"Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body." Elizabeth Stone

Thursday, May 27, 2010

One year





May 27th is an important day to me for several reasons.
On this day in 2002 I walked down a long aisle in a red cap and gown, shook the hand of the Superintendant (?) and was handed a diploma. I was finally done after 12 long years I was a high school graduate, an adult (yeah, right).
Just three short years later, on the same day, in 2005 I walked down an even longer aisle in an even more crowded arena, this time in a black cap and gown and too tight heels, shook the hand of some guy I'd never met and was handed, this time a degree. I was a college graduate, the first and to this day only, one in my family to do it. I headed out in the world to kick ass and take names, after a short, mostly druken, do things I would never normally do and to this day won't admit to half of them, trip to New Orleans.
In the time since went through several jobs, several more boyfriends and too many nights out drinking and embarassing myself, settled down, got married to the man of my dreams and one year ago today I did something I had dreamed of doing, but was never sure I really would. At 5:30 am I walked through the doors of the hospital, checked in and was shown to an ldr suite, I was handed an ugly gown and told to strip down. I was poked, prodded, pushed on and ultrasounded and had my nether regions shaved by a complete stranger. Then I was led to a unnaturally bright, awful smelling operating room full of more complete strangers, except my doctor. For more than half an hour I was stabbed in the back with a scary looking needle, finally, she hit the right spot and my lower body began to get warm and go numb. The team finished setting up and after what seemed like an eternity escorted my blue-clad husband into the room and got down to business. The whole experience was surreal, my upper body was shaking like an addict going through withdrawls and who knows what was happening on the other side of the sheet. The hubs held my hand and told me how much he loved me, the guy with the meds monitored machines and told me I was doing great, a nurse counted and my doc whistled and joked. At 8:36 am I gave birth to the most beautiful and stubborn baby girl.
The year since has flown by in a flurry of laughter and joy and tears. She is still the most beautiful, stubborn, brilliant, loving baby in the world and I could not be more blessed to have her in my life. I love you baby girl, Happy 1st birthday Princess.

3 comments:

  1. Ashley, that was a beautiful story and congratulations both on your young lady and your luck in life and love!!!
    Happy Birthday "Princess" from someone who is looking at the picture and smiling at that "look" on her face, she is very cute and you and your husband are very blessed...

    jackie b central texas

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you so much! I am very blessed.

    ReplyDelete