A year already! It just seems unfathomable to me how fast you've grown little one. All your accomplishments: rolling over, sleeping through the night, creeping, army crawling, skooching, pulling up, crawling, doing the wave at the table (both arms up), saying "mama, dada, baba, hi", standing all on your own, waving hi-bye and goodnight, taking two good naps daily, eating table food (and preferring it to baby purees) taking a couple steps, cruising along furniture, walking, 5 teeth as of yesterday and working on your 6th. I'll never forget how you kept us all guessing of your arrival time. 

A Year ago we welcomed you into the world: (Here's your birth story.)

For over a week I had predromal(?) labor with you on and off. I finally experienced labor ceasing due to a need of energy. That was shortly after midnight Sunday night/Monday morning. Had heard of it before your siblings were born, but never experienced it. On a hunch, I ate a couple easy over eggs & a piece of toast, labor resumed. Almost like it hadn't skipped a beat. We arrived at the hospital just before 3 a.m.  Midwife (Theresa) confirmed active labor and started filling the labor tub. Grandma T arrived just before I got into the tub. I was surprised how quickly the contractions strengthened, but had sufficient time in between them to relax. The room was quiet, dark and peaceful. Those around spoke in hushed tones. Quiet anticipation filled the room. 

Then one of those not so uncommon hiccups in the labor process appeared. My lab work came back and indicated pre-eclampsia. That was the end of tub time for this momma (hospital policy) to my utter disappointment. I had been hoping for a water birth the entire time I carried you. Hadn't had the opportunity with your sister or either of your brothers. It just wasn't meant to be. My cervix was checked and we'd made significant progress during our tub time, 6 cm dilated and 80% effaced. The magnesium was started in my IV. I wanted to be fully conscious of your birth. I knew both you and I would be monitored closely one I left the tub and didn't want to be put under in the case of an emergency delivery. An epidural was my only guarantee, so I chose to have my first epidural with my 4th born. I had a wonderful Anesthesiologist, almost too good! Midwife kept us all in good spirits once mommy was comfortable with the epidural. When it came time to deliver you I couldn't feel the sensations I needed to help me push as effectively. After a scary moment with your shoulders stuck and all hands on deck (mom's tummy), you came right out 6:57a.m.  Dad had to hurriedly cut your cord for them to get a good look at you. We waited what seemed a small eternity... you let out the sweetest little cry... fit right with the pitiful pout you had on ultrasound pics in later months before your birth. Daddy and I both breathed a big sigh of relief, we instinctively knew all was well. 

Grandma T said her goodbyes and headed out as she had a busy day planned with her extended family. Daddy and I called Grandma G and your big sis and brothers to let them know you had arrived and that they could come to the hospital to meet you before heading to school that day. We were transferred to our room and nicely settled in before Grandma G and your older siblings arrived. They each held you in awe in turn. Big J first, then Noah, Chloe and finally Grandma. They couldn't believe how sweet and little you were and instantly fell in love with you. Mommy gave into her exhaustion and fell asleep while daddy, grandma and the kids all visited. You slept through much of it too, but let out little puppy sounding whimpers here and there. Daddy called/emailed/texted  family to let them all know. But we still needed to name you. 

You were originally going to be our Belle/Izzy (Isabel), but we hit a time when the popularity for that name was through the roof. All the names we had picked out for girls when we had your brothers, were also on the most popular lists for the last couple years and growing in popularity. We were back to square one and reviewed names that we had considered before landing on Isabel. We both loved Juliet as a first name even more than as a middle name as we had first considered it, so Jewel/Jules for short and Juliet as your proper first name it was. But we were still undecided with a middle name for you. Daddy left that evening to go home and take care of your siblings. Daddy and I chatted over the internet about names that night. I found a really neat site that had names based on different themes and the one that struck a chord with me and rang the best for daddy was London. I still loved Willow and we considered that one as well. But London won out as it flowed much better with your full first & last names. You nursed well in the hospital and lost little weight. We had more visitors: Grandma G came back while the kids were in school, Aunts Erica & Amy, then Uncles Reed & Jason and finally mommy's good friends Erin & Jess. You went home on St. Patrick's Day and so we made sure you were wearing some green (your older siblings insisted). 

She's nearing the 1 year mark. Wish we could freeze time and relish these babyhood moments a bit longer. We thought it went fast when our older ones were this age, but it is truly flying by at light speed these days.