Mother of all days

Today my little peanut turns one.

It's been the fastest year of my life, due in part, I believe, to the fact that I was semi-conscious most of the time. I woke up around January this year. It's been a blast ever since.

The first few months were really tough. I loved him instantly, yet couldn't shake the feeling that he was a new visitor. A visitor that was here temporarily, that he might leave if things didn't go well. I wonder sometimes if I would have felt he was more permanent if I hadn't had an emergency c-section. If I'd had to endure the pushing and
waiting, if there had just been more time, would his arrival had felt more permanent? Instead, in a matter of moments, before I was fully dilated or even "bored" of a long labor, he arrived. I didn't see him coming, until he arrived.

And when he was officially here, suctioned, nose and mouth de-goo'ed, squeezed and made to cry, I cried too. The trembling and fearful anticipation during the three-minute surgery lessened. I didn't actually stop shaking until 30 minutes later. But it lessened, and as I heard that most beautiful sound of a live, lively, angry-about-being-ejected baby, I laughed and cried. He was fine! Later, found out he'd been blue in the face and the cord was wrapped neatly around his neck.

But for the time being, he was here, I was a mom, and Ben was a dad.

I'll always celebrate this day. I'm thinking about buying myself a dozen roses on the way home. Yes, I believe I will.

Happy birthday, little sweetie!!

Love, Mommy

April 2, 2006

 

This time last year

I walked and walked, for literally miles, hoping to go into labor during the final week.

This time last year

I redecorated the guest bathroom, choosing sunnier happier colors than I'd previously imagined. I still love the beachy look of our crate & barrel bathroom

This time last year

I folded small clothing and worried about the right baskets to organize the changing table

This time last yaer

I actually turned on the sewing machine and made changing table pad covers (qty 3)

This time last year

I was excited to be induced, excited thankful that this period of time that this blessed freedom would finally end

This time last year

I told my neighbor I would be induced and later she told me she knew I would end of having a c-section. Wish I would have known

This time last year

I laughed and laughed when the obstetrician broke my water, because now I knew what it felt like, not those other times. How anyone misjudges that, I do not know.

This time last year

I didn't know how much I'd love the little person. Or that it would take me six months to really start to enjoy him.

Sippy Cups ARE For Chardonnay

HI Stefanie, long-time lurker, first-time poster. Or maybe second - I've read your blog almost since I began reading blogs...so that's about nine months now. It coincides with the time I came back to work and cursed my miserable existence each day while pumping in my closet-like office, only to endure the grandest humilation when our CEO walked in my office without knocking.

So - dear blogosphere friend, you were lucky you didn't continue breastfeeding.

I'm responding to your post about the crazy person who used Amazon.com as her personal soapbox. What amazes me is that women continue to lash out at each other like this sad reviewer. How incredible that she has the time and focus to write and edit a review. Just out of curiousity, what was her brilliant 43-month-old doing while she wrote that? Or if she posted the review late at night, why didn't she go to bed so she could wake up a little cheerier in the morning? Truly, I believe the reason reality TV is so popular is because we can enjoy schadenfreude...watching the pain of others...and that lust for a little pain to help ourselves feel better. It's getting out of hand - and I agree with an earlier comment that knocking each other down is not helping post-partum depression in this country.

Unlike what's-her-name, I'm not going to assume all webspace is my personal pulpit. The Bottom Line: we're all doing the best we can, and I admire you immensely for: 1) writing a book about something so personal; 2) having the poise and presence of mind to go on the Today Show -twice- and making us all laugh; 3) being as open as you are about the realities of life as a mom; 4) just being a super-cool person in general.

I'm so sorry she wrote those things...big, big hug from over here in Chicago...she's just jealous of your fame and good looks.