Six Year. Time Flies.

As of 5:38 PM tomorrow I have been a Mommy for 6 years. At this time 6 years ago I was in bed with Ryan watching movies. We were going to Heidi's for dinner that night so we were being lazy.

The contractions started around 10:30 on that Monday night. I was walking up the stairs to Kevin's room to ask Ryan if he was ready to go. I had to stop mid-way because I had my first contraction (or at least the first one I could actually feel). I remember thinking, "Dude! What the heck was that?" That's when Heidi told me it was probably a contraction. By the time we got home they were every 45 minutes apart.

That was a very long night. I slept through a lot of it, but Ryan told me the next morning I moaned all night.

By 8:00 the next morning they were every 5 minutes. Ryan called his boss and I called the Doctor. The Doctor told me to wait until they were every 2 minutes apart. I then informed him that we had just moved 50 minutes away from the hospital and that I wasn't trying to have her in the car! He told me to come right in.

On the way there my husband decided we needed to stop for gas and a car wash. Yes, a car wash. He didn't want to bring the baby home in a dirty car!

We got to the hospital around 10:50. Around the time for the epidural I thought I was going to die. The nurses and my Mother-in-law were in awe of my calmness. I wasn't calm, on the inside I was freaking out. After I got the epidural I told a complete stranger I loved him.

That stranger -- the Anesthesiologist.

A few hours later it was time to push. I was terrified I was going to be pushing for hours. 20 minutes later, she was in my arms. I thought I would cry, I didn't. I just wanted her bundled and back in my arms. The first thing I said when I saw her sweet face was, "She looks JUST like you!" She did, too. She was a mini-Ryan.

She was tiny and perfect. My entire world changed that day and it hasn't been the same since. I was 19, married and thought I had life figured out. Little did I know my growing up was just beginning.

She was the beginning for me. My life began the day she came into it. I was meant to be a Mommy and I knew that the second I looked into her eyes. She changed me for the better.

Tomorrow she will be my big 6 year old and I would be lying if I said I'm not sitting here with tears running down my face. Yes, she can drive me crazy. She challenges me daily. However, she is one of the most amazing kids ever. She just has this way about her. She makes anyone and everyone feel special.

She is bossy and sweet. She is kind to others. She is smart, funny, talented and beautiful.

Basically, she is amazing. I would give my life for her.

Happy Birthday, Alyssa Grace. Mommy loves you more than anything.

(December 9, 2008)