To Meredith on her birthday....

On April 9th of 2006, I woke up at 5:30 in the morning and waddled to the bathroom. It was nothing new; I had been waddling to the bathroom all through the night for weeks now. I was anxiously awaiting your arrival. Silly me thought I would get to sleep through the night once you had arrived. There were so many things you taught me about motherhood.

On my way back from the bathroom I woke your dad up to tell him my water broke, it was a cruel joke. At 37 weeks pregnant it could potentially happen at any moment so yes it was a cruel joke. He woke up and asked if I was sure and I told him no I was only playing, but since he was up did he mind switching spots in the bed with me since I could no longer sleep. Maybe on his side I could drift back off to bed. Being the wonderful man he is, he got up and moved to the other side of the bed. I jumped back into bed on his side and snuggled under the covers and drifted back off to sleep.

At 6:30 in the morning I woke back up thinking I needed to waddle to the bathroom again, and that is when I woke your dad up for the second time that morning to let him know my water had indeed broke and that yes it broke on his side the bed. He was a little more hesitant to believe me this time. But he eventually got the picture that I was serious this time and with that my girl we were headed to the hospital.

We arrived about 7:30am where the nurse confirmed my water had indeed broke and then we started calling everyone we knew. We were thrilled and could not wait to meet you. You on the other hand were not quite as anxious to meet us. Other than my water breaking, I had no other signs of labor. And you let us all know that day that no one, not even pitocin was going to rush you.

At 11:00 that night after a few hours of labor and a couple of scares with your dipping heartbeat, Dr. Benton decided it was time for you to come out and meet your parents. And so we were off to the surgical suite and you would be arriving by c-section. At that point I did not care how you got here I just wanted to hold you in my arms. I honestly was more than a little scared once I knew I needed surgery and I did try to get out of the bed and head home. But your nanny and dad were in the room with me to hold me down and rationalize with me and before you knew it, your dad and I were off.

At 12:03am we welcomed you into the world. At that very minute, I heard the sweetest sound in the world…. you screaming. I remember asking your dad if that was you and it was….and then I asked if you were still a girl and you were. Tears started flowing as I listened to your cry, I was so happy. The neonatologist let me know that your lungs were in great shape with those screams and that you were perfect. You truly were. I had never been more in love with anyone in my whole life.

In the two short years you have been in this world you have amazed me with how much you have grown and learned. You have taught me so much….so much about motherhood, so much about myself and so much about life. You will never realize the lessons you have taught me so early on in your life and I thank you.

I love you so much and I want you to know that you mean so much to me. I love being your mommy. Happy birthday baby girl, I will continue to cherish each day with you. I look forward to watching you grow and achieve all of your dreams, reach for the stars you deserve them.

Love,
Mom