{1 Year Old}

A year? An entire year? Really??!! How did that happen. I've been doing quite a lot of reminiscing the past month week.. I never really imagined it would be so emotional to have my babygirl turn One! I honestly don't know where the time has gone. I feel like it was just yesterday I was staring into her sweet blue eyes for the very first time....

Is there a rewind button?

This month has been fun. H's personality is shining like never before. She's such a ham and loves to laugh and make others laugh. She's a huge show off and the life of the party. If you're watching, she's performing! Her favourite kids song is "Itsy Bitsy Spider".. I've yet to catch it on video but it's seriously the cutest, she lights up as soon as you start singing and she does the actions and everything! She's really into dancing and loves it when music plays - no matter what kind.

The damn tooth fairy won't leave us alone. We're at 9 teeth now. bottom 4, top 4 and her bottom R molar came in on Nov 6th. If I had to guess I would say that her bottom left will be through any day. She's definitely not her happy go lucky self at the moment! 

On Nov 1st she fiiiinally said "Mom" and then Nov 23rd she started to say "dada". Now it's "hi dad" every time she sees him. Totally precious. That puts our word count at 10 (mom/mama, dad/dada, hi, baba, ball, up, bath(bah), baby, Elmo and Ya)! She also says "meow" to the cat. She's really starting to "talk" to us more and is working hard at imitating what we say. She knows where her belly is and if you ask her she tries to lift her shirt up to show you and sticks it way out. 

On Nov 17th we got to see her first steps. I have never felt more proud in my life! I was squealing and giddy. She is definitely still a "crawler" though. She only walks if we force her to.. ie. let go of her hands so she has no choice. The most steps she's taken is 6 but she gets SO excited about it that half the time she just tries to run and falls down before she gets 3 steps in. My guess is that it'll be at least another month before we'll be calling her a walker. Either way, she's on the right track - and we're in no hurry! 

She currently weighs in at 22lbs 7oz and is only 29.25" tall. I'm not sure on the percentiles for that but I know she's a bit short which makes her look chubbier than she is. We have her 1 year well check on Tuesday so I'll make sure to update the percentiles at that time (not that it really matters, regardless). Dec 1st are her 1 year shots - I am NOT looking forward to that. 

H continues to be a really good eater though she is becoming pickier. I think now that she knows what she like BEST she sometimes won't eat other things until you assure her they're good. She loves meat, especially chicken. She still has 2-3 bottles a day (before naps and bed) but drinks from her sippy cup throughout the day. She's obsessed with juice - of any kind - but rarely gets it. 

When it comes to sleep.. it's hit or miss. She generally sleeps through the night but has been staying up much later talking away to herself in her crib these days. She still has 2 naps most days and we tried to cut that down to 1 to see if she'd sleep better but she's made it quite clear that she still NEEDS 2 naps a day. She's in 12-18mo clothing, size 4 diapers and size 3 shoes.

I don't ever want to forget the past 12 months. It's amazing how one little person can change your World as you know it... and just when you start to think things cant get much better - they do, daily! 

Happy 1st Birthday, H. Your Mumma Loves You xo

1 minute old

1 hour old 

1 day old 

1 week old

1 month old 

{365 Days Ago [Part 3]...}

After pushing for what felt like an eternity my contractions slowed down to about 8 minutes apart. I pushed like this for quite some time, sleeping and crying between contractions. I kept telling C I was going to die because I honestly thought I was going to.

Finally, when the realized the contractions weren't going to pick up again, they decided to put some oxytocin in my IV drip to get things moving - 10 minutes later, on November 26th, at 12:48am, Hadley Grace Foster was born. 

It felt like my pregnancy and labour had taken forever but as soon as she was placed on my chest, I couldn't even remember life without her. I cannot believe how quickly this past year has gone by and how much she has grown. She has taught me so much about myself, my relationships and what matters most in life. It's amazing how one tiny being can change you so much. 

I am beyond excited for the years to come.

