Happy Birthday, Baby Guy!

Today is our littlest's second birthday, so I guess officially he's not a baby anymore. It's hard to believe how quickly the time passes and I know I'm not alone in feeling this.

Leopold was born 2 years ago today in a rather dramatic fashion. He was due in early September, but as with all my babies, had different plans. I don't have particularly good pregnancies and his was no different. Contractions from a very early stage, growth problems, ligament problems... nothing terribly serious in the scheme of things, but things that make what should be a very happy time a bit more stressful.

The contractions are probably the worst as they strengthen as the pregnancy progesses and make it very difficult to determine when to go the hospital or when to just get some more rest. In the weeks leading up to Leopold's arrival, I had several very strong and painful bouts, one or two of which landed me in the hospital. Needless to say, the frustration levels grow as well.

After my last visit to the hospital when I was allowed to leave the following day, baby still tucked safely in belly, I promised the midwife I would not return until I had "the baby between my knees!" Words to be remembered.....

Two days later, my husband left for a business lunch 2 hours away from home and I instructed him to take my visiting parents with him. Nothing was going to happen and I needed some quiet time with just the girls at home. Then around noon the contractions started again. Just as a few days earlier, just as the preceeding week and the weeks before that. Nothing different in these contractions than from the rest and so I told hubby to take his time and we'd go to the hospital when he got back, "just to make a nuisance of myself so they will let me have this baby."

I busied myself with a painting I had on order, making lunch for the girls and doing yoga in the 2-3 minutes between contractions.

When hubby showed up with my parents, he stayed in the car on a business call for about 15 minutes, all the while my mother watching me. Finally she asked if I didn't think I should be going to the hospital. My response? "Well YES, if my husband would get off the phone!"

We packed up and left. I have to admit that I found it particularly impossible to sit down in the car and thankfully we only hit 1 red light on the way. Arriving at the hospital, darling husband asked if I wanted him to drop me off so he could park the car or if I wanted him to accompany me. Since I wasn't positive I could actually walk at this point, I opted for the second choice.

So we parked the car and hobbled into the maternity ward. 4:47 in the afternoon. Leopold arrived at 4:56. Not quite "between my knees" as I had promised the midwife, but not too far off.

It was a scary delivery despite its rapidity and the days following delivery were filled with stress as Leopold struggled to find the strength he needed to adapt to his new world. Our first year was filled with weight issues, testing for various illnesses, and many many tears along with the laughter.

But today he is two and he is healthy. Still small, but healthy and that's all that matters. So happy birthday baby guy, we love you muchly!