Birthday

One year ago today--at this exact moment--I went into labor.

And at 2:53 am on August 16, 2008, Alice made her entrance into this world.

Every day, she teaches me about patience, and laughter, and about the utter uncertainty of everything.

Oh, and poop. Every day, she teaches me something new about poop.

I remember holding her in my arms when she was just days old and weeping. "She'll never know, I sniffled. "She'll never know how much I love her until the day she becomes a mother herself."

And that, dear readers, is the irony of being a mother.

Happy birthday, monkey girl!

Before (39 1/2 weeks pregnant)

During (Alice, minutes old)

After (Alice, 11 months)