Mia Grace - A Birth Story

Welcome to this world, Mia!

Mia Grace Curry

11/09/2012

6:06am

6lbs, 3ozs

17.5 inches

Mia,

Mommy and daddy went to the hospital on Thursday November 8th at 8pm to start the process of bringing you into this world.  By 9pm, paperwork was signed, machines were hooked up, and a tablet was placed to start softening my cervix.  Little did I know that when we arrived at the hospital, I was already having contractions 2-5 minutes apart and dilated to a two.

Throughout the night, the nurses started giving me pitocin (a liquid medication that causes uterine contractions).  I continued to have contractions throughout the night, but nothing that made me think you were about ready to come within the next few hours.

And then, BAM - around 3:30, I felt the pain.  A lot of pain.  While mommy was in the hospital bed breathing through the contractions, daddy was asleep - snoring - on the couch.  I must have been in a deep breathing pattern because as I would exhale, daddy (without even turning around on the couch or opening his eyes) would mumble "tell them to turn the heat up".  He must have thought I was shivering from being cold, when really I was shivering from the pain.  I threatened him and told him that he better get up and go take a walk!

The next couple of hours were a blur. 

 I was progressing very quickly and the doctor asked me if I wanted a shot to relieve the pain.  I was too far along to get an epidural pump, but they could still give me a quick shot in the back to numb some pain.  I thought really quick about passing on the pain shot since we had made it to the end and were ready to push, but I really didn't want to be in any pain whatsoever when you came into our life.  I wanted to be able to be relaxed and be able to enjoy every single second of birthing you.  Luckily, the shot worked just in time for me to push and I could deliver you calmly with my eyes open and a smile on my face.

We had many people in the room that were there to watch you be born.
Bringing life into this world is a miracle and there really isn't a better feeling than to be able to share this amazing process with the people we love.

...and then at 6am, it was time!

We got in position, and I pushed once.

Just one push and you were here.

...at 6:06am you were screaming.

You were placed in my arms and everything around me was gone.  It was just you and me.

You were beautiful.

You were perfect.
You took my breath away.

You were mine.
You were ours - mommy's, daddy's, sissy's, bubby's.

Your warm body, your newborn baby breath, your sweet cry - all of you - cradled in my arms.  Finally.

I love you, Mia!

Your first picture with mommy and daddy.

*I'm still in disbelief at the quickness of your arrival and the one simple push it took to get you here*

Makayla and Mason coming to meet you for the first time!

Mason instantly fell in love with you.

He just wants to kiss you, feed you his food, and kiss you...all the time!

Makayla couldn't be prouder!
She loves you with her whole being.  She can't hold you enough and says that she just can't stop kissing you.

Our first family picture!

My 3 beautiful babes!!

I thank God for three uneventful pregnancies, 3 easy deliveries, and 3 healthy babies.

For you created my inmost being;

you knit me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful, 

I know that full well.

-Psalm 139:13-14

Welcome to our family, Mia!
You're everything we've ever dreamed of and we've waited our whole lives for you!

Love, Mommy

When...(Remembering To Embrace)

I don't think that feeling of wanting "just one more" baby will ever go away.  Already, still while pregnant with our 3rd, I have dreams about having a 4th...But, I know that won't happen.  We are done after 3.  In our minds and in our hearts, we are meant to be the parents of three...and that's just what we'll be.

And because we've made the decision that after this baby, we will be closing this chapter in our life, I am very aware that there won't be a next time to do or experience all that pregnancy has to offer.  I've said from the beginning, since I took that first belly picture (that I never did with the first two pregnancies), that I was going to embrace this third and last pregnancy.

Being 38.5 weeks pregnant, I am reminding myself several times a day to embrace!  Every once in awhile, I feel really really good and I feel like I could carry this baby for a couple more months.  On the flip side, every once in awhile, I feel like I could lay down and birth this baby out - no matter where I am, what I'm doing, or who is there.  I'm so ready to have this baby, but when I start feeling that way, I try to stop.  relax.  enjoy.  soak it in.  for this is the last time I will be pregnant.  This is the last time I will ever create another human being.  

So...

When I get out of the shower and choose to air dry because I can't bend down to dry my legs, I'll stand there with a smile on my face.  I can't bend down because there's a human being curled up in my belly.

