Leyla's First Birthday Letter

A year ago today….oh man, A YEAR AGO TODAY! A year ago today my day started out just like normal, me whining to your daddy about having to go to work again, we both got dressed and said, and “I just want to be super comfy today!” Then we walked outside and it was FREEZING out in July! Cloudy, gloomy and cold! We had our regular doctor appointment that day so, daddy came to pick me up from work at 1:30 in the afternoon, he brought me a Dilly Bar and we headed down to Burnsville to watch you on the TV for a bit. The ultrasound technician took a long time looking you over and you didn’t want to move much for her. The fluid that kept you warm and safe (kind of like your own personal bubble wrap) was low. After almost an hour of watching you on the great big screen, the doctor came in and said, “Alright, you’re going to have a baby today!” She sent us over to the hospital where we met with my doctor and after a super quick c-section delivery, A Year Ago TODAY, you were born!


The love that you have brought into our lives is amazing! It’s a whole new kind of love that I’ve never felt! It’s different than the way that I love your daddy, different than the way that I love family and friends and Zoey, different than the way that I love Chinese food or ice cream. Different than the way that I love life, and the Lord! It’s not a better or worse, more or less love…this love has enriched my life!

With this new crazy love came a whole new range of emotions! I’ve felt helpless when you were having your chest x-rayed when you were sick, I’ve felt despair when in your first few weeks there was nothing that I could do to get you to stop crying when daddy wasn’t home. There were feelings of pity when you’re in pain from IV’s and shots being stuck in you. On the other side, I had so many feelings of unexplainable excitement when you rolled over for the first time, when you started clapping, when you talk for so long like you have so many stories to tell. Feelings of pride when you began sitting on your own and unbelievable feelings of honor just at the mere fact that I get to wake up every morning and see your smiling face!

Leyla, your first year is behind you. Gone are the days of lounging in your bouncy and drinking out of a bottle. Gone are the days of the helmet and the pacifier. Now are the days of the sippy cup and big kid utensils. Now are the days of the beginnings of crawling, walking and talking! Please know that forever I will be here for you on your path through this crazy thing that we call life. A hand to hold as you take your first steps, two hands to be there to catch you if you fall, and a life time of putting my whole being into doing everything possible to help you become the amazing person that you want to be and that I know you will be!

How blessed your daddy and I are to be on this journey with you! We thank God endlessly every day for entrusting us with your precious life! Thank you for an incredible first year! We look forward to so many more!

I love you more than words can say!

Mom

A Year In The Life...

As Leyla's 1st birthday approaches, I keep reminding her how old she is (Monday she was 360 days old...today 363 days old, etc.) and each time I say that to her I wish I could vividly remember each and every day of her first year!

In the last couple weeks as I've come to the realization that my baby is going to be 1 year old (duh! I know), I think about all of the..."I wish I would haves" and the "Why didn't I's."  The two on the top of my list are; make a blog (check), and take a picture of Leyla every single day even if it's just a quick one on my phone!  So, that's my next mission!  For Leyla's second year, I plan to take a picture of Leyla every single day of her second year, no matter what is going on in our lives or how busy we are.  With today's technology we can snap pictures so easily anywhere there really is no excuse not to!  I wonder if when Leyla is an adult she'll say, "Thanks mom, that's really cool that you took pictures of me every day of my SECOND year but, what about my first year?"  Let's hope not! 

Beginning July 17, 2010, I'll be posting (in addition to my normal posts) one photo of Leyla each day (A year in the life of Leyla Quinn) whether she's having a good hair day or not!  Since I didn't do this for the past year here is a year in the life of Leyla Quinn...month by month style!  EDITED: Sorry the backgrounds weren't lining up correctly and it's driving me crazy!  So, no more year in the life photos!

Have a great day! 

Jenni

Nah Na Nah Na...Hey Hey Hey....Goodbye!!

Sayonara Mister Helmet!  I'm sorry to say that we're not the least bit sad to see you go but, we are very thankful that you assisted in the reshaping of Leyla's head! 

This morning Eric took Leyla to her final helmet appointment!  Yay!!

Don't get me wrong; the helmet made a huge difference! Leyla's head went from a difference in diagonal measurements of 12 mm to 3mm in just 5 months!  But my goodness was that thing a pain in the butt!  In reality, it was probably much harder on us than it ever was on Leyla but, I'm sure she's excited to not have to wear it as well!

Enjoy your day!
Jenni

Yay Leyla!!!

"Yay Leyla!  Good job!"  If you were anywhere within the 3 mile radius of Eden Prairie this weekend you likely heard us yelling this over and over again!  Leyla made some great progress this weekend!  She now starts clapping when you say, "Yay!!" and, finally, 6 months after most babies do; Leyla found her feet!!!  She started grabbing at them, trying to put them in her mouth, etc.  She did get a little frustrated that she wasn't able to put her knee in her mouth but, then realized that the ten little piggies were much easier to get up to her mouth!

Quick update:  Leyla is scheduled to have her Electroretinogram and eye muscle surgery on 9/8/10.

Here are a few of my favs from Leyla's 1 year photos done by Jill Dahmen of J. Kristine Photography

Jenni