one.

one. one whole year.
i keep searching for words how to describe this day, this year, these emotions.
amazing, happy, hard, challenging. highs, lows.  everything in between.
messy, sticky, gross.
laughter, silliness, and seeing the world differently.
i feel relief that we all survived a year.
i feel awesome that we all survived a year.
i love this stage she's in, it's the funnest yet.
i'm sad to see her growing up.
i feel more love than i ever thought possible.
i remember this day a year ago so vividly and it makes birthdays that much more amazing.
it also makes me cringe a little.
[emotions are a strange thing.]

but mostly i feel grateful. and happy.  and i sure love that little ems.

another birthday.

a surprise amazon package with light up gloves and a singing birthday bear by 8 am.  

a fun lunch at torchy's with norlene and the orme's.  

a cute baby, flowers from my husband, treats from friends, and the best homemade lava cake. 

i say it was just "another birthday", but i sure felt spoiled.  

birthday boy.

we go to red robin every year to celebrate.  

and we maybe ate all the oreos for his "cup of dirt".   

[why are there not blogging emojis?! face palm.]  

happy birthday cutie patootie!

a new arrival.

my due date came and went.  i have to admit, going past your due date feels longer than pregnancy itself.  longest week of my life.
on august 15th we drove to the hospital early in the morning to be induced.  i was nervous, yet surprisingly calm.  it was raining, which is unusual for a hot texas summer.  it reminded me of our wedding day.  we like to think the rain means good luck.
we got to the hospital and they got me all hooked up.  i even did fine through the iv.  my doctor came in and broke my water.  we waited around for a couple hours and then i decided it was time for the epidural.  seriously, no need for horror stories because it wasn't even bad.  after that point it was smooth sailing.  they checked me every so often and my body was progressing.  derek and i just watched hgtv and the olympics.  i was feeling pretty good [except for my one leg that was way more numb than the other].
about 4 pm, tina, my fabulous nurse, said i was a 10 and it was time to start pushing.  this is when i got the most nervous.  but i had the best support team.  we pushed for a while.  and pushed some more.  baby's head got stuck on my pubic bone and was having a hard time turning.  needless to say, i pushed for 2.5 [long] hours, threw up a few times, and tore quite a bit.  finally, dr. banks said the baby needed a little help with the vacuum extractor.  they set her up, got her head unstuck, and i pushed her out in two more pushes.  it was the most surreal feeling.
they had to quickly take her over to suction her out because she had pooped in the sac.  derek said how beautiful she was.  and i just kept staring over at her, amazed at what had just taken place.

emery grace asay.  born at 6:31 pm on august 15.  measuring 7 lbs 13 oz and 21.5" long.  

we love her so much already.