One of Those Days

I think I am having one of those days. You know, the type of day that is full of tearful emotion. From every time Claire smiles at me or babbles, to the lady delivering her baby on TLC's "Baby Story" - I feel all these emotions running through my body and tears start to flow. I still blame it on postpartum hormones or the fact I should get my period any day now.

I am just so thankful for the little miracle God blessed Eric and I with. Claire has made me a better person (a little more of a worrier) and wife. I feel like every day is a new adventure because she's growing and changing. I do love the fact that I barely see the changes, it's so gradually to Eric and I but everyone else notices them often. I think if I saw her changing like others do, I would be more of a basket-case. Instead I look forward to her changing, growing, and all the fun that comes with it. It's still hard for me to believe that she is coming up on 8 months old. 8 months ago, she was comfortable and warm inside of my womb, kicking away day and  night. Now she is babbling, sitting up all by herself, pulling herself to a standing position, eating solids like a champ, has two bottom teeth, rolls all over the place, and loves laughing.

I also had one of those moments today, where I stop in my tracks and thought, "I have a baby and she is all mine." I love when I have those moments, it makes me smile. It's hard to remember a time without Claire. My life has been full of action since the moment she entered the world. I can truly and honestly say, that my life is a thousand times better because Claire is here. The air in our house is full of life and love. I can't imagine my life without Claire, she has added so much to our family. A family of 3 is way better then a married couple of 2!

Hormones...

As I set here typing, I still can't believe I gave birth 4 months ago. Just to think a year ago today, I was pregnant and didn't even know it! The day I found out, I was over 4 weeks pregnant but I remember thinking, "I'm due in July, July...that is SO far away!" Now July has come and gone! I am amazed how fast 4 months went. I wish I could relive the whole labor and delivery part all over again. I get so emotional every time I think about giving birth or I see pictures/hear stories of friends/family members who have babies. Sometimes I will ask Eric to tell me everything he witness from his prospective as I was in labor. All the details of that day are so clear in my mind and I hope they always will be. I love to sit and talk about the whole process, it was so special and yet so short. I have told a few people, that I hope my next labor is longer. I know, I know...you think I'm crazy, right? Let me explain: I went in Thursday night with contractions and 5 cm dilated. 8:30 the next morning, I was 5-6 cm dilated when the doctor broke my water. I was 7 cm around 9:00am. I hit transition labor around 9:10, where I was 7-8 cm dilated. At 9:15, I felt the urge to push and the nurse check and I was at 10 (which means it's show time). At 9:39am Claire came in to the world. Everything happened SO fast that I feel like I missed all the excitement of the labor process. Next time I want to experience the excitement of the gradual intensity of contractions, the excitement when I am checked and I dilated another cm. Don't get me wrong, I am so thankful for the amazing, healthy, natural, and fast delivery that I did experience. I just get emotional but I guess that is understanding, it is an amazingly important moment, that changes your whole life in a matter of seconds. Plus, you get to see "your" baby, the one who has been kicking, hiccuping, and rolling inside of you for the past 9 months! Truthfully, I can't wait to do it again!