And, just like that, it’s over. I could reminisce about all the high and low points, but I am going to touch on the top two highs.
Miracle.
Number One.
The birth of Kendall Brooke Mead.
Pictures are up! Thanks Margie for being our photographer!
Matt and I now have two beautiful girls and Haven has a sister she adores and a lifelong playmate. But, when Kendall was born, I got a little extra bonus. I was able to have the natural, vaginal birth I had always wanted. I know several of you just don’t understand this, and I don’t need you to. But, I can’t begin to tell you how badly I wanted this birth. To those of you who TOTALLY know where I am coming from and have been supportive I thank you from the bottom of my heart. And, I’m so lucky to be blessed with the experience.
Note: If you don’t want to read gory birth details, skip this part.
For those of you dying to know the details, here’s the long and the short of it. On November 10th, I was outside in the backyard with Haven and my in laws bagging leaves. Not exactly the easiest task when you are nine months pregnant, but I managed to do it on my hands and knees. Shortly after we were done, we came inside to have some lunch and put Haven down for a nap. While watching what must be the worst episode of Mr. Rogers EVER (Mr. Rogers makes an Opera), I noticed I was having contractions that worth timing. Inconsistent, but noticeable, I called Matt (who was working close to where the hospital is…an hour from the house, without traffic) to warn him that they were happening. Unless my contractions got closer together, our plan was that he would come home, have dinner, pack up and then we would head out to stay the night at a hotel close to the hospital. So, later in the evening we loaded up and headed out. I was concerned that I wouldn’t know if I was in true labor (since I never had natural contractions with Haven) and I was worried that I might be having false labor, however during the ride to the hotel my contractions were regularly eight minutes apart and with increasing intensity. Once we checked into the hotel, Matt gave Haven a bath and it was just minutes after I kissed her goodnight that my water broke. So, around 10:20 pm we called the midwife and went to the hospital. After checking in I was monitored for a short period of time, given some antibiotics and then I went to labor in the tub. The contractions were intense, sometimes back-to-back, but I was able to breathe through them quietly, unlike when I had Haven and had to moan through each and every contraction. As the contractions got stronger, I got hot and sweaty, and felt the need to push, so I decided to get out. Once out of the tub, I knew I was in transition and even if I wanted an epidural, it was too late. I managed to get to the bed in between contractions, but couldn’t find a comfortable position, again another indication that this baby was coming soon. Soon after I began pushing and a little over a half an hour, Kendall was born at 2:20 am. All 9 lb. 9 oz. of her. I held her while we waited for the umbilical cord to stop pulsing, delivered the placenta, got stitched up (first degree tear), nursed and the rest is history. I am still in awe of how quickly things went, how EASY the labor was in comparison to Haven, how BIG she was, and how much better I feel postpartum.
Miracle.
Number Two.
Poop in the potty.
Pooping in the potty has to be one of the biggest milestones your child can go through. Because, it means as a parent there’s hope that you will at one point or another have less shit to clean up. Really. We are really proud of Haven for this accomplishment in the middle of the chaos in her life at the moment. Unprompted poopies in the potty. I couldn’t think of a better way to end the year. Oh, wait. I know what would be better. If we could cure her picky eating. That will be our 2011 resolution.
But, seriously, this past year has been SO. MUCH. FUN. WITH. HAVEN.
She talks non-stop.
She has the memory of an elephant and the eye of an eagle.
She loves to go for walks with her daddy to the park or 7-11 to get mommy a paper (Washington Post) on Sunday.
She continues to be smitten with dogs, but is now drawn to her sister like a moth to a flame.
She has become willful and repeatedly tries our patience, especially when it comes to eating a balanced meal, but with us as her parents she was bound to inherit the stubborn gene.
She also inherited our love of music and LOVES to dance. Especially to Michael Jackson.
And, she has discovered the wonderful world of Disney, and Nemo and Mary Poppins visit us occasionally.
Her imagination runs wild. She loves playing with her tea set. Just wait until Grandma and Grandpa bring her the kitchen Santa left for her at their house.
Speaking of Santa, she can’t wait for him to come back next year.
For last year’s words belong to last year’s language
And next year’s words await another voice.
And to make an end is to make a beginning.
~T.S. Eliot, “Little Gidding”
