My Baby Love is 6!!

Dirk used to (still does) call me "My Love" so when I was pregnant with Kaitlyn he called her "Baby Love". Today that little Baby Love turned 6. Let me share some memories about her arrival.

My due date with Kaitlyn was Sept. 21. I was barely 1 cm dialated when I saw the doctor a few days earlier but her decided he would induce me on Sept. 26. He was anticipating an 8# baby. I went to Strong around dinner time on Wed. the 25, to have my cervix "ripened". Whatever they put on me was a wonder drug, because the contractions started almost immediately. They weren't uncomfortable so I ate dinner and Dirk and I watched TV. The nurses kept coming in to check on me because the contractions looked pretty bad on their monitor. Later in the night they got bad and we realized it was the real deal.

I tried to avoid an epidural if I could (what was I thinking???) so got into the tub so relieve some of the pain. That helped for a bit. But then the contractions intensified. Bev was going to be my labor coach so Dirk called her and when she arrived I was about 8 cm. If I was going to get the epidural it had to be then. So I consented. Great decision!!! When it was finally time to push, I did so for about 2 hours. I was exhausted and couldn't do it anymore. So they got the vacuum out. That didn't work. Next came the forcepts and I think they literally ripped Kaitlyn out of me! Sorry for the graphics. Bev announced, "It's a girl!" and I couldn't believe it! When they cleaned her up and laid her on my chest I just sobbed and sobbed. I was so overwhelmed with love for this perfect little girl. We could tell right away she had curly hair. She weighed in at 8# 1 oz. and was born at 3:44 am. My doctor had wanted to induce me on the 26th. because he was on that day, starting at 6:30. But she came before he was on duty. So she was delivered by another doctor from the practice.

Here are some pictures of Kaitlyn through the years. I don't have any digital from her infancy.
She's 9 months old at Aaron and Christine's wedding. She loved Bunny then and still does!

Summer of 2005, not quite 3. Can those cheeks get any bigger?

Family Camp 2005

Bad hair day in Nov. 2006; she's 4.

She broke her elbow in Jan. '07.

At Amy and John's wedding, with cousin Joshua. Age 4

Taking time to smell the flowers on Easter, '07. Age 4.

Nursery School graduation, May '07

Her birthday in Pre-K, with Grandma Z.

She lost her first tooth, Feb.'08, age 5

First day of Kindergarten


Kaitlyn, you have brought so much sunshine into my life. You will always hold a special place in my heart as my firstborn. Just the mention of your name makes me smile. I love your imagination, your creativity and sensitivity. I love everything about you!! Thanks for being our Baby Love.

Look for pictures from her birthday party to come in the next few days.