Happy Birthday Ella

Happy Birthday dear girl! You are upstairs fast asleep as your father and I are in the living room surrounded by boxes, gift wrap, and cards full of well wishes. Highlights of the evening included a ride on your new Radio Flyer scooter and getting acquainted with your first baby doll from Mimi. You may not know this, but so much love, time and support was given from family and friends to help us through this first year. Being a new parent is quite scary! We made it though girl. You've changed us forever. Now that the house is quiet, your Dad and I had a chance to look back on a year ago today. Your birth actually began the day before, on the 23rd at 11 p.m. Nineteen hours later we met face to face at 6:47 p.m.. A sudden urge to shovel snow the night of the 23rd may have expedited the birth process. It was a light snow, more accurately a dusting. The fresh air felt good though. Following my outdoor duties, a brief nap on the couch and some milk and cookies, labor began. After I suggested we get our bags and call the doctor, I started shaking involuntarily and your dad began caulking the bathroom. I guess we were both scared. Luckily we gathered our wits, the streets were clear and quiet and we were at the hospital thirty minutes later. Calls were made to Mimi, Lolo and Lola. All three were instructed to get a good nights sleep as it would likely be hours before you arrived. Sleep was apparently out of the question as all three were at the hospital before dawn. Breakfast, lunch and dinner went by on the 24th. No Ella yet. The doctors had warned that your positioning made labor difficult but not impossible. After experiencing it personally I would certainly agree. Having a healthy baby girl with Apgar scores 9 and 9 made it all worth while. 365 days later and I have learned so much.

"Before you were conceived I wanted you. Before you were born I loved you. Before you were here an hour I would die for you. This is the miracle of life." Maureen Hawkins