When I cuss myself every night struggling to shave my legs and making sure "everything" looks good because  'tonight could be the night', I'll just have to smile.  Tonight could be the night that I meet my baby girl and my goodness, I am going to look good!

When somebody tells me one more time "you're going to have your hands full" and I get the urge to punch them in the teeth, I am going take in a deep breath, smile, and thank God that I am given the opportunity to have my hands full.   Obviously I am going to have my hands full.  Makayla just turned 4, Mason just turned 2, and I am going to have a newborn.  Duh.  I chose this, though.  It's exactly what I want.  There's nothing that I love more in this world than being a mother.  It's true - there are days that I wonder how I'll make it with 3 little ones - but just thinking about our family of five fills me with butterflies and makes me want to burst with joy.

When I get home from work and feel guilty because I don't have the energy that I wish I had to be able to spend on my family, I will smile and be thankful that I have a job and that I am blessed with uncomplicated pregnancies that allow me to work up to this point.  With my first pregnancy, I can remember coming home from work and dropping on the couch.  I wouldn't get up for the entiiiire evening.  With my second pregnancy, I can remember coming home from work and being able to sneak in a 20 minute nap sometime throughout the evening.  This time around, there's no such thing as coming home from a long exhausting day at work and resting with my feet up on the couch.  Ha.  Every once in awhile, I'll get lucky when daddy takes the kids to run errands, but even then, I find it impossible to sit down and rest.  I spend those moments alone picking up, cleaning up, wiping up, hanging up (clothes), putting up...the work of a mother is never done!  Those days/evenings/nights of just laying around on the couch feeling re-energized and refreshed are long gone...

When I am having my 10,000th conversation about vasectomies, I'll smile and be tickled on the inside of how 'concerned' people are about our sexual health.  It's funny to me the way conversations evolve over the number of pregnancies.  While pregnant with Makayla, most conversations were all about the joys of becoming a parent for the first time.  While pregnant with Mason, most conversations were all about double strollers.  And while pregnant with this last baby, most conversations are all about vasectomies and how Kevin and I plan to prevent another pregnancy.

I've tried to enjoy every minute of this pregnancy andI know it's unrealistic not to moan and groan a little at all of the discomforts of pregnancy - especially the third time around for me.  It's been a challenge on my body!  I don't know if it's because of my old age or because of the non-stop-on-the-go way of life with already having two little ones.  Show me a woman who enjoys every minute of her pregnancy and give me her doctor's number.  I clearly need their secret or some of whatever she's taking.  Since this is our last pregnancy, I am making an effort to balance the complaining with gratitude and appreciation.  I'm growing a person inside of me.  I'm creating a life! - and while I may not seem all happy and glowing for the entire 40 weeks, I don't want to regret later that I wasted all of my pregnant energy on complaining or wishing for time to speed through to the end.

"Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy and complaining about the shadow over my feet, I'd have cherished every minute of it and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was to be my only chance in life to assist God in a miracle" - Erma Bombeck

37 Weeks, 4 Days

You know when you jump into a pool of water and your hair floats and waves through the water as you swim?...well, that's what your baby's hair looks like on an ultrasound.  You can see in the picture below that the arrow is pointing to baby's hair.  I know in this picture it kind of looks like blades of grass, but as baby moves, her hair waves through the amniotic fluid.  It's very cool.

When Makayla was born, she was born with a full head of hair with natural blonde highlighted tips.

 And I remember wondering if Mason would have hair like Makayla (kind of hoping he wouldn't because it was really girly) and sure enough, he didn't.  He was born with just a "normal" head of hair (not too much and not too little).

...and I can't help but wonder how much hair this new little one will have, along with wondering what else this little life will carry with her and bring to us. 

But - besides seeing her hair this morning at our appointment, we got to see many other things!

Her head is low, low, low (the reason behind all of the pressure)...but not low enough to not be able to get a glimpse of her face.  She spent a lot of her time this morning sucking away on her thumb, so you can see in this picture that her fist is up by her mouth.  

I exceeded my goal weight!  Woo Hoo!  Although the doctor didn't ask me to reach a certain weight (and in fact told me not to worry about it) and told me that I was doing just fine on weight gain, I still wanted to reach a "goal".  

*i like working towards a goal*

So - as of 37 weeks and 4 days, I have gained 26 pounds and exceeded my 140 pound mark on the scale.
It made me smile...

And  - as of 37 weeks and 4 days, baby is measuring in at around 6 pounds.  

