Happy Birthday Beck: This time last year!

Happy Birthday Eve Beck!

I can not believe it is the eve of Beck's birth. My feelings are beyond sentimental-I am overwhelmed with the love I feel for Beck and with the reality that my baby has been on earth for 1 year now. I also cannot stop replaying every moment of the day I was in labor. On May 23rd, 2006, I awoke to signs of labor. Coincidentally, I had a doctor's appointment at 8:15, so Eric and I went to the appointment together, anticipating that Dr. Love would confirm that I was indeed in labor. Yes, labor had started, super mild contractions and 3 cm dialated. Eric hurried off to work and my girlfriends rallied. Anne brought me scones and recorded my contractions! What a champ, always quick to lend a hand and make me feel strong. Laura K., very pregnant herself, rushed over with her positive energy. Later that day, I ate Laura's cheetos ( I think the first cheetos I'd ever eaten) and we went to Victoria's secret! Imagine- two big pregnant ladies: one big and round with a baby kicking around like crazy, and me- in labor in VS. To top it off, we bought new undies for ourselves! Then, my reliable friend Kara came over. She took me to the Subaru dealership to have a new clock installed in the Forrester. Afterwards we got big juicy snow balls! I got chocolate, which I had been craving yet avoiding out of health consciousness. Kara babysat me while I took a nap and took at bath. Then Eric came home at 4:00 and the fun began. My contractions got stronger, yet very manageable. We made pasta. Eleanor, our doula, came over around 6:00. We showed her the 3 owls in our backyard, which we noticed for the very first time that morning. How coincidental- a new feathered family of 3 in our midst. Eleanor made me walk around the block. It took all 3 of us 45 minutes to walk around the block b/c of the contractions. Still they weren't that painful yet. Around 9:00 my contractions were 2 to 2 1/2 minutes apart, so we called Dr. Love, packed the car, and headed to St. David's. Anne and Kara met us there. Mom and Dad arrived shortly after. In just 3 short (yet squawkingly painful and labor filled) hours later, at 12:15 a.m. on March 24, 2006 my baby boy Beck was born. At four pounds and 10 ounces, he filled my heart with love forever. I love you Beck! Thank you for picking me.

Here is my post from last year on this day:
Baby Coming Soon?

Who knows when and why babies choose to come when they do, but ours is in the decision process now. Things are progressing. Baby could be here soon. We are at home just riding the waves of pre-labor. Who knows, our next post could be of the baby or of an anxiously awaiting lady in labor! Lots of love- Annette

Running

Well, no pictures today, so I hope I don't bore you with my words. Beck has taken to running his little cowboy legs. He still moves with his legs sort of far apart, so seeing him run with his wide stance is hilarious. He also attempts and often succeeds at turning around really quickly. So, he really sort of parades himself around now. I wish you all could see him and his jigging. The running really is the best. Beck is so anxious to get to where he is going. He runs (or waddles) so quickly across our house, then turns around and takes off in the other direction. I never tire of watching him. He is constantly scheming for his next endeavor. Oh, and he works so hard at pulling and pushing and straining and grunting.

Beck seems really interested in learning how things work For example, he entertains himself by opening and closing a kitchen cabinet door over and over. He would flip the light switch on and off forever if I held him there to reach it.

Last Beck tidbit... yesterday morning I snapped my fingers for him and he tried to snap back.

O.K. more on our theme- running. I've started running with slight more dedication again. My goal is to run three times a week. I like when Eric runs with me, so he can push the jogger:-) He's bigger and stronger so he can control the jogger better than me. Our jogger has this cock-eyed front wheel that drags it dramtically to the right. I take four strides and then pull it back to the left, four strides and pull left, and on and on and on...My friend Mark who is a bike mechanic tried to fix it for us, but he said there's nothing much to do with the whell- it's just warped. Oh well. I could always run without Beck, but he likes the ride. Plus, I want him to grow up knowing how important and FUN being outside can be, even to adults!