Friday, February 1, 2008

Birthday Girl

Warning: This is going to be one of THOSE posts that is all about one of my kids. It will probably not interest 80% of my readers, but I'm posting it anyway because it's my blog and I want to! So if you're not into these posts, come back again soon for something more profound and thought provoking (I hope!)
One year ago, I got up in the morning feeling like something was different. Although this was my fourth full pregnancy, I had never gone into labor spontaneously. I had a repeat c-section scheduled for the 8th and lots to do in the next week before the baby came. But that morning, something had changed and I knew it. As I took a shower, I thought to myself, "Maybe you'd better pack your hospital bag, just in case." I told Jared that there was a possibility that we'd be having the baby earlier than we'd planned, but he assured me that it was probably a false alarm. After all, my due date was still 15 days away, and as I said before, I had never gone into labor without medical assistance.
I spent the morning running errands, buying a few things that I absolutely needed if I was having a baby right away. I had a baby shower scheduled for the next night, but I decided that I shouldn't wait any longer to buy diapers, onesies, and a few binkis, and to get more food in the house. Just in case.
By noon, I had called my friend Kristen, a labor and delivery nurse. I should have called the doctor, but I knew that they'd just tell me to come in and get checked out, and I didn't want to if it was a false alarm. I had a cut and color scheduled with my hairstylist at 4:00. And how could I have a baby with gray showing? I couldn't. But when I told Kristen that I'd been contracting all morning pretty regularly, she said she would feel better if we went into LDRP. I dropped off my kids at Christine's, and Kristen and I headed to the hospital. Jared was closing for lunch at 12:30 and could meet us over there.
To make a long story short, I did not get my hair done that day. Nor did I have a baby shower the next day. They determined that I was in labor, and even though it wasn't hard labor yet, since I had already had 3 previous c-sections, they didn't really want me laboring (the risk of uterine rupture is high after so many.) So at 4:59 pm, Bronwen was born. So much for all the convenience of having a scheduled c-section! From the beginning, she let us know that she was going to do things on her terms.
Here is her "stink eye" face that she makes when she's frustrated or when encouraged to do so by those of us who think it is hysterical!

I went around today, asking my family what they loved most about Bronwen. Here are there responses (Warning, these are not very exciting, but I am striving for authentic journalism here, so I couldn't doctor them up):
Kimball: My favorite thing? She's cute.
Henry: I love everything about Bronwen (very true--he adores her.)
Ian: Um, playing with her!
Jared: (suspiciously) What's this for? (He doesn't like being quoted on THE BLOG.) (Then, under pressure,) I like that she smiles at me when she sees me.
As for me, I love the spirit that she has brought into our home. I feel like we were missing something without her--even though we didn't know it. She brings a softness to everyone. Looking at her reminds me to stop yelling and be the softer, gentler mommy that I want to be. And she seems to have the same effect on her brothers. Their fighting stops when they catch sight of her or when I ask them to help me with her. When they hear Bronwen wake up in the morning or after a nap, they all drop everything and run in to see her. And I love to see that.
Here are a few shots of our little family birthday celebration at Nana's.
I was pleased with the way the ladybug cake turned out. Kimball made a birthday banner for the occasion.
Checking out the gift wrap.
The doll is a hit!It's really too bad that she didn't wear a bib at dinner, because this photo would be perfect without the drippings from orange wedges all over her dress. Bummer.I took some video of her eating the cake, but she was so delicate and unhurried about it that it would have bored anyone who is not her grandma. So I'll spare you. Her favorite part was definitely the Junior Mints. She picked off and ate every one.Everybody else got ladybug cupcakes and ice cream.Kimball helped Bronwen eat the black bug head. Check out his tongue. Yech!In the end, she decided that she wanted clean hands and a sippy cup of milk. We were all a little disappointed that she didn't demolish the cake (as her brothers have all done.) But perhaps she will not have the kind of food issues that her mother has when she grows up. Wouldn't that be a gift?
Happy Birthday, little girl. We love you!

14 comments:

thatredhairedgirl said...

Your birthday girl is so precious! I just can not get over that she is one. I remember the day well, that you went into labor. I remember the days after telling everyone Bronwen's name over and over and how it came from How Green Was My Valley. Her name was quite a hit. Seems like all had a great time. Isn't it so nice that lil' girls are so much less messy then lil' boys? Well, Happy Birthday Bronwen. Love, Tawny

Rebecca Blevins said...

She is adorable! What a little sweetie. Happy first birthday, Bronwen!

Anonymous said...

Darling, loveable baby girl! I love those two pearly whites on the bottom. I've always been a sucker for only two teeth on the bottom. On babies, that is. I hope I get to meet her some day soon! Erin

Anonymous said...

"Sugar and spice and everything nice, that's what Bronwen is made of"
Papa loves her smile and that she will be as beautiful and smart as her mother.
What a lucky little girl to be surrounded with such love.

Love,
Papa

christine said...

LOVE the stink eye picture! The red and black made me so afraid for your laundry- any fatalities?

Anonymous said...

I love that little girl... She always is smiling and its a smile that lights up her face and mine... Hard to believe its already a year..Its amazing what a baby girl can do to a family of boys you see a side that you dint know was there....
Happy Birthday Bronwen
Love Mandy

Anonymous said...

My favorite thing about Bronwen is the growl. I thank heaven for our wonderful little girl. They come so few and far between in our family that each little feminine wonder must be the best that Heavenly Father has to offer.
We'll do another birthday party next week, B.
Love, Grammy

Scrappy said...

She is adorable. I love the cake and cupcakes.
So, I just need to have a girl to get my boys to stop fighting, huh? Maybe someday.
Happy Birthday Bronwen!!

Erika said...

Happy birthday!!! Sorry we missed it. Can't wait to see you guys in about 1 hour!!!

mahina said...

happy first birthday! i love the ladybug cake and i think it turned out wonderful, too! what a cute girl!!

Malia said...

She is sooo cute! Happy 1st Birthday Bronwen! Gotta love the Stink eye! And the ladybugs are awesome!!!

Rebecca said...

I'm interested in hearing about your kids. Keep it coming! I like the stink eye pic. too!

Michal said...

christine,
we thought ahead and put a black t-shirt over the pink velour dress. i knew that black and red food coloring can be an outfit killer. luckily, our plan worked (it probably helped that she didn't climb in the cake like her older brothers did on their first birthdays!

benilhalk said...

How beautiful this ladybug themed birthday bash is! Happy birthday to the little kid! Your post reminds me of my daughter’s childhood when I used to be extremely excited on her birthdays. Now she has turned 20 in the last month and she hosted a disco themed family party at the local LA venue. It was also amazing.