With Makayla weighing 5lbs, 7ozs and
Mason weighing 6lbs, 8ozs,

this baby may fall right in between the two.

Here's a close up of her nose and lips.

We got to see her practice her breathing and watch her diaphragm move up and down.

We watched her heart beating and recorded a heart rate in the 140s.

We saw her eyes open and close, open and close, and watched her manipulate her thumb around into her mouth more than several times.

While the ultrasound tech did all of her measurements and recordings, we watched our little girl on the screen - in awe.

There is such a special sweetness in being able to participate in creation.

-Pamela S. Nadav

We had a great doctor's appointment this morning and now we just wait until next week when we see the doctor again :)
Getting closer by the day!

In the meantime, I can't wait to write about another "first experience" for our family.

Makayla and Mason were in their first wedding - being a flower girl and ring bearer for Uncle Mike and Nicole!  Daddy was also in the wedding, so unfortunately, mommy was too busy to take any pictures of my little beauty and handsome man *gasp*!  I didn't even get a picture of the Bride and Groom!  Totally unlike me!

Here's a preview of pictures taken from others - 

...and as soon as I get some pictures from the photographer, I will write about the beautiful day!

Poem, Patch, And 'Pointment.

We're getting down to the nitty gritty of this pregnancy...

to the point that I am actually starting to feel pregnant.

I may not be "big" and I may not have put on a lot of "extra pounds", but I still have this little human being growing inside of me.  The pressure in my pelvis is strong.  The weight of this baby is heavy.  I dread trying to shave my legs, it's a workout to put my tennis shoes on in the morning, and it's nearly impossible to put on a pair of panty hose!  Thank goodness I get to wear scrubs every day to work and not have to dress up with hose!  Whewie!  I had to wear a pair for a wedding last weekend and I'm still trying to catch my breath from putting them on!

I had another doctor's appointment this morning and all went well!  This morning, I had the joy of getting tested for a bacteria called Group B Streptococci. 

Quoted from "Babble":

"Your doctor is probably going to test you for group B strep soon, which is a bacterium naturally found in 10 to 35 percent of all healthy women (not a sexually transmitted disease), and is unrelated to the type of strep that gives you a sore throat. It causes no symptoms and no problems for adults, but it can be very serious for a newborn that might pick up the infection on his/her way out of the birth canal, causing blood infection or meningitis. If you test positive (after a simple cotton-swab smear of the vagina, cervix and rectum), all it means is you'll be administered IV antibiotics during labor." 

*Note - the only reason I have included this description is for when my girls are grown and experiencing their own pregnancies, they can look back and see the difference in what doctors did today compared to how things will be done 20+ years from now.  I have always tested positive for Group B Strep and have had to be on antibiotics during labor and delivery.*

And besides getting swabbed, we did the usual - pee in a cup, weigh (just one pound off of my goal weight!), and listen to baby's heartbeat! 

While sitting in the office waiting to be seen, I saw a poster hanging on the wall...and I have no idea why I saw it this morning over all of the other times I've been in the office.  

I like things like this - It's a good poem and I try to live by these words everyday!

Children Are....

Author: Meiji Steward

Amazing, acknowledge them.

Believable, trust them.

Childlike, allow them.

Divine, honor them.

Energetic, nourish them.

Fallible, embrace them.

Gifts, treasure them.

Here now, be with them.

Innocent, delight with them.

Joyful, appreciate them.

Kindhearted, learn from them.

Lovable, cherish them.

Magical, fly with them.

Noble, esteem them.

Open minded, respect them.

Precious, value them.

Questioners, encourage them.

Resourceful, support them.

Spontaneous, enjoy them.

Talented, believe in them.

Unique, affirm them.

Vulnerable, protect them.

Whole, recognize them.

Xtraspecial, celebrate them.

Yearning, notice them.

Zany, laugh with them.

5 Weeks Left...

Okay...

Backache? - yes!...and on busy days, I feel like my pelvis is going to crack right in half.

Constipation? - no!...I have no problem pooping.  That has been my strong suit - regular, every day, very easy.

Heartburn? - YES! - HOLY, holy Heartburn!

Nausea, Vomiting, Acne? - no...

Aching feet? - No...not really, but I definitely wouldn't pass up a foot massage...or a lower leg massage, or even a thigh, butt, back, shoulder massage.

