ONE!!!

It's hard to believe this picture was taken one year ago yesterday. In some ways it seems like she was born just a couple of months ago, and in other ways I feel like she has been in our lives for years. This picture is an example of how we felt a year ago: unprepared. In all of the craziness of the morning we left for the hospital, we forgot to bring our camera! Scott had to go to the gift shop to buy a disposable camera. It was a piece of quality workmanship - the flash didn't even work. This is the only picture that even remotely turned out.

Before Madeline was born I honestly felt like I was prepared to be the mother of a newborn. I'm the oldest of six children, the youngest being triplets. I helped my mom out a lot with my siblings. I babysat for twin baby boys during college. I worked as a nurse on an infant medical/surgical unit for two years. I thought I had a pretty good resume for being a mother. I really wasn't anxious at all.

Well, motherhood doesn't require a resume, and I found that mine wasn't helpful at all, except that I was an expert "swaddler". Being a mother is so much more than daily tasks like bathing and changing diapers. I was amazed at how little I knew about how to take care of my child.

I have learned many things during the last year, and continue to learn everyday. I have learned to have more patience, how to be more selfless, how to love more strongly, how to be more gentle and nurturing. I am truly a better person now than I was a year ago.

Last night we went to eat at La Madeleine. I was thrown a baby shower there by my coworkers just a couple of days before Madeline was born. It was nostalgic for me, and fitting because of the name.

Then we opened presents at home. Grandma Serr's presents hit the spot - a puzzle that makes animal noises and an electronic purse. She didn't care about opening any other presents after the puzzle.

She especially didn't care about the bear I made for her, which she promply pushed away. I guess it was probably a little scary and mangy looking. She liked it a little better today.

I am so happy to have Madeline in our family. She has brought us a lot of joy. We look forward to learning and growing with her for a long, long time.