Your Birth Story

I was only 38 weeks and one day pregnant when you decided to come. I guess because I assumed I would go "late" like most first babies, I hadn't really even begun wrap my head around what was about to happen to my life. It was 7 o'clock in the morning when I woke up to pee, like I did 10 times a night, and the minute my feet hit the floor and I stood up my water broke! I was in such shock, I stood there for a few minutes wanting to make certain I wasn't peeing all over the floor, and this in fact was what I thought it was! Your Dad was in the bathroom getting ready for work, when I ran in and screamed that my water had broke. He had this look on his face that I will never forget. Pure and utter shock, like he hadn't thought this day would ever come. I called the doctor, and got in the shower, while your Dad ran around like a nervous wreck packing a bag for the hospital.

I never started contracting on my own, but that whole car ride to the hospital, I was holding my breath just waiting for this extreme pain to start. We got to triage around 8:30am and they started me on pitocin, got us a room, and told us we were going to be in for a long day. First baby, induced labor, only 1 cm dilated = a loooooooog labor process, we were told. The nurse said you would most likely not even be born until the next day. They told me I could have an epidural when I reached 4cm, but assured me that wouldn't be for awhile, so they told us to sit tight and try to get some rest.

By 11am I was in so much pain, that I couldn't even believe that people had children without pain medicine. I looked at the clock and realized only 2 hours had gone by, and thought there was no way I was 4cm already, but there was also no way I was waiting one more minute for some pain relief. With some begging and pleading, the checked me, and I was almost 5cm, and I got an epidural right away! I was in heaven after that. I could finally relax, try to get some sleep, and I knew your Dad felt so much better not seeing me in so much pain. We turned down the lights and just when I started to doze off, they told me they need to check my progress.

It was 2pm and I was 10cm dilated and they told me it was time to get ready to push! 10cm already! I could hardly believe it. It was all happening so fast! They said it was going to take all day, and I had barely been in the hospital for 5 hours!

Pushing was the hardest thing in the world. They had to turn down my epidural, and then turn it off for me to be able to feel when to push. It was the most pain I had ever felt in my entire life. For 2 and half hours I pushed. I cried, I screamed, I thought you would never come out. I was exhausted, scared, and worried about you, but then I looked up at your Dad, and he said "she's right there, and she has black hair, you are doing so great." He held my leg the whole time, encouraging me when I needed it, and helping me in anyway that he could. I couldn't believe we were about to be parents.

At 5:00 on the dot, a mere 10 hours after my water broke that morning, you took your first breath. They placed you on my chest and....the....world.....just.....stopped. I cried and I remember thinking "somebody pinch me, because this has to be a dream, the most amazing dream". The room was silent, and my life was forever changed. You were perfect and all mine. Everything I knew I always wanted was here. You cried, but not for long, and they whisked you away to clean you off, and I remember your Dad kissing me, and then running to be with you. At that moment his heart became yours.

You were 5 pounds 10 ounces and 19 and half inches long. I couldn't believe how small you were, and how hard it was to push you out. After they cleaned you up, they handed you to your Dad, and he was so in love. He walked over to me, and handed you to me. I melted. I couldn't believe that you were here, and you were mine, and you were healthy, and perfect, and I was a mother. A mother. I was a mother. You were my daughter, and I was your mother. We sat and held you for about a half hour before letting anyone else come in. You were so awake and alert, and your eyes were the most amazing eyes I had ever seen. They locked on to my eyes and they were the darkest little eyes, it was as if you were looking into my soul, like we had met once before, and were seeing one another for the first time in a long time. I must be in heaven.

Mimi, Poppy, Bulya and Dulya were all waiting to come in and meet you. Poppy held you first, and everyone cried out of pure happiness when they saw you for the first time. Your Dad was so proud of you and showed you off with such beaming pride.

Tuesday October 13th, 2009 at 5:00 on the dot my life was forever changed in the most amazing way. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me. I love you more than I thought it was humanly possible to love somebody. You make my life so complete and perfect. I am so blessed to have you as my daughter, Michaela. Happy First Birthday to my beautiful miracle baby.

ONE YEAR OLD!

How is it even possible that you have been on this earth for one entire year? I can't even wrap my head around this! At one year old you are starting to make your opinion known in the only ways you know how...yelling, screaming, biting, and kicking. I guess since you are officially a toddler now, the temper tantrums have begun. They are few and far in between, but for a little girl that has been so well behaved her whole year of life, it's quite a change for us. You are an awesome little eater, which makes me so happy. You are now drinking real milk, but insist that we heat up. You are still not walking, but trying, and falling, falling, falling! I hold my breath ever time you take a tumble, but 95% of the time you just keep on moving like nothing ever happened! You love to clap your hands and dance to any music that you hear. Even though you aren't saying anymore actual words, you are jabbering more than ever! You still only have 4 teeth, but I can see 2 more coming through on the top. You still love to snuggle every night before bed, and I look forward to it every night. This year went by in a blink of an eye. I love you more with every passing day. I know before I know it you will blowing out your candles on your 16th birthday.

