Happy Birthday Marlo!

Yesterday, Marlo turned 1.

It's the milestone of milestones. All week I've been having flashbacks to last year. A year ago, I went to the clinic for a routine appointment. As it had with Hayden, my blood pressure had suddenly jumped up. However, with Hayden, I was allowed to go home on bed rest. This time, I was sent directly to the hospital.

I spent a lot time getting tests and monitoring. I was already in early labor, so my labor was "augmented" rather than strictly induced. Labor was easy this time around. Marlo was born late afternoon/early evening on the 24th, perfect and beautiful with a full head of hair. I was delivered by my regular OB (just luck of the draw--she happened to be on call). Everyone reading this blog knows the rest of the story. I ended up bleeding buckets (reason still unknown), and was eventually taken to OR and anesthetized and transfused. I spent 3 days in ICU recovering before being transferred to the regular maternity recovery room.

I had a pretty rough go with Hayden, but this topped it. The ICU nurse told me they only see 1 or 2 maternity patients down there per year. However, since I spent most of my pregnancy in a haze of anxiety (shingles, antibodies, hernias, you name it), I was mostly just relieved to have a healthy baby.

Anyway, the memories of a year ago are pretty vivid, given the circumstances. And because the memories are still so strong, the past year seems to have gone extra fast. My little 7 lb 14 oz baby is now walking and starting to talk. Sleepy at birth (she was jaundiced), she still is a good sleeper...but incredibly active when awake. Happy temperament then, happy temperament now (with just a touch of attitude for good measure).

My 1 year old thoroughly enjoyed her birthday. There was cake, after all--shaped like a caterpillar. And wrapping paper, balloons, and time to play outside. She was a little mystified by everyone singing "Happy Birthday," though.

She loved all of her presents. Ben and I got her her own little chair. We got the same thing for Hayden when he turned one and we were amazed by how much he loved it. She had recently been climbing into his chair, and so was pretty excited to get her own. She liked to sit in her chair and look at birthday cards! Hayden got her a book, always a hit, and from family and friends she received many fun and thoughtful gifts--Baby Stella and accessories, a toy flying saucer (Hayden LOVED this one!), clothes, and a play sink.

It's been an incredible first year with her in our family--and we are already enjoying the second.

Happy Birthday baby Marlo!

Preschool Graduation!

Today was Hayden's preschool graduation, and his last day at St. John's. There were caps (cardboard) and diplomas. Every kid got a stuffed dog with the kids' and teachers' signatures. There was even a program which listed each child's future occupation. Hayden, of course, plans on being an astronaut. One classmate is going to be a "mad kitty." Another, an architect. There were several ballerinas, a Jedi knight, a baseball player, a handful of Moms and Dads, policemen and firemen, and one judge on American Idol. We also got to see where all of the graduates will be attending Kindergarten. Hayden, now an urban expatriate, was the only representative of his new school. That was kind of sad, as he has a lot of nice friends at St. John's we will miss. But what do I know? Here's what Hayden has to say about preschool, in his own words:

His favorite thing about preschool: "making friends."

Favorite thing to do: "play, play, play."

Best friend: "Thomas"

What he will miss the most: "magnet animal builders."

Favorite thing to play outside: "Power Rangers"

Favorite thing to eat: "pizza"

Favorite song at school: "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Because it was so short."

What he is looking forward to in Kindergarten: "show and tell"

What he thinks he'll learn about in Kindergarten: "space"

Best part about summer vacation: "break from school."
Me: "I thought you loved school." Hayden: "But Mama, I don't get to sit down that much!"

Go West

Well, we've left the city. I swore up and down countless times that I would never leave the city. Famous last words, I suppose. We lived there 12 years--2 in an apartment, 4 in a condo, and 6 in our old house. A part of me will always be in Minneapolis and will always be urban. I may have been raised in the suburbs, but the city felt like home.

And now, here I am, back in the suburbs! But although I worried and wondered whether my heart would break upon suburbanizing, so far so good. Our new house is beautiful, and although we are in the suburbs, it seems really like we have found a little half-acre nature oasis. Already, Hayden and I have spotted deer in the front yard and 2 baby turtles in our pond. The neighbors tell me there are also foxes, and I have seen a ton of hawks. Our house seems covered in bird nests (I've counted 3), and the frogs sing like crazy at night. It's weirdly private--no airplane noise, no neighbors in underwear. We can hear the nearby highway sometimes, and also the sound of a train whistle.

The best part has been seeing the kids in the yard. Hayden loves the wildlife. He's named the 2 baby turtles Snoopy and Max and he loves to watch them nibble at the moss on the edge of the pond. Marlo has a lot of soft grass to toddle around in, and lots of room to roll her beloved balls ("baaa!" "baaa!").
We're a week into suburbia...we'll see how it grows on us!