearing one,
So much to learn, so much fun.
Peek-a-boo, learning to talk,
Eating it all, learning to walk.
Loving to laugh and giggle and play,
Enjoying every moment of every day.
But while you innocently watch each day go by,
You’re unaware of the sighs we sigh . . .
For you’re growing up too fast for us.
We’ve seen it before and we know you must.
Soon you’ll be two, then three, then ten,
And we’ll look at you and wonder and say, “When?”
When did she grow up? How can this be?
Wasn’t it yesterday she looked up at me . . .
And reached for my arms . . .
And smiled that sweet smile . . .
And we prayed,
“Keep her little for still a little while
So much to learn, so much fun.
Peek-a-boo, learning to talk,
Eating it all, learning to walk.
Loving to laugh and giggle and play,
Enjoying every moment of every day.
But while you innocently watch each day go by,
You’re unaware of the sighs we sigh . . .
For you’re growing up too fast for us.
We’ve seen it before and we know you must.
Soon you’ll be two, then three, then ten,
And we’ll look at you and wonder and say, “When?”
When did she grow up? How can this be?
Wasn’t it yesterday she looked up at me . . .
And reached for my arms . . .
And smiled that sweet smile . . .
And we prayed,
“Keep her little for still a little while
~Cheryl Wray~
Beautifully written Charity. I always have tears in my eyes and goosebumps on my arms when I read your words.
ReplyDeleteThanks Alesha :)
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