susan & chris: happy birthday, anabelle!

anabelle reece allain

born july 10, 2010 at 9:10pm

6 pounds 10 ounces, 20 inches

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so . . . there i was. me, with a 1 year old!

shut the front door!

I was aware how it felt as the weeks and months flew by, but now an entire year has come & gone in the most incredible swoosh of joy & discovery. anabelle has taught me so much (& I’m sure chris too). I have never felt more brave, more empowered, and even pretty!

quick shout out and high-five to myself and to anabelle for making it one full year of exclusive breastfeeding, score!

so, what do you say about your tiny baby changing into a big girl and turning the big 0-1?!

I suppose a birthday inspired ‘itsy bitsy’ verse might be in order:

the itsy bitsy spider is turning one today

she’s changed our lives forever, it’s a constant cheer ‘hooray!’

she brightens every moment, our days with her are swell

happy birthday to our enchanting little belle!

I sure have missed chris this year (heck, I miss him when he just goes to work only 10 minutes away), but this little bundle that is our mademoiselle anabelle sure makes the time apart ‘suck’ a whole lot less . . . and of course the time together even more special!

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just thought i’d take a little look back . . .

these were taken last april before chris had to leave.

here i am with my belly just a couple days before anabelle was born!

go team anabelle!

i couldn’t have asked for better support while chris was away. cheers to my mom, suzie (sister-in-law), and doula, alexis!

hip-hip-hooray for natural childbirth! so incredible!

“muggy, we did it!”

i can still remember my groggy squeaky little voice telling him ‘she’s here!’

(pics by rockstar doula, alexis)

oh anabelle, you are a celebration every single day! lucky us that we get to be your parents forever and ever! i’ve had a crush on you since even before you were born and there is mightly long list of wonderful people who prayed for you to get here and continue to pray for you. thank you for joining our family!