This weekend we celebrated Ava's first birthday with family and friends. I can't believe my little baby is now one! On Thursday, her birthday, I told Ava her birth story, which is something my mom has always done on my birthday.
The morning of September 8th, I woke up and something just didn't feel right. The night before I had thought that my water possibly broke, but it wasn't this "gush" that I had been told would occur. I called the doctor and she said it was probably just Ava pushing hard against my bladder. Mat was about to head to work, and I decided to walk the loop around our house. As I was walking, I sang to Ava "You Are My Sunshine" and talked to her, wondering if this would be the day that she would arrive into the world. When I got home I started to feel some contractions but nothing consistent. I remember sitting in our living room watching episode after episode of Friday Night Lights, my watch on the table, pen in hand.... counting the time between each contraction. When they became a little more consistent, around every 10 minutes, I started to become nervous. I remember my mom calling and I immediately bust into tears. I was scared, excited, and unsure all at the same time. Again, called the doctor and she said that she didn't think I was really in labor and if the contractions became closer, to call back. Around 12 I decided to stop sitting around and get out of the house. I still felt as though something wasn't right and thought that my water was slowly leaking. I went to Old Navy, got one last ice cream, and did a little shopping. I decided to call the doctor one more time before heading home, just in case she thought I should come in. When I called her and explained that I thought something wasn't right, she told me to head up to labor and delivery to get things checked out. I cried when I got off the phone. I was feeling so many emotions! I called Mat, and he met me there. The same intern that had checked me out a week before( because I thought once again that my water had broken) came in the room and clearly remembered us. He said "You're back!" He checked things out and came back with the doctor and told us "Are you ready to have this baby?!" I was already 5 cm dilated! Mat and I were in shock. We quickly called our parents and told them the news. My mom was on her way :) It was around 4 and they decided to give me pitocen to jump start the process. Their concern was that if my water did break the night before, there is only so long you should wait after to have the baby. Mat and I headed to our room; a gorgeous corner room overlooking UVM. It was around 5 when they gave me the pitocin. My mom arrived around 6 or so. We did some laps around the hospital wing and waited. I didn't start feeling heavy contractions until 7. At 8 or so I went in the bathtub, and by that point the contractions were getting stronger. I looked at Mat and said that I wanted an epidural. Our Nurse, Sheena, was amazing and made us both feel so comfortable. At 9 or so I got the epidural and our doctor, Julie Wade, came in. She was expecting me to maybe give birth around 2 am or so. She checked me out, and boy was she wrong. Ava was ready to come out. I started pushing around 9:30, and my last push was at 10:42. Our beautiful baby girl was born at 10:43. She was so tiny and so perfect. I just looked into her eyes and she looked right back at me. I immediately felt this connection and love for her. I already loved her so much. That night I stayed up the entire night. Mat and I ordered dinner around 1 AM or so, and I just held Ava all night long. We were soooo in love. We had a hard 8 days in the hospital because of her Jaundice, but on the 8th day we were ready to leave with our healthy, beautiful baby. Some of my most vivid memories of Ava's first days were those that we spent in the hospital getting to know our baby girl.
So I told Ava her birth story, a little abbreviated :) I had to laugh, because as I was telling her I said "Something was just not right. Mommy called the doctor." As soon as I said this, Ava put her little pointer finger up and started shaking it in the air.....ahhh I thought..... She is doing the motions from the song, "5 little monkeys jumping on the bed. Mommy called the doctor and the doctor said." :)
It has been 12 amazing months Ava and you continue to amaze us. You are such a smart, beautiful, insightful little girl who has such a caring heart already. We love you so much. Happy 1st birthday!
Love Always,
Mommy and Daddy.
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