Happy 6th Birthday to My (Big) Baby Girl!

Exactly six years ago today, I waddled through the front door of the hospital as if I was about to be executed (in fact, to this day my mom still laughs about how I was “dead man walking” that morning). My first child was due four days earlier and I had been four centimeters dilated for a little longer than my doctors would have liked. They decided to induce me, although I would have been more than fine with letting her hang out in there for as long as she wanted if it meant I didn’t have to face childbirth.

As I stepped into the elevator to go up to labor and delivery part of me wanted to run–or at least walk briskly–as far away as I could. I was absolutely petrified, with visions of screaming movie moms dancing through my head. And as if that wasn’t scary enough, there was the whole notion of being responsible for another human being’s life. For nurturing her and guiding her through life and raising her to be her best self. I felt so heavy and so scared. And don’t even get me started on the look on Tim’s face!

Three hours later, after a miraculously simple labor and delivery, my little rosebud was placed on my chest. She promptly pooped on me and I fell in love. One glance into her big eyes and my husband and I can tell you with absolute certainty that there is such a thing as love at first sight.

Fast forward six years. SIX YEARS. Not only is today my best buddy’s birthday, but it’s her last day of kindergarten. I am a big, emotional mess. The kind of mess that bursts into tears after hearing all of the kids scream “HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!” when she stepped onto the bus. How did so much time go by so quickly? How did she get so big?

Samantha is one of the sweetest, most caring people I know. She has a flair for drama (but you have to love her for it) and acts as if she’s 16 instead of 6. She’s funny and she’s smart and I just love that girl to pieces.

Instead of continuing and becoming a big, blubbering mess, I’m going to share some pictures of my sweet petunia…

My Week Through Instagram

OK, so this week it’s more like “Yesterday Through Instagram.” There’s only one picture I’m going to show you that’s not from yesterday–and that’s because it’s too cute to edit out.

After days upon days of giving me napping trouble, Miss Elyssa grabbed her Boppy and her sister’s Cabbage Patch baby, laid down, and completely passed out. How sweet is this picture?!

Onto the whirlwind that was yesterday. First, Ellie and I went to my nephew Jack’s preschool graduation. Cuteness times a million! There was singing and drumming and the handing out of diplomas. Samantha graduated from the same preschool last year (and all of my siblings and I are alumni! haha). Ellie loved the music and Jack refused to have his picture taken.

Next up, Ellie and I headed home for some lunch. Ellie will eat absolutely anything and has been loving mozzarella, tomato and basil with a little balsamic vinegar lately. Her sister would prefer to starve.

She must of enjoyed it because before she was even completely finished, my little bean passed out in her high chair.

After her mini nap, I decided to make some chocolate covered strawberries to surprise Sam with as a little after-school snack. Somehow I managed to knock the opened bag of chocolate chips on the floor. Major jackpot for Ellie. She pounced as if they were $100 bills and started grabbing handfuls of them and shoving them into her big fat cheeks.

She wasn’t too happy with me when I cleaned them up. Minutes later I walked into the living room to see her trying to bite Sam’s “pet” rock as if it were an enormous chocolate chip.

I never got to those chocolate covered strawberries. My sister went into labor and I headed to the hospital (big thanks to Kayla for coming over to watch my girls!) to be there for it. It was one of the most amazing, intense and unintentionally hilarious things I’ve ever witnessed.

My mom and I were there with my sister and her husband, coaching her breathing and holding her legs back (and totally cracking jokes at her expense before we entered the eye dagger zone–you know, the point where one look from her could’ve killed a village).

I’m so glad I got to be there–even if I had to take a little walk at one point and get a drink of water to shake it off.

Even though little Miss Olivia Leigh was only in her momma’s belly for 35 weeks, she was 6 pounds 6 ounces and 19 inches long. Her lungs were so strong and her color so good that she didn’t have to go to the NICU.

We’ve got another feisty little lady in the family and we’re all in love already! My girls are heading over to meet her when Sam gets home from school today. She can’t wait! She was having dreams of what her new cousin might look like last night.

To keep up on my pics throughout the week, follow me @atouchoflovely!