Happy Birthday Grace!

On July 30, 2004, at 2:10 am, after 20 hours of labor, Grace, 14 days late, made her way into the world. I can honestly say I vividly remember practically every moment of that day. From heading out the door to go to Pennsylvania Hospital, being checked in, the nurse with the great purple clogs who got my IV line started, my first contraction while watching Regis, the searing pain of pitocin contractions, Tom's beyond worried face, my asshole doctor practicing his golf swing while I pushed and the volleyball-coach nurse who screamed at me to push Grace out when I didn't think I could, the monitor showing the decreasing heartbeat with each contraction, the urgency of everyone yelling push, her first screams which still brings me to tears and the sound of the doctor's voice saying you have a girl. And then me repeating it to Tom who had not heard him and was about to hit the floor. . .

And yet, here she is. Beautiful Grace. The little baby who taught me how to be a mommy and was patient enough to stick it out with me as we figure out this parenting stuff. I'm not sure what else I can say except how thankful I am for Grace. She's taught me so much in so few years. She's an amazing little girl who lights up our life with so much happiness.

I know you're all too lazy to go back in the blog archives so I put together some of my favorite pictures. It took a really long time and so there are gaps but you get a sense of, as historians say, change over time. But yet I see continuities, as I always do. . .

The first official picture of Grace
I adore this picture
Did I mention she weighed 9 pounds, 6 ounces? Eeeeeeeeeowch!
Duckie kisses: classic
Wow-she can sit now! Loved that bouncy seat!
I still see that smile

Grace loved peekaboo

He, he, he-I really laughed when I saw this one. Grace was an early roller but had great difficulty rolling back. LOL!
Ah yes--the bloated bumblebee Halloween!
Oh man---this picture!!!!!!! I LOVED this outfit and the look on her face: Think, think, think.. . . . Where did I put that. . .
Easter--how sweet in her hat!

I like this one because you can see the absence of teeth just before her first birthday
One of my all time favs: "I Love Philly" with our row home in the background. Sniff. . .
I love this one even more
But maybe not as much as this one

Now Grace is getting bigger. She's laughing at the geeseLOL! Hope I made you laugh! I saw this one and had to include it! Digby's really bad haircut. Oh man--I'm still laughing!
Dancing with daddy when he came home from work--a big tradition. Victor Vito!


First hair cut
I put a crayon in her hands as soon as she could hold one
My sweet pumpkin
Loving fall

Still painting.
And baking!

And licking. Shhhh-don't tell Tom. Salmonella shmalmonellaI loved this dress on her on the 4th
Summer fun
And winter fun too
And then along came. . .

She's the poster child for fallHow can you not smile with her? Love the dimple
Maybe my all time favorite? Very close competitor to the recent closeup I took

If you want more lazyheads, go to the blog archive and click around. I simply cannot upload another picture when I have a giant day planned for just mommy and Grace.