Anna the Soccer Star!

I couldn't help but share this picture of Anna - she is so grown up to me here. She has scored two goals this season and regularly gets knocked down but she gets back up, no tears! Some of the kids on the other teams have been less than friendly but Anna is so strong and just goes up to them and says they hurt her feelings. That's my girl. She's a good sport all around - win or lose... wish I could say that for all the kids (and parents) out there... Enjoy!

The Miracle of Life

As my baby girl woke up on May 28, 2010, my mind flashed back to the awful day of her birth... Yes that's right I said awful. She was 6 days late and I was dilated to a big ol' ZERO. After being induced overnight, I was only 1 cm!! My water was broken and the contractions kicked into gear... the epidural was great until it wore off at 3p.m. The doctors couldn't readminister it so natural labor here I come... It hurt. Boy did it hurt. For all the natural mothers out there, you know the burning ring of fire and the intensity of pain beyond compare. But then she was there. In all her glory, looking all sweet. In that moment, my life changed forever. I was no longer just Jaime. I was someone's mother. I was now responsible for another human life. A life that literally depended on me for its survival. What an incredible responsibility I had just took on.
Fast forward five years and here we are today. I have a budding five year old girl who is vivacious, energetic and so incredibly thoughtful, I can be brought to tears with her kindness. She is a part of me. She is an extension of my own mother and grandmother. What a wonderful gift to experience life.