Incontinence? - yes!...yes, yes, yes.  Darnit.  It's the sneezing that does...almost every single time.  Ewww.

Exhaustion? - YES! - beyond exhaustion.

Varicose Veins? -yep!...in places I never thought was possible.  Again - Ewww.

Moodiness? - I guess so...according to some people - but for the record, I can't help it - us pregnant people have got a lot more hormone activity going on than you non-pregnant people. 

Nosy Strangers? - They don't bother me the least bit.  Because regardless of the back pain, heartburn, peeing my pants, yucky varicose veins, cellulite on my back,  shortness of breath, and exhaustion to the point of delusion...I love being pregnant!  I've been fortunate to have easy, healthy pregnancies without any complications or major concerns.  

...and like I've said before - I am embracing this pregnancy, as we only have 5 more weeks 'til this little girl is here - which means just 5 more weeks of carrying this baby in my belly, 5 more weeks of feeling her acrobats, 5 more weeks of hiccups, 5 more weeks of this solitary bonding that only I get.

***************************************************

I read in my email the other day that some doctors recommend massaging the perineum (the area between your vulva and anus) to help you avoid having an episiotomy or tearing during childbirth - and if you'd like to do this massage, now's the time to start.  Here's one method I'll present to the hubby tonight to see if he wants to help me:

1.  Wash your hands and then sit in a warm, comfortable area, spreading your legs apart in a semi-reclined position.  Put Vitamin E oil or pure vegetable oil on your fingers and thumbs and around your perineum.

2.  Place your thumbs about 1 - 1.5 inches (up to or just past your first knuckle) inside your vagina.  Press down toward your rectum and then out toward the sides.  Gently and firmly continue stretching until you feel a slight burn or tingling.  Hold this stretch for about 2 minutes - until the tingling starts to subside.

3.  Slowly and gently massage the lower part of the vaginal canal back and forth, hooking your thumbs onto the sides of the vaginal canal and gently pulling these tissues forward, as your baby's head will do during delivery.  Keep this up for 3 to 4 minutes.

4.  Be gentle, as a vigorous touch could cause bruising or swelling in these sensitive tissues.  During the massage avoid pressure on the urethra (urinary opening).  This can cause irritation or infection.

Ha.Ha.Ha.

Ya, Right!

I'm just joking! (don't get any ideas, Kevin!)
Although some women may do this, it's totally not my thing.

So...anyway...5 weeks left and embracing!

Baby's Cells

Your Baby's Cells Stay In You For Life

During pregnancy, cells sneak across the placenta. The fetus's cells enter the mother and the mother's cells enter the baby --and stay there for life. In mothers, fetal cells often take residence in her lungs, spinal cord, skin, thyroid gland, liver, intestine, cervix, gallbladder, spleen, lymph nodes, and blood vessels. The baby's cells may also live a lifetime in Mom's heart and brain. 

-Sheryl Feldman

Here's a picture of our pretty little girl!

We tried to get a 3D/4D picture of her this morning, but her little arms and legs wouldn't leave her face long enough to get a picture.

I was amazed at watching hers eye open and close, open and close, open and close...

and her mouth kept opening and closing - she was either busy sucking and tasting or telling us a story...

and she kept sticking her little tongue out at us.

Her bladder was full and her heart rate was 132 beats per minute.

She's measuring in at around 2.5 pounds.

Mmmmmm - I can't wait to meet her!

Firsts

Last night the kids got to experience decorating their own pizzas for the first time -

-and they LOVED it!!

Makayla did an awesome job loading her pizza up with cheese, pepperoni, canadian bacon, pepperoni, canadian bacon, and a little more pepperoni while Mason did an awesome job eating all of his toppings.  He couldn't get past a half cheese pizza because he was too busy filling his mouth!

Some other "firsts" for the kids this summer...

First time at swimming lessons for Mason -

-and he LOVED it!!

Mason can't get enough of the water and has no fear.  He loves to jump, splish, splash, swim, kick, go under water...he loves it all and it is always a huge fight to get him out of the pool.

Makayla is the complete opposite of Mason when it comes to the water.  She loves it just as much, but is a little bit more reserved and prefers safety over anything else.  She loves to have her floaties with her but gets a little more brave with each trip to the pool.

First time at the dentist office for Makayla -

-and she LOVED it!!

