Happy Birthday Marlee!

Today is Marlee's 2nd birthday! We celebrated by taking her to Chuck E Cheese to play with her friend Jacob. They had lots of fun, but I think they were a little overwhelmed with amount of stuff to play with. Here's a link to a few pictures from the evening of fun!

Here are three pictures of Marlee over the last 2 years. It is amazing how time has flown by. I've always heard how important it is to share your child's birhtday with them. So, here are my memories of the day that I became a Mommy!


Marlee~September 30, 2006


Marlee~September 30, 2007


Marlee~September 30, 2008


I still CLEARLY remember this day 2 years ago. Actually it is the 29th that sticks in my mind so clearly. I had no indication (kind of) that Marlee was on her way other than I didn't feel well. Come to find out, I had labored all day at school. It was a Friday, and I had one week left until my due date. I was spending another long day at school. Lindsay and I had decided to stay late and get some things done. I was putting the finishing touches on my long term lesson plans. 5:30 rolled around and I hollered at Lindsay and told her I was calling it a day.

I got home around 6:00. I was sitting at the computer, and Chad was painting. He was trying to get our living room painted before Marlee was born. While checking my email, I felt a gush of water (don't you love the gory details?!?!). I ran out to Chad and said, "Either my water just broke, or I just peed all over myself." Indeed, my water had broke.

Labor pains and contractions came on rather quickly. We waited about an hour after my water broke to call the doctor. She said to tough it out for as long as I could stand it. So, Chad and I went to Wendy's to grab a bite to eat. We knew we were probably in for a long night. Then I took a long hot shower and fixed my hair. I was feeling pretty good. We sat out on the front porch and rocked and watched the airplanes in the sky. Then the pain hit and the contractions got closer and closer. I was practicing all of the tricks we learned in parenting class. None were helping. Chad called the Dr and off to the hospital we went. We got settled into our nice and quiet delivery room.

I got my epidural around midnight. Chad and I settled in for a long night. We expected 7-8 more hours before she arrived. Well around 4 AM I awoke to the worst pain imaginable. I buzzed the nurse and Kaye, my Midwife, came and said I was ready to push!

Apparently, due to me laying on my side for too many hours, my epidural was ineffective on the right side. I pushed for an hour and a half screaming at the top of my lungs. I wouldn't wish that pain on anybody! I swear I saw the light. I tried to get Chad to let me bite him! I STILL remember the pain and I STILL see those images! I will never forget nor will I ever regret that pain!

It is amazing how much pain I was in that it instantly went away when she was put in my arms, all 8 lbs 1 oz and 20 inches of her at 5:27 AM. I hope each year on September 30th, that I will remember her birth as clearly as I do now!

Happy Birthday Marlee! We love you!