Sophia's Third Birthday

Sophia is three today! She is turning into this amazing little girl who loves her big sister, loves to figure out how things work, loves to "help", and is very, very snuggly.

She was 6 pounds and 13 oz when she was born. Her skin was dry and flaky and pale and she had perfect oval doll-like fingernails. She seemed to smile at me once she came out of the water--she had a water birth--and then proceeded to cry and cry until she settled in and became very pink.



Please pardon my appearance. I had been up since 1 AM and had Sophia at 6:22 AM. The real contractions didn't really start for a while, either. I called my friend Ame to meet us at the hospital at about 3:20 AM and I wasn't even sure that this was It. I woke up my Mom and Ellen Aim, who were also with us. I found out in about an hour that, yes, this was most definitely It. I was 5 cm dilated when I got to the hospital and I think that was about 3:45. Mom took care of Fiona, who was 2 3/4 at the time and she basically played in the play room and checked in and out. She managed to get there when Sophia was pushed out. She, of course, had a diaper that needed changing right before that point. She doesn't remember much about Sophia's birth except these things: the treat bag we packed for her and the noise I made. Oh, she remembers the little extra bed made up on the floor of our hospital room. Short and sweet is the way to go for labor, I have to say. It sure is intense, though. Thank goodness I could use Doug for squeezing and whatever else I did during labor. I don't really remember much except I was definitely not happy.

That memory is fading, unfortunately, but we have lots of pictures and video of that time and the most precious written account of it by Ame, who was there for the birth (and who just had a baby girl of her own on the 14th! Another amazing baby girl!), that always makes me cry.




Here she is with her older sister and we have been so amazed how great they are together. We really have a complete family.





The last one was taken last week. Happy birthday, sweet Sophia!