Happy Birthday Princess Elizabeth

I can't believe how fast this first year flew by. It seems like yesterday we were bringing a tiny helpless sleeping baby into the world and now 1 year later she is talking, walking, and full of energy. I woke this morning at 6:30 to the sound of Elizabeth talking to herself in her crib...she never gets up that early anymore , so I guess she knew it was her special day and she was excited!!

Anyway I got up to use the restroom and got to thinking...at the exact time that I am peeing this year...my water was breaking 1 year ago, I thought that was very funny :) That one thought brought back so many wonderful memories from that day, I still remember it like it was yesterday and I am sure I always will.

The real labor started at 10 pm on Monday the 24th...I thought to myself here we go again...more false labor. The contractions were coming every 5 minutes and I was trying to get some sleep because I was to be induced in the morning, but I could not get comfy...no matter what I tired they were still coming on strong so I got up and sat on my stability ball and watched t.v. My sister was on her way to my house so she could help me through the induction because she was induced just 4 months before and knew the pain I would be in, so I decided to try and wait up for her. At midnight she called to say she was an hour away...I was still having contractions but they were every 4 minutes in stead of every 5 now so I woke John up and started to cry to him...I was so upset I told him I was still having contractions one after another and that some of them felt like they were 2 minutes long. I wanted to go to the hospital and get DRUGS!! I wanted them to give me sleeping pills so that I could get some rest before the induction, because this fake labor was tough I needed my rest for the real thing. I begged him and begged him and he finally agreed to let me call the hospital to see what they wanted me to do.

They of course said to come in right away after I told them that I have been having contractions for hours. My sister arrived at my house at 1 am and we loaded up the car and took off for the hospital that was 45 minutes away. I thought the ride there was going to be horrible because right before we left the contractions started coming every 3 minutes (why I still thought it was false labor...is beyond me, who knows what I was thinking) anyway we got in the car and started driving and my contractions slowed to every 6 minutes and I was pissed...I thought I was still in false labor. We arrive at the hospital and get weighted in a all that good stuff. they come and check me and the nurse ask:

Nurse:" have you bee checked before?"
Me: "Yes"
Nurse: "what were you then?"
Me: "ONLY 1 CM"
Nurse: "when were you last checked"
Me: "YESTERDAY"
Nurse: "Oh well congrats honey your in labor...you are now 4cm"
Me: "whoo, whoo"

I was so loud when I screamed that my sister heard me from in the hallway :)

The nurses then asked me if I wanted any drugs and I turned them down...my sister and husband laughed at me because that was the reason I wanted to come...to get drugs. We decided to walk the hallways and a few hours later I decided to let them check me again...I was now 7.5 cm dilated and my water bag was budging...they told me it was about to break any minute and said now would be the perfect time to get my epi. I declined at first but went ahead and got it, because I wanted to enjoy the rest of my labor and the actual birthing part. It was HEAVEN

once I got it but it slowed down my labor because when my doctor came back at 6:30am to check me I was still 7.5cm and my water broke when she tried to check me, so she said to speed it up I will be given some pitocin...which was fine, I didn't feel a thing because my epi was so great!! At 9 am I was dilated 9 cm so they said they would call my doctor back in we got everything set up and at 9:40 I started to push...at 10:08 my little princess was born 7 lbs 3.2 oz and 19 3/4 inches. She was perfect!!
And here we are 1 year later...she is still perfect. She is also so smart!! I will tell her "do you want to take a bath" and she starts heading for the bath tub saying "bah, bah" or I will say "go get mommy a book" and she will head off to find her favorite book saying "bou, bou". She also knows now when I ask "do you want to go outside" that she needs to find her shoes and head for the door...it is way to cute :)

Happy Birthday Miss Elizabeth Ashley...my precious princess!!