Today is a bittersweet day for me. My babies birthdays usually are for me. While I am so excited to see them grow, and become these beautiful little individuals, my heart still aches a little to see them leave the baby stage. As is the case with little miss Hanna. I grew up listening to my mom say “it seems like only yesterday”, and now, do I ever know what she meant. I can still remember every last detail, smell, sound, and chill from the day she was born.
The birth of your baby is always a miraculous day, but sometimes it can throw you a little curve ball. As many of you know, Hanna spent some time in the NICU, preparing her lungs for the world and being treated for an infection. That, I will say, was the hardest week of my life. Still, a whole year later, it brings tears to my eyes. I am soooo grateful and blessed that I have my baby girl here with me, but what I would have given to not see her uncomfortable.
The NICU nurses probably got tired of me asking, “will this traumatize her? will she ever be happy after this?” For some reason, I had it in my head that there was no way this little baby could be happy, after all this stress! What was I thinking?! Miss Hanna is the most happiest baby I have ever, EVER laid eyes on. People stop me everywhere we go to tell me how happy she looks! There is rarely a moment when you don’t see a smile on this little one’s sweet face. She exudes light, and warms up my whole world. I could go on and on about what an amazing little baby she is, but you would never get it, unless you met her. Plus, quite frankly, I don’t want to tear up over my morning coffee;)
So anyway, I will not hog up this blog with words anymore…..just with photos. I have too many favs through the year to post, so this will do for now. Until we do her bday photos later today!
First, miss Hanna in her first week. So tough seeing your baby like that, as many of my readers know first hand. I still feel these images are such an important part of her life, so I have a few around my house.
Let me just say, Mercy is a WONDERFUL hospital to have your baby. Obviously, no mom wants to leave their baby in the hospital, and when they have the space, Mercy will let you stay in one of their pediatric rooms, and brings your baby in the room with you, once they are ready. She wasn’t quite ready to be discharged as she still needed medicine and monitoring, but they showed me how to move her with the cords. I will forever be grateful to them for allowing me to stay.
Of course I had a gazillion ideas of newborn poses, but I underestimated the fatigue I would have with toddlers and having a c-section! IE, next time around……I will be hiring someone, lol!
and here she is around 4-5 months….
And last but not least, my sweet baby girl 2 weeks ago, at the beach. She is walking, and toddling along now, and I can’t wait to get out and capture her day today!!! Happy Happy Birthday baby girl!!!! Thanks for bearing with me and my long post
