We’ve made it two years! Will I always remember her birthday as if it were yesterday? The smell of the hospital, the temperature that Sunday morning, things happening the weekend our daughter was born are still as clear as if they happened last week. You can see our bundle has grown to be quite the toddler. Heck, she’s not even a baby anymore. She sings, she dances, she knows the difference between coffee and milk, she copies the actions of her parents, and most importantly she delights.
Baby Singe’s arrival to this world wasn’t smooth. My wife had to have a c-section to get our girl out of the womb. Her head was cone shaped, she weighed slightly under six pounds, we had to stay an extra day at the hospital, yet she was ours to take home. We took care of her during those first fragile weeks. I took a month off from work while my wife took off five to learn more about the girl who spent the previous 9-10 months growing inside her. We made it through the first year with a collective sigh.
Jump forward to August 5th, 2009 and I couldn’t be prouder. I love our daughter so very much. She’s already teaching me many things about myself much like her mom did when we first met. Well, I continue to get schooled by Mrs. Lessinges, but that’s a topic for another day. Becoming a parent has been quite an eye opening experience. Every day evolves. Let me tell you this, I’ve had a blast this summer. The weather has been most remarkable in Seattle. We’ve spent the weekends learning and discovering all that our city has to offer. Many days I feel like a tourist in my own hometown, seeing many things for the first time such as the Filipino Festival a couple months ago.
In my college days I listened to a shock jock named Tom Leykis. He loved to rail against parents saying they have kids for egotistical reasons. While there may be some truth to his claim, there is a flip side… the payoff. Raising a child is not easy work, but I will say the work is definitely worth it in the long run. The first year was grueling. The second year has been a bit exhausting and trying. Watching an infant grow into a little person is one of the true wonders as they discover the world around them.
While I wrap up this post around 1:30am, I reflect back to the critical final hours in the hospital. I peered out the window, putting my hand in a box of Wheat Thins. Anything to calm my nerves and stomach as my wife endured very painful contractions. Out the window I could see the lights of the university’s football field in the distance. It was a foggy night. In four short hours I would become a parent and my entire world enhanced. Baby Singes, we love you!
Alarm set for 5:18am on my cell phone.
Baeutiful post , Egan.
Happy Birthday Baby Singe!!
very nice, happy birthday Baby Singes
I hope you’re making a copy of this wonderful post for your daughter to read in the future.
Happy 2nd Birthday to Baby Singes!!
This is so beautiful! Happy Birthday to your beautiful little girl!
I can’t believe she is 2 already. It seems like only yesterday when we did that baby shower for you.
Lookit all those beautiful curls!
And Anna too.
You will never forget. Happy Birthday to your sweet baby girl.
aww, she’s growing up! and she’s adorable as ever!
Aw, happy birthday to your little girl!
Phew- sliding just in under the bell…Happy Two Birthday! So have you recovered from your siblings visit? Hope all is well and Anna gets more cheerios!
Happy Birthday baby les singes!!!
I read a quote recently that resonated: “There are lives I can imagine without children in them, but none of them have the same laughter and noise.”
Love her hair (even though I’m sure she’ll hate it later)!
I was just thinking about this the other day, how wonderful it will be to go back and show baby les singes these posts when she’s older. I hope she- and all of you had a wonderful day!
This was beautiful! I’m so happy you have her! Happy Birthday baby Les Singes!
Awwwwww. This is lovely. Happy Bday, Baby Singes!
That’s so precious. Your daughter sounds like such a happy and sweet girl… I STILL love watching that Cheerios video of her. Haha
Happy birthday Baby Singe!
I feel lucky to have been ‘involved’ in part in this adventure, via your blog. She’s sweet and lovely and you’re blessed, as is she. Happy Birthday Baby Singe!
Thanks everyone for the birthday wishes. I know many of you have been here since she started growing inside Mrs. Lessinges and some of you are newer. The support from all of you has been great. Thanks for reading and all your advice over the past two years or more…
Awww. Happy birthday, Baby Singe!
Happy Belated Anna!
your post brings a tear to my eye. looking forward to seeing y’all soon.