Her teeth got tickled with Cookies 'n Cream toothpaste and she got a goody bag full of prizes (because with every prize Makayla got, she had to get another for her brother Mason - so her goody bag was double the size as it should be). 

I let her go back to the dentist chair without me - all by herself - and let her get started like a big girl.  Once she was all settled in the chair and after they counted her teeth (20 teeth - 10 on top, 10 on bottom), Mason and I headed back. 

Based upon Makayla's run of luck this summer (ER visit and OR visit) and all the gum she chews, I was just praying for a good visit -

-and her visit was beyond good!  She loved it!

She kept saying "I didn't even cry!" and as I kept telling her how good she did and how brave she was, she kept saying "Dad is just going to freak out!". 

I love her!

...and even mommy experienced something for the first time this summer -

It was a first for me, the other night, when I waved to our cat in the drive-way.  

I was on the way to the sitters to pick up the kids at the end of the day and Chief was laying out in our drive-way.  I said "hey" and waved to him as I drove on by.

It was one of those moments where I sunk down in my seat with embarrassment.  As if Chief could hear, see, or understand me!  Who waves to their cat in passing?!  Obviously an exhausted pregnant woman does.  It was the first time I've ever done something like that and I hope it's the last! (it would be totally different if I wasn't in my car where Chief couldn't even see or hear me)...

Having a summer FULL of "firsts" - pizza decorating, Mason's swimming lessons, and Makayla's trip to the dentist (...even mommy's wave to Chief) are just a few of our experiences to always remember.

25 Weeks And A Non-Stress Test

I'm telling you - I have a wild woman in my womb!

We went for a regular doctor visit this morning - 25 weeks, 4 days.

First - Weigh - check (gained 3 pounds)

Second - Pee in a cup - check.

Third - Blood pressure - check (110/60)

Finally - Listen to baby's heartbeat - check (extremely fast)

I couldn't help it, but at the sound of baby's heartbeat, I started giggling.  I had just never heard her heartbeat so loud and so fast before!  Dr laughed and asked me what I had for breakfast.  I only had a banana, a bowl of cereal, and juice (and two bottles of water so I could pee in the cup)...but you would have thought that I had Oreos and a Mountain Dew for breakfast!

After our appointment, I made my next appointment for three weeks - one of my favorite visits to the doctor while being pregnant.  In three weeks we get to do the Glucose Test to test for gestational diabetes (I love the orange drink you get to drink for it) and do another ultrasound!

...then I headed upstairs to the OB floor at the request of doctor to do a non-stress test.  He wanted to monitor baby's heart beat for a little bit.

I laid in bed, they hooked me up (to a monitor for the heartbeat and a monitor for contractions), and watched the Olympics.  I was supposed to only be monitored for about 45 minutes, but because baby was so active and moved around so much, it was about 1.5 hours!  It was hard for them to get data with baby on the move, but doctor said that if everything looked normal from what they did have, then I could be discharged.  Thankfully, everything looked great!

*While being monitored, I learned from the nurse that a fetal heart rate of over 160 beats per minute is considered Tachycardia*

Remember those two bottles of water and a cup of juice I had before my appointment?...well, that started kicking in!!  A couple of times while being monitored, my bladder reached the maximum capacity of urine and I had to get up to use the restroom.  Whew!  

Anyway, the way things have been going for us, I should have expected that we weren't going to have an easy and normal doctor's appointment.  It's just a little nerve-wracking to have to be monitored and possibly consider there might be an issue, but I'm thankful that everything sounded and looked good and that I got to hear my baby's heartbeat and strong loud kicks for 1.5 hours this morning!

Wild In The Womb

Wrapping up our 24th week!
...and starting to have to remind myself at times to embrace every single moment of this third and last pregnancy!

From the time I wake up until the time I go to bed, I very rarely feel baby girl move.  Several times throughout the day, I will have to stop - sit down and relax - and wake baby girl up.  I have to rub my belly, get a little nudge from her, and assure myself that she's okay :)


Between working during the day and playing with a 1 year old and 3 year old in the evenings, I stay pretty active and on my feet.  I tend to the think that all of the walking and 'up and at 'em' lull baby girl to sleep.  If she does get a little active during the day, maybe I don't notice it because I'm too busy staying busy!


It's not until the late evening or when I'm laying in bed that this little baby goes WiLd in the womb!!  It's absolutely amazing and sometimes I have to get up and get busy just to lull her back to sleep! 


