A Year Ago Today

A year ago today, my Baby Roo came into the world. She's the end of our little (big) family, our little caboose. She has spent the past year charming the pants off of us, and that's mostly because we're more than willing to allow ourselves to be charmed. Mr. C and I have taken extra care with this one to enjoy every new phase and stage, knowing it's the last time we're going to be able to enjoy having one so little and precious. Miss Baby Roo has obliged us by growing up slowly, beautifully, and in no rush at all. While her brother and sister were both walking by one, she's taking her time. I like to think that it's because she knows that if she really wants to get somewhere there's almost always someone around to pick her up and carry her there. She's very calm, very laid back, and almost always content to sit back and watch. Her favorite thing in the world is to hang out with her brothers and sister, watch them, and make sure to laugh whenever they laugh.

Now, everytime one of my kids has a birthday I like to take some time and reflect back on the day when they first came into the world. It's one of those sacred things that come with the package when you're gifted with motherhood. However, my mind isn't what it used to be. Heck, I'll be honest... it was never much to start with. Motherhood has taken it's toll however, but luckily- LUCKILY!- God has graced us with the internet. More specifically, he has graced us with Myspace* and old high school friends.
*Disclaimer- I have since grown up and moved to Facebook with the rest of the adult world. While I am not ashamed to say that I do sometimes miss Myspace and the layouts, slideshows, and music players that went with it, I am thankful for my Facebook conversion because without it, I would never know the addiction that is Bejeweled Blitz.

Anyway, my old high school friend Amy B-(we just call each other b, short for biatch cuz we're cool like that. Actually, she really is, but she lets me pretend that I am, which is why I love her)- we have spent countless hours bs'ing to each other on Myspace and Facebook. Our sense of humor hovers right around that of a 7th grade boy's (which is another reason why I love her) and I am almost as addicted to her as I am to Bejeweled Blitz. On the day that I went into labor with Baby Roo, she was my outlet. So it's thanks to her and our love for Foodie talk, that I have a whole recorded history on what I was doing the day that my Roo was born. I'll share it here with you:

----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: tacy
Date: Nov 5, 2008 10:06 PM


just change your mood status b. it's not looking like today is the day either.

she said i've only dialated another cm. and that it's not time for hospitals or induction yet. she DID say that the baby is low, low, low. she scraped membranes again and said that she felt the baby's fingers up by her face. cute but OUCH. hurt like hell.

so, i'll take j for a walk and get me some spicy Thai for lunch. and then wait. and wait. and wait.
----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: amy b
Date: Nov 5, 2008 10:37 AM


that is so cute! and creepy all at once!
i mean she was so close to your babies fingers!
can't she reach up and pull her hand out?

and man thai food sounds sooooo good!
have you had chicken larb? sounds gross but i always get that.
and beef or chicken satay with peanut sauce. yum.
----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: tacy
Date: Nov 5, 2008 11:15 PM

I'm checking out our take-out Thai menu wondering what to get. i've never heard of that chicken larb. i'll ask them if they have it when i call.

the doc suggested that if i want to speed things along i should try some castor oil or an enema- but only after contractions have been consistent (which they still aren't). but i'm thinking of doing the castor oil anyway this afternoon. i know 3 mommies who that's worked for. could be disastrous though- especially after some spicy pad thai.
what do u think?
----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: amy b
Date: Nov 5, 2008 11:27 AM

the chicken larb is in the salad section i think. it's diced up chicken very spicy with some mint taste to it. and they serve it with lettuce cups.
you make a kinda lettuce burrito with it. very good.

do you have a history of having "accidents" on the delivery table?
most everybody that delivers thru the VA-JAY does.
but thai food..yes, could be messy.
i say try the castor oil. after mr.c gets home!

----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: tacy
Date: Nov 5, 2008 12:04 PM

i got cantonese instead of thai. it was on the way back from the preschool. i've had 3 good whoopers of contractions in the last hour, so maybe castor oil won't even be necessary. we'll see. i called mr.c and put him on alert.

and remember my story about what happened in front of my Antonio Banderas look alike doctor? i don't want to do that again. but today my new doc told me that if she was worried about that kind of stuff she'd be a checker at Ralph's or some other kind of job.
girl doctors are just better, i tell u.
----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: amy b
Date: Nov 5, 2008 1:29 PM

3 whooper of contractions!
i'm not gonna change my mood i tell ya! i can feel it!
this time i can really feel it!!
but then again, didn't i say i liked nov 11th (11/11) for a birthdate?
ONLY KIDDING :)

----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: tacy
Date: Nov 5, 2008 2:07 PM

i have had contractions at 1:34, 1:37, 1:41, & 1:54. i am going to the hospital today for sure. i'm just trying to hold out till mr. c gets home- in the meantime i'm cleaning.

my phone is charging b- i'll keep you in the know!

tacy

------------------Original Message------------------
From: amy b
Date: Nov 5, 2008 2:12 PM

i got chills!!!!!! it's gonna happen today!!!!!!!

danis b-day
black man in office
hells bells says she's SORRY

it's a new DAY!
a GREAT day to bring a baby into the world!!!!!!

YAAAAAAAAAY!
love you b & i can't wait to hear from ANYBODY with the good news!

***
Neither one of us knew it at the time, but we were creating a fabulous gift for me and a future Baby Roo because now i remember exactly what I was doing a year ago today.
And a couple hours later there was this:





Happy Birthday Baby Roo! Since the first moment we saw your brand new chubby chipmunk cheeks, we knew we were blessed! We can't wait to see what joys you bring us in year #2!