Not So Long Ago
I remember it like it was yesterday still. It was 11pm on a Saturday night, January 22nd. Your father was sound asleep and I was watching TV. I had a terrible time sleeping because it was 6 days after your due date. The house was dark and quiet except for the light of the television.
Suddenly I felt a “pop” like a balloon bursting and I knew that I needed to wake your Dad up - that it was finally time to meet you. Your Dad was smart enough to believe me this time when I told him we needed to go. The nurses at the hospital told me when I called to take my time but your brother had arrived so quickly I knew better than to wait. WE had a long drive and I didn’t want to waste a minute.
You were ready to meet us too. Your Dad was scared enough at how fast things were progressing that he broke land speed records and got us to the hospital in 23 minutes (it is normally a 35 minute drive on a good day). They checked us in, brought us up to our room and we saw the doctor shortly after we got there. She told us we had a lot of time, to settle in and walk the halls because we wouldn’t see you until late morning. She told us she was going home to catch a nap and might see us later or might not as her on call shift ended at 7am.
Daddy and I made it up and down the hall once - that was all I could take. When the nurse checked to see how things were going your progress had tripled in 20 minutes. You were ready, I was more than ready but the doctor was in her car on her way home. They paged her back to the hospital - brought up an emergency room doctor, that had never delivered a baby before, for back up - and told us to try and hold off until the doctor was back. You did not want to wait and neither did Mommy but we did our best and the doctor walked in at the last possible second she could have without missing everything.
She let Mommy do what she needed to do to help you arrive and then suddenly they yelled “Stop!” and it was tough but Mommy did. The whole room was still and quiet as could be and it felt eery after so much noise and activity. Then the doctor told Mommy to go back to work and just like that there you were. You let out quite a shriek and it was the most beautiful sound. Mommy found out later that you came into the world with a cord around your neck but since we were fast and the doctor was fast everything turned out perfect - just like you.
You were beautiful! You had a full head of the blackest hair. It was all the way to the bottom of your neck - what little neck you had 
You were 8 pounds 2 ounces and 21 inches long - what a big girl you were. You had the sweetest, roundest little cheeks and once you were with me I couldn’t let you go. My first baby girl.
And now 6 years have passed. 6 years! How you’ve grown! How much you impress me each and every day. You are not only beautiful but so smart and creative too. You ask a million questions that I do my best to answer, and they are always followed by a million more. I love your curiosity and I love your confidence. You know how capable you are at so many things and you’re never afraid to try. Your artistic creations know no limits - they grow by leaps and bounds with your uninhibited imagination.
Happy birthday my darling Olivia! I love you so much and am so very proud of you. I am honored to have been your Mommy for 6 years so far - you are my star
By
Aimz, January 23, 2006 @ 3:24 pm
Gosh she has got a lot of hair for a baby but she’s such a cutie!
By
mrs. diamond, January 23, 2006 @ 5:00 pm
Happy birthday sweetie! What an angel…
My last baby’s doctor never made it to his birth either. My second baby had the cord around her neck also. It’s always such a relief to just finally hold them in our arms!
By
Snapper, January 24, 2006 @ 6:30 am
Awww!
Happy Birthday Olivia!
Happy Day Mom!
By
Eyes for Lies, January 24, 2006 @ 11:41 am
What a lovely piece in celebration of your daughter
By
cassie-b, January 24, 2006 @ 12:08 pm
Happy birthday Olivia.
What a beautiful post!
By
Theresa, January 25, 2006 @ 10:39 am
She’s beautiful! Happy Birthday honey!