Ava's FIRST Birthday

Today Ava turned 1!

It was last year at this time that I spent the whole night awake with contractions every 10 minutes that were not progressing so when Earl got up I sent him to work thinking we were not going to have a baby today. I got a shower and got dressed and went to work only to finally have the contraction start progressing. 7 minutes apart by 9am, 5 minutes apart by 10am. The OB said it was time to go the hospital. Earl was at work in Baltimore so I called him to head home to grab the bag and I took the metro followed by a bus to the hospital. (It makes for a good story, right?!?) I figured they were going to make me walk once I got to the hospital so I might as well get a head start. I was only 2 cm dilated so when Earl got to the hospital we walked the halls for another hour. The OB arrived at noon to check me and no progress had been made. Contractions 3 minutes apart but still only 2 cm dilated. She told me I could either go home and try and sleep, YEAH RIGHT!, or she could break my water. I said, "Let's get this show on the road". Ten minutes later she broke my water and hooked me up to pitocin. My biggest mistake was only eating a banana prior to this because the only think I was allowed to eat from this point on was ice and 1 ice pop (although I convinced them to give me a second because at about 4:30pm I thought I was going to eat my arm). I was so tired but the contractions were too close together to fall asleep and Earl was pacing in the room. Earl's parents arrived around 1pm. Around 4:00 I finally gave in and asked for an epidural because I was still only 4cm dilated. Why was it moving so slowly! I really needed to sleep if I was going to have any energy to push out Ava. Right before 5pm the Anesthesiologist arrived. He might be my best friend because it was a phenomenal epidural. Pain relief immediately and I could finally rest. About an hour and a half later the nurse came back in to check...8cm dilated, WOW that was fast. My mom and the kids as well as Earl's parents ate quickly as they had just gotten food at an Italian restaurant across from the hospital. By 9pm I was at 10cm and it was time to get ready. I sat up and started to focus on the contractions. Earl was a great coach and we were luck enough to get the charge nurse because there was another woman who started pushing right around the same time I did. 10:07pm she was out. There was a little bit of miconium so Ava had to go the the NICU but luckily it was so much that they rush off with her. Earl and I both got to hold her for aminute before they took her away. It was amazing and so hard to believe it has already been a year.

To celebrate we had dinner at our favorite restaurant, Canyon Creek. and then went to Barnes and Noble so Ava could pick out a book and get dessert to take home.

At B&N Ava played at the train table and picked out an Elmo book that sings.

Once we got home Ava ate her dessert while watching Mickey and played with her book. The first birthday was a success and we are very excited for the party on Saturday.