One Year Ago...

One year ago today, our little Em came into our lives.... shaking up life as we knew it!

Thinking back, I can tell you that Emma's birth was different than the others in a few ways, but much the same in others. My best summarizing statement was: my body forgot how to do childbirth. Sure, some people claim that your body "remembers". HA!

I did feel a sense of relief, knowing that it all went smoothly, no complications, no drugs, and our little girl was healthy and sleeping, well, ...... like a baby. But when the labor nurse commented to me, "That was fun!", I just couldn't quite manage to think of it in those terms!!

She did follow suit with the others, making her appearance in the morning hours, and we had a very pretty sunrise just after she arrived.

I can't express the joy we feel with Emma joining our ranks. While we've been getting jaded and cynical, she just has to toddle over and hug us, and we smile again -- in situations that otherwise would never have brought a smile. Don't you just love the long eyelashes???

So these photos are from tonight's birthday party for her. Sorry for the bizarre reflections off the glass tabletop. I was impressed how well she figured out how to unwrap gifts. (And in 2 months, we'll have to KEEP her from unwrapping those gifts she finds laying around under pine trees!)

She got the whole cake idea right away too-- and couldn't keep her hands out of it, even before it was sliced.

We missed having Brandon there for her party, and I'm ready to pull out the videos we made of Brandon reading books to her. I don't want him to be a stranger to her.

Heading into our next year with her, we can see that she will bring all sorts of adventures (and reminders) to the Haven!!