Dear Lily, Happy 5th Birthday To My Little Monkey!

Dear Lily,

I know this is so cliche, but I can’t believe you are 5 years old today!!! I hope when you are older and go back through my blog you find this and it puts a smile on your face.  You are such an amazing little girl who loves life.  You attack life head on and always want to try everything you possibly can (except vegetables, you rarely try those).  You have a smile that is contagious and a laugh that can cheer anyone up instantly.  Your sense of humor is already hilarious and I am so proud to be your mom.  

5 years ago today I took this picture before I headed to the doctor for my normal checkup.  Little did I know my blood pressure would be 181 over 142 and they would send me straight to the hospital.

They induced me, but during contractions your heart rate dropped and I was rushed into a c-section.  

It all happened so fast.  You were all of 3 lbs 15 oz.  I remember looking at you with a smile on my face and the first thing I ever said to you was “You have the tiniest nose I have ever seen.”  

You spent one night in the regular nursery.  Other than being tiny you were totally healthy, but after not being able to stay warm you were transferred to the NICU to hang out in a nice warm incubator. 

I was in the hospital for 7 days until they could get my blood pressure down and you were in the NICU for 13 days until you could keep your heat, since there wasn’t much fat on your little body.  

I remember getting to go to the NICU every 3 hours to feed you and it was the joy in my days.

The binkys (which you would later always call ginky’s) were almost as big as your tiny head.

You had to pass a carseat test before you were allowed to come home from the NICU.  You had to stay in the carseat in the NICU for 1 hour without losing your oxygen to pass.  The first time we tried you had just ate and ended up spitting up ALL OVER.  So we had to wait until the next day and you passed.  

You instantly had your dad wrapped around your pinky…even though you could wrap all your tiny fingers around just one of his.

The last 5 years has been a whirlwind.  I love you so so much.  I am so thankful I have the best job on the face of the Earth, to be you mom.  Thank you for being my daughter.

Happy 5th birthday my sweet, beautiful, feisty, smart, funny little Lily monkey.  

Love,

Mama