My beautiful baby girl. I just can't believe it ... she's 2 years old as of yesterday. We had a nice little party with all of her little cousin friends on Saturday and then went to the LA County Fair with the Ericson and the Batista (Zach) families. We had a great celebration!
But my heart is breaking. I haven't been able to think or talk about it without choking up. Aitana was a surprise, but much welcomed pregnancy. 8 1/2 months of waiting, 5 wks of contractions, 3 or 4 weeks of partial bedrest, and 4 false-alarm hospital visits. Then October 4th came. I knew I would have her that day, but my doctor told me to wait until the planned c-section on the 7th. I woke up, got ready for my final ob appt and headed out ... alone. Doctor told me I had to go home and do nothing or I would deliver that day. But I had things that I had to do ... so I went shopping and then indulged in a huge plate of nachos. I needed nachos.
Well, 4:30pm rolls around and I felt like I was about to be sick, bad back aches that made me feel like I would barf ... but I didn't! After about 15 minutes of this I realized that the feeling was coming every 4 minutes. I climbed into bed and called my mom and a girlfriend and they both said "CALL THE DOCTOR! YOU'RE IN LABOR!" I cried ... my baby girl was coming. Doctors office said to head to the hospital immediately, but I couldn't drive and Kinwa was in San Diego. I called him to find out where he was and told him we had to go. He had no sense of urgency seeing as we had done this 4 times before and each time we were sent home. I had to convince him this was it and I was in labor ... luckily he was 20 miles from home! We got there, got monitored and waited.
It was hurry up and wait. They wanted to wait until my nachos had digested a little more, then the ob had a mommy on her last push, then an emergency c-section, then twins had to be delivered (they were much more high-risk than I was). Then it was our turn; the doctor was ready. I got the epidural and I was numb from my face down, I couldn't move and I was about to vomit, but then at 9:49pm on October 4, 2007, the doctor shouted "It's a girl! Congratulations!" We heard her cry and our world changed forever. Aitana Grace An-Mei was here and she was ours and she was beautiful and big and one of the best things to ever happen to me.
I can't believe it's been 2 years since that day. I ache with the realization that time goes by so fast. There is nothing I can do to slow it down. She is no longer a baby, she is a little girl. I can hardly remember what it was like when she was Gabriel's age now. She has grown big and strong and beautiful and head strong and loving and kind. She is such a lovely little girl. You can't help but smile when you look at her. And that in itself makes me so happy.
Happy birthday my baby girl. I love you more than you know. Thank you for being mine.
