Happy 2nd Birthday Ana Maria!!

Today is Ana Maria's 2nd Birthday!! Celebrating her birthday brings back so many sweet memories of her birth and of her 1st birthday last year.
Just a little about her birth story as I remember today...She was born at 5:33pm and I went into the hospital at 12:00. It happened fast! I had not been feeling her move since the day before so Eduardo and I were a little concerned. We didn't want to be over cautious because we didn't want to go to the hospital, unless it was something serious but we just wasn't sure. So we went to church and after church we decided it would be best to go and just listen to the heartbeat. sure enough, I was 5 cm and they said I could stay and have the baby if I wanted. Luckily, I had my bags packed but Eduardo had nothing and he didn't have lunch! They brought me upstairs and right away started the drips for me to have baby girl. We didn't know what the sex was, it was a surprise! I pushed two times and out she came. They had to use the forceps because they could see her heartrate dropping as she was moving down the birth canal. Her umbilical cord was short so they wanted to get her fast.
She weighed 8 lbs. and was 21 1/2 inches long. Eduardo was there for the whole experience!! I feel like this all just happened yesterday...
We didn't have any family in town because we didn't know when she was going to come and felt like having my mom there after we got home, would be better. We ended up staying an extra night in the hospital, 3 nights, because our doctor knew we didn't have family at home and he said stay and we'll take care of you! As most of you know, the Spring is such a busy time of year for Eduardo and tennis season so we were lucky he was home for the birth. He was gone mostly during the days while I was at the hospital at practice and even a match I think, but was always there at night. Friends from my school that I taught at would come all day and stay with me and at home also.
The day I left the hospital, Eduardo took Ana Maria and I home and went straight to a tennis match. I couldn't believe I was at home with my baby girl finally!!

Another funny story that I don't think I have ever written down is the weekend Eduardo left for a tennis trip. We came home from the hospital on a Wednesday and Eduardo was leaving Friday morning for a trip. It was okay though because my mom was coming Friday night so I wouldn't be alone that long. Eduardo left and my mom's flight was cancelled. It kept getting delayed and then finally it was cancelled! Everyone was getting so anxious and nervous for me. I tried to stay calm but was nervous also with my baby girl 4 days old, home alone all night!! She ended up coming the next afternoon and everything was fine after that. She stayed for a week and then a couple weeks later, my sister came. I didn't go back to work until the last 2 weeks of school. My sister came to stay with Ana Maria while I went to work everyday. I knew we were moving so I needed to pack up my classroom and finish out the school year.

If you have read all of this, you are special!! Today on her birthday, I just keep remembering her "birth" day and everything that happened!! I will post pictures later of what we have been doing to celebrate...she is one special girl with lots of people that love her and care about her!! I've probably said "Happy Birthday" a million times to her already today. I just can't say it enough!! I am so proud and happy that she is in this world and we have her birthday to celebrate!