I can Remember... A recap of the past 2 years with Natalie Grace

Two years ago yesterday I woke up thinking I was going to have a baby. I was over 43 (Yes... FORTY THREE) week pregnant and I was not leaving the hospital without my baby. I went to the hospital for an scheduled induction and I hope she would arrive quickly. The birth story although long is so amazing. When I arrived at the scheduled 7am, the medicine used to induce was not there and I had to wait for someone to go and get it from Midwest City about 25 miles away. Chris and I sat there patiently and still thinking, "It is no big deal, the medicine will arrive and then shortly after that, the baby will come." HAHA... we were so naive. To sum the story up, approximately 23 hours after I finally got the medicine, I gave birth to Natalie Grace Davis via emergency C-Section. On August 25, 2009 God blessed Chris and I with the most beautiful gift, Natalie Grace. Today is her 2nd birthday and I spent most of the day just reflecting the past two years and how grateful I am that God chose me to be her mother.

In the past two years so much has happened to our small family of three.

I can remember the first time we brought her home from the hospital. Our two beagles, Abbey and Oxford, were so interested in her and jealous that she was getting all of my attention at the same time.

I can remember the 1st two nights in our house and how incredibly long they seemed. I swear as soon as I would get done feeding her... she was awake and crying for more. I thought "Sweetie, I am not a real cow, at least give me a minute to refresh!"

I can remember my mother-in-law, Jackie and my mother, Shirley helping me take care of her and just modeling how to be a mother and what to do. Honestly, if it weren't for BOTH of them, I would not have made it... Literally. I had so many panic attacks and anxiety issues those first few days and weeks.

I can remember the times we would put her on her tummy for "Tummy Time" and she would scream and cry and give me the look of "Why are you doing this to me?" She HATED "Tummy Time"! And then, as if out of NOWHERE, she decided to roll over. (This was the beginning of her movement phase. Which she is still in and I am sure will be from now on.)

I can remember our very first OU Game together! She has been my little OU Sooner since the day she was born! Boomer Sooner!

I can remember her very first Thanksgiving and Christmas as well as her first snowstorm in Lubbock, TX. We dressed her in a jacket and mittens and took her outside to the 4 foot snowdrifts and sat her on top of the snow. (I don't think she liked it)

I can remember the first time she sat up and immediately smiled at me as if she knew she had just achieved something.

I can remember the first time we feed her rice cereal and then yummy baby food and how much of a mess her and I was afterwards.

I can remember coming to my band concert at Grove and holding her plastic Saxophone and try to play along with us. She loved my bands even while I was pregnant, although trumpets seemed to always be her favorite. She would ALWAYS kick during brass class! I wonder what this means!!

I can remember her 1st trip to the beach when she was 2 weeks from her 1st birthday. She could not walk but I wanted her to be able to SO BAD. She loved the water so much and would crawl as far out as she could before getting tumbled over. She played and played and played and then fell asleep in the car before we even got out of the beach parking. She stayed asleep for 3 1/2 hours which is her longest nap to date.

I can remember the first time she took any steps on her own and how she walked all the way down our hallway to get to me and then fell RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME!

I can remember her 1st birthday and waking her up at 6am in the morning and singing "Happy Birthday" to her. She tore open all her gifts and shoved her cake and cookies in her mouth so fast.

I can remember her first time to Trick or Treat and go to a carnival. She dressed up as a ladybug and loved EVERY minute of it!

I can remember the first time we sang "Happy Birthday" Jesus on Christmas night and ate a birthday cupcake in his honor. (This is our family tradition and I am so happy she likes it)

I can remember her first Easter Egg hunt and how she found so many eggs that she had to dump out her basket and pick them up again.

I can remember our first family vacation to San Antonio and how much she LOVED the "Kiddie Park"

These moments in our lives come and go without us even taking time to reflect and think about how precious life really is. Chris and I prayed and prayed and prayed for little Natalie Grace and she is a TRUE gift from God. I hope I will be able to reflect upon this gift for many years to come.
Take time today to remember your children or your childhood and thank God for his many blessings.

Natalie Grace, I love you and I am so glad you are my daughter. Happy 2nd Birthday Nattie!