2 Years

Two years ago today, I was entering my second full day of laboring. Wednesday night had been a breeze. Slept like an uncomfortable pregnant woman in a hospital bed. But I'd been used to that. (Maybe not the hospital bed part, but those are just minor details.) Thursday, the pitocin started, but I never progressed past 1.5 cm dilation. Today, a sunny Friday morning, they would break my water and the fun would begin. An Epideral and 14 more hours of pitocin later, I met the on-call doctor for the first time. Dr. Nolan introduced herself to me in the same sentence that she said, "it's time for a c-section, Mom". The room had been full of panicked nurses, shifting me from side to side, tummy to back, trying to regulate Brooklyn's heart rate. Jackson had just left to fetch his dinner in a box from Pei Wei. My sister felt weak-headed and laid on the couch for a moment. Someone had to call Jackson to turn around and rush back to get suited up for the operating room. Yet, among the chaos and hurriedness, I had an odd sense of relief and calmness. I was just ready. Ready to be done trying to labor. Ready to meet my little girl. And so we did. At 9:11, she cried her first cry. But not for long. She was instantly alert and aware. It was odd how awake she was; not even crying during her first bath. She was everything we had prayed for. She was perfect. And two years later, I say the same. She's such a wonderful little girl.

Two years...730 days...such a small sliver of time, yet so much has happened.  She learned to crawl at 8 months; walk at 11 months; talking select words by one, and babbling sentences by two. She can count, she jumps off the ground (with both feet!). She dances and swims. Says cheese for pictures. Rocks her babies to sleep. Loves to play at the playground, cautiously manuevering her way around obstacles and down slides. She can't get enough time with her cousins, and her new-found bestie, Audrey. She's forming opinions about the clothes and shoes she wears. Loves everything girlie - pink toes, mommy's lotions, bows, dolls, and dress up. Her favorite color is a toss up between blue & yellow. Her favorite book is still Goodnight Moon, though there are numerous seconds, like the Little Blue Truck and the Big Red Barn.  Elmo outshines out any character she knows, eliciting giggles of joy and smiles every time. And what a sister. It's second nature to her to love and engage with her bubba. She'll pause her playtime to bring him toys and jump up & down to make him chuckle. He's one of the first words that comes out of her mouth in the mornings. "Bubba sleeping...shhhhh..."

Brooklyn, you light up our lives. We love you oh so much. Happy second birthday, my girl. I hope you had a good first two years...and I can't wait for more!!