I'm 3!

[Mom's editorial]

A sunny day in the park, a trip to casa gelato, a long nap, pizza, cake, homemade frozen yogurt, presents topped by a bath. And although I'm sad the teachers had to go on strike, I am very glad my big bro was here for all the fun.

Happy Birthday to me!

[A's real thoughts]

Took mom forever to get me out of the crib today. Does she not know what today is? Then she lets me watch 'signing time' which is great but I was starving. Nice oatmeal but someone said ice cream and that sort of wrecked everything else. We drive around forever and play in a park we've never been to or maybe it was just that we never see the sun so it all looked different. I was quite insulted when I was plunked in the stroller. Seriously, I can walk, except when I can't. There was nowhere to pee so I had to resort to the cloth diaper and of course when mom tried to put me on a baby change table, I lost it. I can stand thank you. Finally we get to this ice cream place and the day starts to deliver.....zzzzzzzzzzzzz

Here we are again

Three years ago today, I was in the waiting place. Or rather, I was in the rush of busyness to prepare for being in the waiting place. I had just wrapped up at work. I had filed my paperwork. I was about to clear some space and get the supplies. I was sure I had at least a week to relax and contemplate the huge change coming into our family. That evening brought with it the first of many surprises.

• I started labour 10 days early
• I interviewed a doula in the morning and asked her if she was busy that day
• I gave birth at home (plan B)
• The birth was a mere 6 hours of serious labour, a pittance compared to my first experience.
• It was a girl
• It was a little girl who was A, not S as we were expecting
• Our precious little girl came with an extra chromosome and I could see it right away

I struggled against the disappointment but I was crushed. Our son bonded instantly and completely with his little sister. Our community rallied around us with food and visits and extra hands while we tackled the 6 week long job of teaching her to nurse.

• She did it. She learned to take in milk.
• She smiled, she cooed, she drew us into her magic
• She learned to sit
• She learned to scoot around on her bum
• She learned to crawl
• She learned to stand
• She learned to make the sad face with the bottom lip that stops everyone in their tracks to help her
• She learned to command all of us and bend us to her will
• She has just taken her first steps, said her first two word sentences and read her first words all in the last month or two

The surprises keep coming and I hope they never stop. Happy Birthday little boss of me.