Happy 7th Birthday Munchkin!

Seven years ago yesterday I was heavily pregnant. It was my due date and I was carrying a stubborn child that refused to make her way into the world. Uncomfortable was an understatement. Two weeks earlier I had cried in my obstetrician's office and begged him to induce me. I pleaded through my tears that I knew this child was well over cooked. I was so heavy and uncomfortable and I had a giant hemorrhoid that made sitting a most miserable experience.

He refused to induce. I still wish I had told him where he could put that speculum.

It was my due date, August 8th, 2001, that I felt the first contraction.

"Oh please oh please oh please let her be coming!"

I didn't really believe it though, because what baby actually is born on their due date? But the contractions kept on. Finally, when I could barely stand the pain any longer, we went to the hospital.

The contractions were so bad by the time I got into a room and got all hooked up to every monitor in the world that I literally tried to run away from the pain. I'm not sure what I was thinking but I got out of the bed and unhooked monitors and ran across the room.

I was so happy to see that anesthesiologist, I could have kissed him. I fell in true love with him as he injected the needle from hell into my back and I sat motionless on the edge of the bed. Epidurals, my peeps, are dreamy.

I didn't have too much time to enjoy my relaxed haze, though. When the nurse checked (and by checked, I mean inserted her entire hand inside of me and wiggled it around causing intense pain and tears) me she got a look on her face. A look that meant something was wrong. Of course she didn't say anything to me... she quickly called for reinforcements. After two other nurses also "checked" me they called in for a mobile ultrasound machine. They feared that Munchkin was arriving in a breech position.

When the ultrasound technician arrived and I got all gooped up, they discovered that Munchkin wasn't arriving backwards, she was arriving FACE FIRST. These nurses had been poking and prodding my poor baby's eyes and nose and mouth and thinking it was her hoo-ha!

It was determined that due to her strange position, Munchkin was stuck in the birth canal. Her face couldn't very well do that nifty coning thing that infant's heads do so she was having a pretty difficult time making her way out. All my strong contractions were doing nothing more than causing stress and it was decided pretty quickly that they were going to take this baby out.

I was prepped for a cesarean and my sister prepped to join me in the operating room. A month or so earlier I had mentioned to my sister that if for some reason I needed to go in for a cesarean that I'd really feel comfortable if she was with me. She quickly agreed, but never thought it would actually happen. Boy, was she surprised!

At 4:13 AM on the 9th, Munchkin cried her first cry and I fell in love with her.

This was the same outfit I had brought her big brother home in less than two years earlier. I love how babies scrunch up like that while they're sleeping.

Her favorite present was a glowworm doll. It's face glowed when you squeezed it and she loved that she could make it glow.

At two years old she was already making healthy choices. :)

And sometimes not so healthy.

The blanket that she's jumping out from behind in this picture is a king size comforter that I used while I was in college. Munchkin LOVED it and we had to bring it on all trips. It's not that she didn't have regular sized blankets to fall in love with, she just had to have this one.

Here she is at almost four at the zoo imitating the animals.

She's always had the guts to make bold fashion choices. See how she pairs those princess shoes with that hot pink school girl skirt? And a purple renaissance inspired top? Daring!

At six years old, Munchkin was already ready to take the drivers seat. She knows what she wants and will stop at nothing to get it. She's a girl on a mission.

What a magical seven years we've had with our little princess! Happy Birthday my little Munchkin. I am so happy to have you.