2 years old!

Kennedy is 2 today and I just cannot believe it!

Two years ago today at 9:32 a.m. Kennedy came into this world 8 weeks early weighing only 3lbs 5oz, and measuring 15.75 inches.

Today she is a bright, inquisitive, and absolutely precious little girl.  I couldn't imagine my world without her, and I am thankful every single day of her life for her (and all of the wonderful doctors and nurses who helped care for her in the NICU).

This was originally going to start as a long post, but really, I just wanted to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY KENNEDY!  You have the whole world in front of you and your Dad and I will be here to help you along the way.  The world can be tough and sometimes unforgiving and we'll do everything we can to make sure you don't get hurt, although we know that cannot always happen.  Please know that we love you with all of our being and in you are truly a blessing in our lives.

Birthday Party Day (recap)

Here are some pics from Kennedy's First Birthday party!

Again, thank you to everyone for coming and sharing in her day with us!!

 Tori and Kennedy were due one day apart and ended up with birthdays 7 weeks apart!

 Apparently I have a kid who is afraid of the cake.  Every time we sat her in front of it we had a meltdown.

 But of course she was all about the presents!

 Sidney was more than happy to help!

Short on words, but I love to share pictures :)

Happy First Birthday Kennedy!!

Born November 16, 2009 at 9:32 a.m., 3lbs 5oz, 15.75 inches long, at 32 weeks 3 days (8 weeks early).

She is now ONE YEAR OLD!!!!  At her last appointment she weighed in at 17lbs 3.5oz, so I am guessing she is close to 18lbs now (we will know at her one year appointment on Friday). 

Happy Birthday Kennedy! You have come so far from where you started.

From small beginnings come great things, and you my sweet little girl have the world ahead of you, and it is your playground.  I know you will do wonderful and great things.

Thankful and lucky

We are incredibly thankful, appreciative, and grateful for the number of people who came out to celebrate Kennedy's first birthday with us.  We never got a chance to actually "share" her birth with everyone.  We were in what we like to call "lock down" until spring because of Flu and RSV season, and well the single fact alone that she was also 8 weeks early.

Our house was PACKED on Saturday with people who love and care for us and it warms my heart to know that everyone was there to help us celebrate.

I cannot thank everyone enough.

Here are a few pics of Kennedy enjoying some of the gifts everyone brought her.

I wrote this post when Kennedy was four months old - I think it still speaks volume today (November 14, 2010).

One year ago today, on November 14, 2009, was the day that we found out Kennedy was coming early. One year later we are lucky, happy, and thankful to have this beautiful happy girl.

Birthday Party Day!

Saturday was Kennedy's Birthday Party Day!  It went well, and I am incredibly thankful and grateful for everyone who came out to celebrate!

I will have this count as my Saturday post, and so I'll post a quick pick of her that morning getting ready for the day.  I'll do a bigger post on her party later. 

One year ago today on November 13, 2009 we were at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Berkeley, California just waiting for test results and more news.  At this point I was told I was there for good until Kennedy came.  I was getting blood drawn every 6 hours so that they could run my labs, and I was fearful as I had no clue what was to come. 

Almost time for the party!

Tomorrow is Kennedy's Birthday Party Day.  In our family we celebrate Birthday's and also have a Happy Birthday Party Day also.  Why you ask? Because my birthday is on Christmas Day and my family always wanted to make sure that I had my special day too.  So, tomorrow we will wish Kennedy a Happy Birthday Party Day to help celebrate her first birthday!

I am pretty close to having the majority of everything done.  I need to run a  few last minute errands, and make a gazillion cupcakes, but I cannot wait.  I have put a lot of time and effort into this because I have needed it to get me through this month, and I really really want to have a special celebration for Kennedy's first birthday because she has come so so far from the 3lb 5oz 15.75 inch little girl that she was a year ago on November 16, 2009.

A year ago today I was hanging out at home (after being discharged from the hospital in the early am), and I still did not feel right.

A year ago today I went back to the hospital because my blood pressure had gone back up, way up.

A year ago today the other OB in my office admitted me to the hospital, told me my diagnosis of Pre-Eclampsia, and said I was not going anywhere anytime soon.

A year ago today was when I really KNEW that my pregnancy was never going to be normal.

A year ago today I was transferred from Valley Care Medical Center to Alta Bates Summit Medical Center by ambulance.

But TODAY I will be working towards celebrating Kennedy's first year of life, and I cannot wait! 

Birthday planning...

I have started the birthday planning.  As you will probably guess, the colors are (gasp) pink and orange.  Who would've thought?? - well if you know me personally you would've at least guessed orange.

So, I took on the adventure of making a tutu for her to wear, and if I do say so myself, it came out pretty damn good!

I've already picked up the plates, cups, etc., and a few of the decorations.  I am also going to be ambitious and make the cupcakes/cake (whatever I decide on) myself.  This weekend Kennedy decided she wanted to get in on the action and have some input as well, so she took to reading a party magazine.

She's so cute :)