The First Birthday

This weekend, we celebrated a milestone.  My sweet baby girl is no longer a baby.  She has morphed into a toddler and turned one whole year old.  In the days leading up to the celebration of her birth, I remembered where we were and what we were doing last year. 
Last year on the morning of August 14, I looked like this:

(Yes, I think that was the last shirt I owned that covered my belly.)

I wrote about the last appointment and I also wrote about the labor.

All day on Saturday, Sydney's actual birthday, I was thinking about where we were.  My labor went so fast that by the time we were ready for her party, we had missed the actual time she was born.
We had just our immediate family over, even though I would have loved to have a big party for her, we only have about 900 sq ft in our condo so less is definitely enough.  We crammed 17 adults plus a rambunctious toddler into the lower level and watched her put on a show. 
First, we played outside for a little while before everyone came over to celebrate.

When our guests arrived, she posed for everyone.

Then, we had cake and ice cream.


Next, we opened presents.

And admired outfits.

On Sunday, we spend the day at my parent's house.  A friend from high school came to take pictures of Sydney.  Sydney was a sweetheart the whole time and Jenny takes some amazing pictures.  The one picture I did see from yesterday is awesome.  So awesome that I was speechless when I saw it.  (Yes, Dad, I had no words!)
We also had her 12 month check up today and she is doing great. 29 inches tall, 20 lb 4.5 oz heavy, and the Doc gave us two thumbs up.
My baby girl is growing up.  I'm a little sad and a lot excited.

So Many Things

Sorry NaBloPoMo. I failed.... I didn't attempt to, but I got sick and baby caught a cold so I just couldn't do it. There's always next year...right?

Now that baby is almost three months old, there are a few things that I'm still quite puzzled about. Why don't they tell you that after you are done being pregnant, you body does even crazier things than it did while you were preggo? I can handle the leaky boobs and the night sweats, but seriously, what's with the gas? I didn't have any problems being pregnant. I had a very easy pregnancy, didn't get sick and stayed in relatively decent shape. Now that I'm 12 weeks out, I feel like my body is more out of wack now than it was before the birth. W.T.F?
And seriously, why doesn't anyone tell you about the guilt that comes along with even thinking about quitting breastfeeding. We are having no problems and I have no reason to quit, but a friend recently told me she had to due to low supply. I'm thoroughly jealous. Not because she had to quit, but because there is a different amount of freedom that comes along with formula. Formula = Freedom. No one tells you that you'll feel tied down, no one tells you that you'll feel guilty for pumping a bottle just so you can run to a doctor's appointment or to work. No one tells you just how much you'll miss the baby while you're gone. Maybe it's because every person is different. Or maybe people did tell me and I just didn't listen. Yeah, that's probably right. Note to self: Learn to listen better.
On the bright side:
I'd like to thank Frank for the awesome health insurance. It seems that the birth of our baby cost us just under $700. Without insurance, it would have cost us close to $16,000. For you math geeks, that's about 96% savings. YAY for us!
Baby Update: Sydney has figured out how to stick her index finger and thumb in her mouth at the same time. Usually she chokes herself. Not funny, but I laugh anyway. I guess it will take her a while to figure out how to suck on her fingers with out choking. She has also figured out how to rub her eyes when she gets tired. Too.Freaking.Cute. I have yet to catch her in the act with camera ready, so no pics.Yet.

This is serious. Grateful.

As I read some of the blogs I’ve come to follow regularly, it has occurred to me that I have a lot to be grateful for. For example, Matt Logelin lost his wife shortly after the birth of their daughter, the Spohrs lost Madeline, and countless others lost a portion of their family unexpectedly.
I started my blog shortly before my daughter was born. At the time it was just for fun, now, just a few months later, it has become a little outlet for me and a way for family and friends to keep up with us even if I don't post as much as I'd like to.
I have seen friends lose their idea of birth and end up with a new plan due to high blood pressure or other pregnancy related issues. I have seen people on bed rest in the hospital for months to keep their twins as inside babies and not become outside babies all too soon. I have also recently seen a friend find out that she carries the breast cancer gene. The gene of the disease that took her mother from her way too soon.
Now, as I read the blogs of others and see what some of my family and friends go through in life, I realize just how lucky I am to have had a normal full term pregnancy, a fast delivery, a healthy baby and family and a speedy recovery. I am grateful that my Mom was able to come help me multiple times a week while I was on maternity leave. I am grateful my husband is as awesome as he is. I am grateful to have found such an awesome daycare where the baby gets to do art projects already. I am grateful my job allows me to work 4 days a week so I can spend Friday's at home with my baby. I am grateful that I got to hold her while she slept for 3 hours today. I am grateful we have a warm place to live, food in our pantry and fridge, and a little extra cash to spend once in a while. There is so much more I am grateful for that can't even begin to list.
I’m so grateful!