Books say that at 24 weeks gestation, baby is about a foot long coming in at just over 1 pound.  Imagine a one pound ear of corn or a one pound foot long hot dog having a dance party in your womb.  I know anyone who has been pregnant knows exactly what I'm talking about - it's awesome! - one of my very favorite things about being pregnant. 

You go from the little movements (fish blowing bubbles or popcorn popping) to the kicks and punches (what I'm about ready to write about) to the final stages of there being no room in your belly for baby to move (rolls and waves).


So...what does it feel like when baby girl goes wild in the womb?

Sometimes it feels like she has 6 arms and 6 legs - I can't wrap my mind around what could possibly be kicking me and punching me in so many different areas of my belly all at the same time.  It really feels like there is an octopus in my belly that has her tentacles simultaneously knocking on my insides.  Crazy!

  

Sometimes it feels like she is stretching so hard that she is going to pop right through my stomach - I know I have so much more to grow and I know my belly will double in size, but sometimes I think that if I was any bigger, she would rip my skin.  The baby stretches and extends her arms out as far as she can above her head and streeetches and reaches with her feet to touch the very opposite end of her cozy little home.  It's a "feel good" pain and completely impressive!


Sometimes it feels like she is having seizures - This one kind of freaks me out a little bit.  Sometimes there are  one hundred quick movements within 10 seconds in my womb.  What in the world is going on in there?!  I don't know whether to describe it as seizure action or baby girl just being spastic.  These movements are quick, short, and jumpy.  Cool but freaky...and still makes me smile!

Sometimes she punches or kicks so hard that she makes my entire body move - Every once in awhile my entire body will jerk at the strength of her one little punch or kick.  I can't help but say "whoa" and giggle.  


I'm in awe of what one little teeny tiny baby can do.


So...nearing the end of our 24th week and getting a kick out of all of the baby's movements!
No pun intended :)
*i just cracked myself up*

A Bit About Each

First up is...Baby

Documenting the progress, we're 20 weeks along - halfway there!  

As we (me and the kids) pose along the wall and Kevin takes our pictures (a lot of pictures), it's really funny to go back through and look at all of the expressions that were captured.  

20 weeks along and feeling great!

• I don't have any particular cravings.  A couple of months ago, I loved hot dogs and ate 2-3 hot dogs a day - one for breakfast, one before bed, and one during the day as a snack.  This month, I feel like I have lived off of berries and french fries - blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, and french fries with ketchup.
• For a few weeks now, I have been feeling baby move.  But being pregnant with my 3rd, I haven't felt near as much movement as I had expected or heard...just one more thing for me to be nervous about if I think about it.
• Tomorrow we have another doctor's appointment and we get to hopefully (fingers crossed) see what gender the baby is.  And yes, for all of those who question if we're finding out what we're having since we already have one of each, we will be finding out if baby cooperates!  It's just something I need to do for bonding, preparing, and organizing purposes!

Up next is...Makayla

3 years old and swings all by herself!

A huge accomplishment!
It was our goal to learn how to pump our legs and swing by ourselves before the end of summer...and look how much time we have left to spare!

"Soaring towards the sky,

I gaze at the tallest tree...

The breeze flows through my hair, 

My thoughts are simple and free..."

She gets so much joy swinging by herself and I get so much joy watching her face (and relaxing in a chair rather than standing at the swings pushing non-stop for an hour or more day after day)!

Finishing up with...Mason

1 year old and can put his shoes on!

Mason can put his own shoes on (thanks to Crocs)!

It feels great to be getting things ready and packed up to head out and I can tell Mason to go put his shoes on.  Not only does it save me time, but it gives him a sense of independence and something to be proud of.

Not only do I love watching him put his shoes on (and most of the time they are on the right feet), but I love watching his face as he looks up at me so proudly when he is done!

He is always so excited to put his shoes and he loves wearing his shoes.  He'll even put his shoes on at night after his bath.  Watching him play at night with his jammies and shoes on just gives me another reason to smile.

It's all kind of bittersweet to watch my kids grow and accomplish these simple, yet wonderful things - swinging and putting shoes on!  I love watching my kids grow, but it makes me sad that the days of learning these things for them are behind us.

It will be gone before you know it.  The fingerprints on the wall appear higher and higher.  Then suddenly they disappear.

-Dorothy Evslin