Happy 1st Birthday, Babygirl, we love you more than you could ever imagine <3 

{365 days ago [Part 2]...}

I had a good nights sleep in the labour room from about 12-7 when my doctor arrived and did an internal exam/fluid test. She said I was 1cm dilated at this point and that yes, it was infact my water that was broken. I clarified that this meant I would not be leaving the hospital without a baby and she assured me that was the case. She told me that I had until 9am for my contractions to start again and if they didn't start on their own by that point, I would be induced. I phoned my mom and sister in the Okanagan and told them to get on the road.

It all began to sink in. I sent C to the car to get "the bag". I texted our parents, our friends, and updated FB (of course, Ha!). I had some breakfast, went for a walk, and grew more and more nervous by the second. At 9am I was still feeling great, still no contractions. I was hooked up to the machine, induced and monitored. It only took about 10 minutes after the induction for my contractions to start again and they started strong. About 3 minutes apart. After monitoring me for an hour to make sure H was handling the induction well, I was removed from all monitors and instructed to walk. I walked, and walked, and walked and walked. By 12 that afternoon I was still only 1cm, but my cervix had softened and the contractions were 2 minutes apart, lasting about a minute. I was beginning to get pretty uncomfortable but I was set on having a natural labour and delivery. By 330 I was 4cms and around 6pm I was 5cms. H was still not engaged and my full waters had not broken. The doctor broke the rest of my waters at about 9pm and I instantly went to 6cms and H dropped down to +3 station.

My mom and sister had arrived from the Okanagan shortly before they broke my waters and the room was full of pretty much everyone we loved. I don't think my water had been broken for more than 15 minutes and I was asking (or screaming and swearing) for an epidural. I was screaming, crying, and freaking out. I was given the gas which I'm still convinced never worked, but it didn't make any difference. Everyone was trying to talk me out of the epidural because that's what I told them to do, but I was losing my mind. The doctor kicked everyone (except C) out of the room and made sure that this was what I wanted. I assured her that I needed it or I would die (obviously, ha!) and so she called for the Anesthesiologist. In the time it took him to arrive I went from 6-10cms and when he walked in the door I was getting ready to push - it was already too late.

I started pushing just before 10pm and I'm fairly certain if I hadn't already woke up the entire hospital with my "crazy girl" screaming and crying, they were up now. I pushed and and pushed and pushed for what seemed like forever. When 12am rolled around, I was still pushing...

{365 days ago [Part 1]...}

I didn't write much while I was pregnant and that's a regret of mine (not one that keeps me up at night, but I just wish I had of recorded more of it is all) so here's a recap of what was happening November 24th, 2010 (it was a Wednesday).

I woke up in the morning and still felt horrible. I was going on day 3 or 4 of a cold and it was really beginning to kick my ass. I finished rearranged my living room, which I'd started with the help of my auntie a couple days prior. After that I did some laundry and while my auntie was finishing up moving furniture I sat on the nursery floor folding baby clothes. I had a shower, took a belly picture, ate some chocolates and lounged around wishing my Braxton Hicks would just go away and my back would stop hurting.. you know, the usual day in the life of a prego.

At about 12pm I was thinking that perhaps my Braxton Hicks contractions were in fact real and that perhaps I should start timing them. They seemed to be coming about every 11 minutes so I texted C and told him that when he got home from work we may have to go into the hospital. He said okay but I don't think he actually realized what I meant. I called my doctor at about 2 and told her of my back pain and my contractions and asked her if I should just wait until the next day when I had a doctors appointment with her. She said that it sounded like I was in labour and that I should go in to get checked. I instantly panicked. I hadn't packed a bag or anything. I slowly started getting things together while I waited for C to get home and puttered around the house doing last minute things. It was snowing pretty hard and the contractions were getting stronger so when C got home at about 5pm we left for the hospital pretty much right away.

