A double birthday

One year ago today...we started out the morning with the kids giving James his birthday presents and cards, in bed. Then a little cramping, which quickly became clear was actually the start of contractions. It was pretty mild at that point but I knew what was to come; this was the onset of labour. We spent James' birthday in hospital and our precious little Asia was born in the early hours of that evening - Saturday December 1st, 2007.

Today, Asia turned one year old and her daddy forty!

She has been such a sweet blessing to us and it is hard to remember our life before she was born. This part year has been the fastest of my life and it is hard to believe that Asia has been with us for a full year. There are things about that day that I remember so clearly and yet, I live so much in the present, that it's also hard to remember Asia as anything other than she is now. So I spent some time this evening looking at old photos...I love to do that. This is why I take photos, to provide the detail and the memories that I can look back on in the years to come...to make me smile, or cry, to share with others. I don't know what I would do without them.

Literally seconds after being born. She really was that blue...see my and the nurses hands in comparison.

A few minutes later, a little cleaner, warmer, pinker.

One year later!