Happy Birthday Baby!

Today my baby turns one.

There were so many funny comments when I was pregnant with a "Christmas Baby" last year -- people seemed to think I should be sad or upset about that. The pediatrician even gave me grief about it later, at her 2 week well-baby visit "Since you were dumb enough to have a baby in the middle of winter..."

But we don't always get to be choosey about these things, do we?

On Christmas 2005, I was pregnant, finally. It all came to a crashing end a few weeks later when the ultrasound revealed the embryo had implanted in my left tube. Two courses of methotrexate then an emergency surgery to remove the tube I was a wreck -- angry and depressed.

April found me pregnant again, confirmed on my birthday, which was also the same weekend as Easter. My due date was 12/25/2006 -- God's little joke on me!

On Christmas Eve 2006, I was in labor and sure I would have my baby by Christmas Day. I was completely at peace with a Christmas Day baby as I strolled the halls of the maternity center trying to encourage my labor. Santa and Mrs. Claus were visiting the rooms of the few new families that were there. I was so sure that would be me.

Again God laughed at my "plan" and my labor stalled so completely that Pitocin wouldn't restart it -- I was discharged at 4 AM to come home and spend Christmas Day with Aspen and no new baby. Boy, was she confused!

The morning of Dec. 27th it started all over again. I was up early, around 6 AM, timing my contractions, rubbing my belly, and watching the snow fall from my front windows. I was serene and peaceful, like the snow, confident this was be the real thing. And it was....at 2:10 PM, Genoa was born.

So, Happy Birthday my precious baby! It is snowing again today, and I am smiling in my memories of you and my wishes and hopes for your growing life and spirit.