Isabella Turns One!

Today, my sweet baby girl turns one. 

Hard to believe that just one year ago, I checked myself into L&D so that I could have my c-section at 1:00pm. Last year at this very minute, 9:31am, I had such bad butterflies in my empty stomach. I hadn't eaten anything in over nine hours. I hadn't had anything to drink in over nine hours. I was hungry, thirsty, anxious, and jittery. The nerves can get the best of you as you await what will forever change your life, your world. At this time a year ago, I sat at home with my feet up watching the clock. I anxiously awaited that clock changing to 10:00am, when we would load up the car and head to the hospital. 

A year ago today, I cried on my way to the hospital. Some of those tears were fear and nervousness. I was afraid of surgery. I didn't know how much pain I would be in, how sick I would be. I had heard stories from other women and I didn't know what to expect. Hubby comforted me and reminded me of what awaited on the other side of the surgery. Yes, what awaited was sure to be a beautiful newborn girl, MY baby, the one I had dreamed of for so many years. Although that was supposed to be comforting, indeed, it made me cry more! I was emotionally fragile, with so many different emotions running through me. But, I maintained myself long enough to get through the main hospital doors, check myself in at the front desk, and head up to L&D. Hubby offered to "give me the full experience" and wheel me up there in a wheel chair as if I was in labor or something. Of course, I denied it. Nothing like a nine-month pregnant lady in a pretty dress walking around the hospital just mere hours before holding that sweet baby!


All of that was a year ago...seems like yesterday. A lot of it is still so clear in my mind. The first time I heard that sweet cry, the first time I looked at my sweet girl's beautiful face, the first time I held her in my arms, the first time I was able to breastfeed her, the first time her Daddy held her, kissed her, and let her steal his heart forever, the first time her Poppy held her, the first time I saw both of her grandmothers hold her, kiss her, cradle her rock her, and snuggle with her. It all seems like yesterday. It feels like that was mere hours ago and yet, it was not hours ago, not a day or a week ago, but 365 days ago. Yes, a year can seem so small in time.

We are getting ready for the birthday celebrations around here. This day has been so long awaited! When you try for so many years to conceive a child, that long awaited miracle baby is so welcome with open arms. And now that she turns one, everyone is so nurturing and excited along with us! There is something extra special about an infertile's child turning one. Yes, we infertile myrtles make beautiful babies and they are so extra special. We're celebrating with a very small group of family who could make it tonight and then the REAL party is on Saturday. Isabella's friends will be here along with her very special and very close family members. It's sure to be an exciting day for all of us! 

There was a long period of time when I almost thought a day like today, a 1st birthday celebration for your child, would ever be mine to experience. But indeed, the day has come to celebrate what the Good Lord has given me. He has given me a perfect, beautiful baby girl who no longer counts her age in mere months. She now has a full year of life in her. I am so thankful for and blessed by all that has been given to us in the past year. This child of mine is the biggest and grandest of blessings by far. She's made it through one year of milestones, changes, and adventures. Now, on to the next year!

So Much to Catch Up On!

My goodness, where do I even start? I've been such a slacker about blogging lately. With a baby on the go, it's been increasingly difficult to find the time to really sit down and catch up! I shall try to do it all at once. I'll put pictures and videos on here, too, to show all the fun times we are having.

Isabella is almost a year old already. Time sure has gone by so quickly. In a little less than two weeks, I will have a one year old. That seems to strange to say. My little baby is no longer a baby. She is very much a little girl. I treasure everything about her, even the past month of sleepless nights and not handling teething well. It all goes with the package and I wouldn't want it any other way. Those are the things that make up who she is. 

So let's see, Isabella is fully crawling now. She gets around pretty quickly. If you don't keep your eyes on her, she's across the room in no time. She pulls herself up on anything and everything she can find and is wanting to walk on her own, but she's still too wobbly in the knees. But that will come soon. I think that by the end of the summer, she will be walking. Hubby thinks she'll be walking by her birthday, but that gives her two weeks to not only take her first steps, but get beyond her sea legs. I'm not so sure about that. But I guess we'll see!

We have lots of teeth. She now has 6 teeth. Her gums are all swollen by her cuspids and molars, so we'll see what comes in next. She only has two bottom teeth, though. Her top middle two teeth just came in during June and are still dropping into position. They have caused her so much discomfort. I feel so bad for my baby. She really doesn't cut teeth well at all. But with all these teeth, she has been eating more and more yummy foods. Breakfast is such a challenge. I can't seem to find anything this child wants to eat for breakfast besides dry cheerios and watermelon. Strange combination, but that's what she likes. We're going to try scrambled eggs with sausage mixed in and see where we get with that. 

You would think the teeth would deter me, but I am still breastfeeding. It's a challenge to breastfeed a one year old, her attention is getting worse. But when she really wants to nurse, she lets me know. She often times doesn't like to nurse when her daddy is around unless it's the middle of the night. She nurses so much better when it is quiet and it's just the two of us. I guess it's all par for the course. She is showing no signs of wanting to wean, just signs of wanting to nurse in different positions and different times of the day. My goal is to get to 18 months and be fully weaned by then. That means that by the end of January, I want to have a fully weaned child. I guess if she weans herself by then, it's not going to be as difficult as if I have to wean her. So we'll see how things go. 

She went to Kentucky to visit her Great Grandma and Great Grandpa. I took some videos of them together. All of my grandparents are deceased, but thankfully, my husband still has his mom's parents. They are wonderful, especially with little babies. Isabella will cherish the videos when she is older. They are a wonderful way to capture the moment. With the distance between New Jersey and Kentucky, we won't get out there again until November. So it was definitely a nice trip. She was smitten with her Great Grandpa, but who wouldn't be! 

Isabella is a beach lover. We've been to the beach three times now (gotta love living an hour and a half from the beach!) and although she was unsure of it the first time, she loves it now. She tries her best to eat sand and even though she spits out that first handful, she always goes back for more. She loves to roll around in the sand. She also has come to love her toes being in the water. She was unsure of it the first time went to the ocean. But now, she loves it. Next year will be even more fun! 

There's not much else going on. We're planning a first birthday party with lots of friends and family over to celebrate the first year of this little miracle baby. It took a lot of work and prayer to conceive her and so this celebration is an extra special one. She is my blessing and we will celebrate it fully. 

Sorry it has taken me this long to make this post, I just had so much to catch up on! Here are some pictures to enjoy.