Your Future Husband...Dillon

On Wednesday September 15th, 2010 your future husband Dillon Taggart was born. Weighing a hefty 8 pounds 9 ounces! It's hard to believe there is finally a little boy to join our group of girls! Whether he ends up to be your husband or not, I hope you grow to love him as much as you love his big sister. He is destine to be bossed around by all you girls, forced to dress up, and join the tea parties. He's already proven to be a mellow, low maintenance kind of guy, and that's just the right attitude to have with all you girls! Daddy has already bonded with DT, and now is longing for a little brother for you...we will have to wait and see about that!

Pumpkin Patch

Fall is my favorite time of year! I couldn't wait to take you to the pumpkin patch! Mimi, Poppy, Aunt Erika, Uncle Andrew, Aunt Jeanette, Reese, Daddy and I all spent the afternoon at Solly Bros. Farm. We picked pumpkins, rode on a hayride and your crazy Daddy and you got to ride a pony together for the first time!

Big Girl Car Seat

Recently you have been giving us such a hard time in the car, screaming and crying. We finally broke down and bought you a "big girl" car seat. It has made a world of difference, and you are so much happier, facing forward and sitting up high. We no longer dread car rides, and although I was sad to put away your infant car seat, I love how much more enjoyable our car rides have become. You really are such a big girl!

Uncle Josh

Uncle Josh came in for a short visit in early October. He wasn't able to come home over the summer with Aunt Mitzi, so this was the first time he had seen you since you were 6 weeks old. You warmed up to him super quickly and we all got to spend one day together. Although this visit was short and sweet, I know you two bonded!

Snuggle Bug

It's rare that you don't fall asleep on your own and stay asleep all night. But there are those rare occasions when you are extra "snuggly" and just won't sleep by yourself. I guess it is because it isn't very often that we don't mind sharing our bed with you every once in awhile. You are a wild and crazy sleeper, actually sitting straight up and completely flipping yourself around while in a sound sleep. We usually wake up with you horizontal between the two of us, or completely on top of one of us. And despite the lack of sleep that we may get, there is just something so comforting about having us all in one place together, snuggled in, under the covers, tucked in for the night.

Enjoying the Last Days of Summer

It's sad to think that this summer has come to an end. I longed for this summer more than any summer before, because of you. We had a nice long fall and winter inside when you were just a little bitty baby, and spring was just a tease to how much fun we were going to have this summer...and that we did! Beach trips, swimming, play dates, cookouts, lighting bugs, fireworks, water ice... all the things I couldn't wait to do with you. Now the long summer days are fading, and there is a chill in the air when the sun goes down. So I'm hanging on to these last warm Septemeber days, and trying to spend as many hours as possible outside. Fall happens to be my favorite time of year, but I know I am going to miss the summer and all the things that we got to do. But I promise the one good thing about summer, is it always comes back around, and next summer is going to be even better than this past one, I promise you that baby girl!

Daddy Time

He works so hard. He wants to give you everything in the world. He is often traveling for work during the week. He leaves before you get up in the morning, and sometimes he doesn't make it home until after you are already in bed. The older you get the more he falls deeply in love with you. I've known your Daddy for a long time, and I've never seen him so happy in my entire life.

Morning at the Playground

It was a morning like any other, and we were out and about running errands. I drove past the playground, and quickly turned in. I figured if nothing else you could swing on the swings. I placed you down around all the kids and the playground equipment, and you looked up at me as if to say "are you sure I can go?" I assured you that you could touch whatever you wanted and you could climb anything at all. You are so much like me sometimes that its scary. You want to look at everything from afar, before you dive in to it all. After a few minutes you started climbing the ladders, I held your hand as you slid down the slide, I lifted you up to the monkey bars as you grabbed on to everyone, and you finally could fit in the swing by yourself and feel secure. I was tearing up that morning thinking that my "baby" was actually playing at the playground. Sure you weren't running around or even walking for that matter, but you were exploring and having fun, doing more than you have ever done. I guess that morning it finally hit me that you aren't so much a baby anymore, but you are most definitely more fun than ever before.

New Sneakers

At 11 and half months old, you still aren't walking. I thought for sure you were going to be an early walker since you had crawling down by 7 months. You love to stand and you even let go, but haven't yet taken those first steps. With the weather turning cooler, Daddy and I decided to get you your first pair of sneakers! You love to be barefoot, and all summer long a shoe never touched your foot, so at first you weren't so sure. But after a while you liked them, and now you even get excited when I pull them out!

LBI Again...

The last week in August, we packed up and headed to the beach for the second time this summer. I was so excited this time around because I knew that you were going to love the beach even more, being 8 weeks older than last time. It was also so exciting to have Aunt Mitzi, Mimi, Poppy, Joey and Aunt Mare with us. We have all vacationed together for as long as I can remember and last summer when I was pregnant with you, we all couldn't wait until this summer to have you with us! I can't believe how fast the time has gone and for the first time since Joey was a baby (almost 15 years!) we finally have another baby to play with on the beach. Despite the horrible weather, it rained 5 out of the 7 days we were there, we all had an awesome time! Poppy loved playing with you on the beach, Mimi did too! Aunt Mare was excited for your first seafood night, our family tradition, and you loved it! Aunt Mitzi and I took you shopping in Bay Village. Aunt Erika and Uncle Andrew drove all the way down for one night just to see you on the beach, and even Uncle Stefan made the trip to see you. I'm pretty sure you are going to love the beach as much as your entire extended family. We are already excited thinking about how you will be running around everywhere next summer. Lets just hope we have better weather!