12 months

This is a Mama post. So get ready.

I really don't know what to say. I mean, I have a one year old. I have a one year old? WHAT? How did that happen? I always laugh with Ryan because I totally don't remember being pregnant or giving birth. I remember the experience and kind of what happened, but I don't remember how I felt, the pain, or really any details (like my placenta falling on the hospital floor...oops). Thank goodness, because going through it, I thought Brinley would be our only pregnancy. Thank goodness women FORGET childbirth!

Those 9 months were tough. Compared to most, I guess I had it good. My friend was throwing up all 9 months. but for me, my sickness was more that I was a student for 6 of those months. And I was in the summer heat for 5 months. That was tough enough. Sickness wasn't really the thing that was hard, it was the constant worry of throwing up in class and doing homework. I remember taking a test in the testing center 8.5 months prego. People STARED at me the WHOOOOOOOOLE time. Apparently they've never seen a pregnant lady. and I vow to never be pregnant in the summer again! We traveled quite a bit too. And any pregnant women who know about traveling, it is hard on your body. It took me dayyyyys to recover after a car ride just from Salt Lake City. My back pain still hurts.

Then came October 30th. We went to my 40 week appointment to only hear the disappointing words from my doctor "you are only at a 1cm. There hasn't been a change in 3 weeks." Awesome. Thankfully, I cried and got them to schedule an induction date the day my mom was flying in. That night, Ryan and I rented a movie, went out and got Taco Bell, and were in bed before 10pm.

4:30am. Yikes. POP. Jump out of bed. Water was trickling down my leg. I wasn't putting it past myself that I maaay have peed in my pants. Baby dropped=pressure on bladder. Sneezing=peeing. Just saying. I stood there for another moment and it kept coming. I raced to the bathroom and just stood there, shaking, cold, wet, and really anxious. This was the moment I was waiting for. The excitement came. I went into the bedroom and kept calling Ryan's name over and over again until he woke up. We were RUNNING around the apartment trying to get everything together. I remember just standing in the bathroom, with these granny panties I bought for the hospital with a giant pad to catch the fluid (TMI sorry). and I definitely did NOT pack my hospital bag well enough before hand.

Those 15 hours didn't exactly fly by. But, for the most part, it was good. College football on the TV, epidural in my back, raspberry flavored ice chips. I mean come on, dream land!! 

I pushed for a good hour. After 15 hours, you don't have energy AT ALL. The only thing I ate was a banana at 4:30am before we left for the hospital.

Finally, with a little more pushing, out came baby. Ryan went over to the nurses station. I remember him looking at her like he knew her. Like she has always been with us and he was just waiting for her. Finally she was here. His baby girl. I called at him "Is she a Brinley?" And he looked back wiping tears, "Yes, she is Brinley." Phew, at least she had a name!

I love remembering the first time I held her. I was shaking and really exhausted but I held her so close. I kept saying, "You know me. You know me, Brinley." Her breathing wasn't steady and neither was her heartrate, but after our cuddle time, she was good to go.

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Looking back, a year later, I can't believe how fast time has flown by. I look at Brinley now in absolute amazement. She is incredible.

She:

stands

walks

claps

climbs

waves

twirls her hair

eats by herself

uses a cup to drink

takes off her shirt

points

babbles

says mama and dada

recognizes family on Skype, maybe not them personally, but that there are people behind the screen!

throws balls to us

flips the pages in books

tosses everything over her shoulders

gives wet kisses

blows raspberries on our cheeks

gives hugs (mainly by putting her head to our head)

points at facial features

laughs when she sees other babies

takes 2 naps a day and still goes to bed at 7pm and wakes up around 7-8am

eats pretty good but trying new things is not as fun

still LOVES cheese

always smiles when she sees pictures of Jesus

dances when she hears Dora and the "Hot Dog" song from Mickey Mouse

Brinley. I love you so much. I can't wait what year two brings. You bring me SO much joy and I am amazed that you are mine forever. We are sealed together as a family for eternity. Regardless of where life takes us or what may happen, you and me are together forever. You may hate that idea when you're 12, lol but right now, lets enjoy it. I love you and Happy Birthday sweet girl. My little Brinley boo boo boo.