When we got to the hospital I refused to bring anything in with me, I was 100% convinced I was about to become that girl. You know, the one that thinks she's in labour when she's not? Anyways, we went in, I was hooked up to monitors and sure enough, my contractions were about 6 minutes apart and consistent. They checked me and I wasn't even 1cm. Because it was snowing so hard they gave me the option of staying at the hospital or leaving and coming back when the contractions were closer together. We opted to leave and went to C's parents who live much closer then we do. I had some dinner (the only food I'd eaten all day aside from an entire box of chocolates), walked on the treadmill, bounced on an exercise ball, and relaxed a bit. At about 9pm my contractions were closer together (about 3minutes) and getting stronger. I went up stairs to have a pee and as I was walking up the stairs I felt a gush. I thought I had pee'd myself but then it happened again, and again. My water was leaking! We went back to the hospital shortly after that and we were admitted.

They kept testing my fluid to make sure it was my waters, and the test kept coming back negative. The nurses didn't understand why because they said there really was no other explanation for fluid pouring out of a pregnant woman. They said in the morning my doctor would come in and do a microscopic test and we would know for certain. In the meantime I was to try and get some sleep. Shortly after, at around 12am my contractions stopped...

{Wordless Wednesday - With a Few Special Words}

{Oh, What a Difference}

{Friday Night Leftovers - The "Rambling" Edition}

• So maybe this is like.. week(s) long leftovers? I just can't seem to get into it. I try.. I say I will.. then I don't. Maybe blogging isn't for me - or maybe I just need to take a break and not stress about it and just be happy with doing it when I do it?
• The most exciting news I have is that yesterday H took her first steps - 4, to be exact. Today? She refuses to stand. Ha, Babies!!
• It snowed last night - I hate the snow.
• Hadley turns 1 in a week and a day. I've been thinking about having another baby so much that if thoughts alone could make you pregnant there would be a whole herd in there. Seriously, I have the worst "baby fever" ever. It will pass, I know I want to wait, but for now I'm having a moment. I cannot believe how fast this year as gone by. Bittersweet... 
• I miss my besties and I wish they could all come home for Christmas.
• Speaking of Christmas - yay - it's almost December. Christmas is my FAV holiday and I am SO excited for it this year. 
• In fact, Christmas may actually be the only good thing about winter. Did I mention I hate winter? 
• Okay.. so there is 2 things good about winter... babies in dresses, tights and cardigans. SO CUTE! 
• Winter coats and carseats suck. 
• Oh, remember how I mentioned we were getting rid of the sucky? Remember how it didn't work? Guess what!? 4 days sucky free (except bedtime)!!! I know it doesn't count exaaaactly unless it's completely gone, but I'm okay with her having it at bedtime and I may just continue to allow that for awhile. 
• H has her 2nd molar coming in right now. I hate molars. Come to think of it, I kind of don't like the tooth fairy. Isn't there babies withOUT teeth that need them... you know those toothless weirdos who are walking around with their gummy smiles? Show them some love and leave my 9 toothed child ALONE. Please, I'm practically begging.
• My cat cleans up under the highchair.. haha. 
• Pinterest may aaactually be the death of me. I haven't been so addicted to something in a long time. Love. 
• Speaking of pinterest - a friend requested and invite and got "waitlisted".. wtf is that!? Probably for her own good though! 
• I refused to re-read this post because all the little red lines underlining everything mean that my spelling and grammar are atrocious. Today, I'm okay with that.. this is, after all, the "rambling" edition. 

To find some leftovers that don't hurt your eyes go here. 

{A Quick Reminisce}

I've spent the past 3 days - a couple hours at a time - going through pictures. I'm horrible at keeping up with pictures. I take them. I FB them so that my family and friends can see, and then I keep adding more and more and more without backing them up or deleting the ones that are blurry, or "bad". This is my vow to back them up every month from this point on, and to delete the "bad" ones as soon as I upload them off my camera so that I don't have to deal with this again.

Now, because this was such a boring post, here are some pictures I wouldn't normally post because they're just snapshots from here and there. Some are cell pictures, some are camera pictures but all are super cute!

{Trick-or-Treat}

This year was H's first Halloween! She didn't really understand what was going on and was a little bit unsure of everything. She enjoyed carrying her bucket and picking which treats she would like out of the bowls. She even got toys! Spoiled baby... Bedtime came early because Trick-or-Treating is tiring business.

Isn't she BEEautiful? Ha!