DECEMBER 8, 2009:
6:00am- 1cm dilated. Pitocin started
6:10am- in tears already from the contractions. Contemplating clamping my own pitocin drip tubing, and begging your daddy to take the pain away.
6:45 am- turning slightly psychotic from the pain. Your daddy came over onto the bed and in between mommy's "bad" words, we held hands and prayed together. :)
8:00am- FINALLY relief by epidural. I was returning to a normal person
8:30am- Dr. Howell broke my water and I was 8cm dilated.
10:30 am- 10cm and started pushing
12:33pm- you (the most beautiful, sweetest little girl) was born with such a soft, sweet cry
12:33pm on December 8th 2009- present: THE BEST YEAR OF OUR LIVES.
Why in the world God thought I deserved something as wonderful as you, is beyond my wildest dreams!! However, I'm going to do my best to show him that I deserve you!! I pray daily over you. I pray that I raise you where you know who created you and who made you so perfectly. I pray that you grow to know him and serve him. I pray all of your dreams come true and that I raise you to know that you can become anything you want to be with hard work and the support of your parents and God. I pray over your health for your lifetime. I pray over your happiness, and your safety. I can't seem to pray enough over you. I want the world for you. I want to see you smile daily. I want you to know that even your darkest days that there's always a light and I want to teach you to always find it.
You are everything and more I thought a child would be. Your first year on this earth, in some aspects makes me feel like it's mine. You make me enjoy the simple things. You make me love the things you love (which aren't complicated!). You make me see things in a completely different light than I feel I've seen in decades!! You are beautiful and sweet, but you are already strong and stubborn! :) You laugh at cartoons, but study even a plain piece of paper. You are full of energy, but LOVE a good nap on mommy or daddy's chest. I just can't say enough about you.
I've decided to include in this post, your daddy and I's favorite memories of your first year and then after that pictures of most of your "firsts" during your first year so here we go....
*We brought you home from the hospital and I was shaking the whole way home wondering how in the world I was able to take care of you...I was terrified!
*The whole first night, I stayed awake and watched your sleep (hindsight is 20/20) but I was terrified of the whole baby can stop breathing thing.. (you slept so good!!)
*The second night at home you screamed the whole night!! I was on the phone with your aunt at 11:30 at night wondering if it was too early to initiate the "paci" idea. Daddy then came and while I cried (i'm sure from exhaustion) on the couch, he "jogged" with you from one side of the house to the other (over and over and over again) to finally get you to sleep! (it's funny now...)
*The first night we put you in your crib to sleep. You were 7 weeks old, and I had the monitor turned up so high, i could hear you breathe and every noise you made, I sat straight up in bed..
*Your first belly giggle- oh my gosh it was so cute. I was squeeling and I told Josh I wished we would have had the video camera and he said, "not for her, but I wish I had that stupid little dance you just did on it!"
*The first time you pooped in the bathtub. I couldn't even get you out of the tub b/c I was right beside you with my head in the toilet vomiting!!
*The first time you said "bye" and waved your hand. It was to me when I was leaving for work one morning, and I just cried my whole way there! It was sooo sweet!!
*Watching you learn to sit up, crawl, pull up, walk....every one of those mountains you climbed, it was such an experience watching you figure it out!!
*The first time you ate a whole dinner meal and didn't need my help at all. You ate all finger foods and drank from your sippy all by yourself...I was proud for you, but sad for me!!
*Watching you take your first steps not holding on to anything. The happiness, excitement on your face, put 10 times over on mine!! We were sooooo proud of you!! You're getting so big!
Now on to the pictures:
(our first picture of you!)
(the first time I held you and we were in awe...)
(our first family portrait...you were 1 day old)
(your first full day at home)
(your first Christmas)
the first day in your bumbo seat!)
(it's crooked, but your first bite of cereal...)
(learning to sit up all by yourself...)
(your first swim experience.)
(your first 4th of July and 1st time in a swing!)
(1st vacation- Chicago!)
(1st day of crawling!! )
(1st time on a boat on the river!)
(1st haircut!)
(1st time you went to the park!)
(1st time you and Walker became friends.. :) )
(baby dedication day!)
(first trip to the pumpkin patch!)
(1st Halloween!)
(1st spaghetti experience!)
(1st night walking by yourself!)
(1st birthday party!!)
(MY FIRST BIRTHDAY!!)
HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY JAYCEE ANABELLE SPRINGER!!! You are such an answered prayer and you are turning into such a beautiful little girl with a heart of gold!!! I can't wait to watch you grow and learn in this next year!! It's beyond my wildest thoughts, but I know it's only going to get better!! Mommy and Daddy love you to the moon and back!
