Three years ago...

Three years ago, our daughter Liliana Grace was born. 

I had been having contractions on and off for two months and was so miserably huge I could barely move.  My hips had separated, causing me to go to physical therapy, stretch marks covered my entire body, and I would lay on the couch for hours and stare off into space and cry because I so desperately wanted her to GET OUT NOW!!!

The night she was born was the Christmas City of the North parade in Duluth- my absolute favorite event ever.  Since I had been having so many early contractions, I was certain that I'd be bringing a newborn out to the parade and had been strategizing ways to keep her warm but still be able to attend.  Liliana solved that for herself by waiting until a few hours after the parade to start labor.  She had a nice warm seat for the parade and still got to enjoy the music.  :-P


My mom has this insane intuition about me.  Our family was supposed to be coming up for Thanksgiving, which was when Liliana was actually due.  But she called that morning and said, "I just feel like coming up tonight.  I'd like to see that parade you keep telling me about and just feel like I should come."  I told her it was a waste of time.  She'd be driving 6 hours round-trip and turning around and making the same trip in a couple of days.  But she insisted.  I have no idea how she knew, when I had been thinking for 2 months that each day would be the day and was always wrong.  She amazes me, and I'm so glad she was there.

When we got to the hospital, I was dilated to about a 3.  We sat there for 15 minutes or so debating on whether they should drug me now or not.  Their concern was that if I was only at a 3, it might run out before I was complete and they wouldn't be able to redose.  I kept insisting that it wasn't going to take long and they just kind of looked at me like "yeah...right.  Wishful thinking."  So after the 15 minutes, I convinced them to go for it....and they checked, and I was already at an 8 and it was too late for drugs.  She was born shortly after.  She came into this world fast and intense and has pretty much lived life the same since.

I see so many of my best and worst traits in Liliana.  She's playful and dramatic.  Fiercely independent.  Dynamic and engaging.   A force to be reckoned with.  She is an emotional mess and wears her heart on her sleeve.  If she sets her mind on something, it's a done deal.  She can be absolutely adorable and mindblowingly frustrating at the same time.  She exudes passion.  She's opinionated about everything and always thinks she's right.  She's amazing and infuriating...and I love that about her.  I think her spunkiness and spirit is wonderful and I wouldn't change a thing about her...even if it means having to be on my toes constantly.

I'm so thankful for the three months of maternity leave I had and for being able to bring her with me to work when I returned; for the two years of doing daycare and this year of being home with her.  I've been able to watch every little milestone and moment of her childhood thus far.  A lot of days I feel like I'd rather be anywhere than stuck at home...but deep down, I know this is exactly where I should be right now, spending time with my little princess.

 

Happy 3rd Birthday, dear sweet Liliana.  Mommy loves you so very, very much!  I delight in your enthusiasm and zest for life.  You are a precious gift to our family, and we thank God every day for blessing us with you.