On a cold January night, 13 years ago, I was packing our apartment to move. Nate had just finished his last semester of college and we were headed for Utah County for his first career job. I packed up the pictures, wrapping them with plastic bubbles and extra amounts of packing tape when Mr. Mecham finally talked me in to getting some sleep. I was 6 days overdue to deliver and it felt more like 6 months. Half way down the hall something happened and it nearly knocked me on my bootie! My big belly felt as hard as I imagined the 2 X 4 that seemed to be lodged between my ribs and hib bones. It didn't last long, but it was a first for me and I was hopeful. That night I never went to sleep... It was a frozen tundra outside... and I was inside in a hot shower trying to figure out what the heck was going on. Finally I told Mr. Mecham we were going to visit the hospital since the Doc. was willing to induce me sometime the within the next few days anyway. The nurses were certain that I wasn't in labor by the size of smile on my face and thought to send me home. But found that I could stay... and just hours later Miss Bailey joined our family. She wasn't very noisy at first. Her first look at the world was a pair of scissors cutting right at her neck where the umbilical cord was choking her tiney neck. And I am certain the first thing she must have heard was the Doc declare, "this one gets a discount for her beautiful red hair!". He had red hair and offered a $10.00 discount for every baby he delivered with red hair. Just enough to buy one hemroid pad at the hospital... bless him!
Bailey was quiet. I was freaked out. She wanted to sleep. I wanted her to wake up and eat. She wanted to be warm. I wanted to dress her and undress her in all the fun new clothes that I had. She wanted to be held and cuddled. I wanted everyone to keep their germs to themselves. She wanted to be a normal child and I wanted to be mother of the year... I had as much experience with motherhood as Barack Obama had going into office... and I was equally as clueless.
Needless to say, it has been 13 years of excitement, passion, determination, and nothing shy of all things extreme! Oh the fun we've had.
Bailey is:
funny
pretty
fun to shop with
has great taste in clothes
makes friends easily
oh so smart
helpful
beyond capable
gutsy
spiritual
clean freak
organized
lovable
On that cold January morning... what started as a contraction that nearly knocked my on my buns ended with a healthy pink and very sleepy baby, so tiney and sweet... and my life was forever changed.
Happy Birthday to she who made me a mother, my only daughter, a sweet friend. I love you Bailey.
