You had me at hello, little mama.

Where have I been? In shock. I have a ONE year old! Not an infant, a toddler. A single digit. 1.
This has been such an amazing year.

Madeline,


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

We wished for a baby the day we were married and were blessed with you shortly after. June 10th was our first glimpse of the dot that was you and the flicker of your beautiful beating heart. That is the day we fell in love. It is amazing how this can fill your heart with love......

Being pregnant was wonderful. Sure there were aches and pains....but then there were kicks and hiccups, reminders of the beautiful life inside me that made it all worth it. We looked forward to feeling you move so much...it did take Daddy a while to feel the kicks, elbows and hiccups though! But, every night we would lay and watch my belly move.such an amazing sight. Oh, before that, I should mention, crazy Mommy bought a fetal doppler so we could hear your heartbeat several times each day. And belly memories.....

 You were a spider on your 1st Halloween ;)

and our present at Christmas......

It feels like yesterday, with Daddy, Josh, Me-mom and Nan, enjoying a delicious meal at Buca di beppo, snow was coming down hard and we were trying to imagine what it would be like to meet this little girl in the morning.

The snow continued to fall and when we got up in the morning there was a winter wonderland of 16 inches outside! Daddy went in to wake Joshua and he was nowhere to be found. He looked outside and there was your brother, shoveling the snow so we could make our way to the hospital...to meet you!

My surgery anxiety quickly disappeared because for one, we had a video camera that occupied me for a majority of the time and two, Nan and Me-mom were so giddy when we picked them up that I couldn't help but giggle with them.

Everything after that felt like an eternity, until I was walking into the operating room with the Dr.

After I was prepped for your arrival, Daddy was able to come in and stay by my side....he tried to hide it, but I could tell he was nervous...an operating room isn't the most relaxing place. But, it soon became the most wonderful and only place we wanted to be when Dr. M held you up and we saw your beauty....an almost unexplainable feeling. That is why I am so glad we have it on video. You can hear the instant love and amazement  in our voices.

Wow. What an amazing moment. And surprisingly enough, Daddy was able to take pictures too.

 

Time stood still the first time I held you in my arms....

((not so flattering of my swollen face from all the IV fluid and for some reason I look toothless.haha!, but this was the first moment I held you, so I'll share anyway))

You had me at hello, little mama, that's what it comes down to. I have experienced what it is like to stay home and enjoy every second of your baby days. I have watched you grow into this adorable, fun personality that makes me laugh the day away. I enjoy our daily "conversations", the way you are truly interested in Good Morning America, impressed at the way you entertain yourself for hours with your toys, the affection you give when you lay your head on me and say "ahhhh", your amazement with the kitchen cabinets, your unconditional love makes me feel complete. I have done what I thought would never be possible and nursed you for a year. I have been in awe of how much joy you bring to everyone.
Your first year has been one of the best years of my life.
You have touched all of our lives, Madeline.












Unedited except for last one......