Mother’s Day surprise
May 11th, 2008
My most memorable Mother’s Day will forever be Mother’s Day 2004. That was the day Annalie was born.
Annalie – May 9, 2004
Saturday night I was eight months pregnant and having a dinner party for some old friends; Sunday morning I was at the hospital being told, “Yep, you’re definitely having this baby today!” I had commented once or twice on how unfair it seemed that I would spend my first Mother’s Day not knowing what our child looked like, while by Father’s Day Troy would have an actual baby to hold. Be careful what you say out loud within your unborn child’s hearing, is all I have to say.
After an uncomplicated 10-hour labor and delivery, I met our tiny (4 pounds, 5 ounces) girl. She was technically a preemie, but other than low blood sugar, which required a few days’ stay in the Level II Nursery (less scary than the NICU), she was in perfect health, alert and strong.
We had two names in mind and we ended up using them both, as first and middle names. Annalie, a Scandinavian variant of Hannah, means grace; and Sophia is the Greek word for wisdom.
Grace and wisdom. What we wish for our daughter, and for ourselves as we raise her. What I wish for all parents everywhere.
Happy Mother’s Day!
Bethany and Annalie – May 9, 2004
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You’re both so beautiful in this photo! Hard to believe you just went through labor… :P
She was so TEENY!
I love that photo of the two of you :)
So sweet! I am Weepy McWeeperkins today – I just shed another tear!
How beautiful.
Sophia is one of my favorite names–and on our short list for girls names to use one of these days.
How tiny and cute! And how happy you look!
Also: breathing into a paper bag because if I went into labor a month early, I’d have less than two weeks. Hold me!
Happy Mother’s Day, Bethany! You look so happy to be holding your baby girl.
I never knew what Annalie meant and her names together are lovely.
(Totally unrelated: are you left handed?)
That’s a really sweet story, and she was an adorable newborn.
She’s so precious – and still is!
Happy Mother’s Day!!
What a beautiful baby…and beautiful mom too!!
Glad I’m not the only one in the tiny baby club. My oldest child, a little princess, came 5 weeks early and weighed 4 lbs 11 oz. Today, she’s a petite, tiny little thing like her mommy USED to be. :-)
How very tiny.
My first was full term and only weighed 5 lbs 8 oz. The second one was 6 lbs 13 oz.
They always look like old, wise people when they are that small.
My favorite memory is a waking up about 5 hours after he was born and saw him in the basinet/table next to my bed staring at me…then he chuckled. He still laughs like that 13 years later.
happy mother’s day. what a great m.d. memory.
You both look beautiful!
These pictures are fantastic. Here’s to moms!
Such a wide eyed little girl! She hasn’t changed a bit. Happy mom’s day!
Oh my gosh, you can totally see her in her little 4lb self! That always amazes me – that it’s there (the quirkiness, the spunk, the little expressions) right from the beginning. Isn’t it just the coolest thing?
Happy Mother’s Day.
so tiny! i bet it was scary to be delivering a month early!
she has certainly turned into a wonderful little lady!
happy (late) mother’s day!
Happy Belated Mother’s Day, what a gift Annalie is, right from her first day. Thanks for sharing the photos and the story.
Look at you! How can anyone look so fresh after having a baby? Insane. Obviously, motherhood looks good on you. :)
Annalie had more hair than all of my babies combined.
Happy Belated Mother’s Day!