Before I was married, before I was even dating her Daddy, I knew I wanted her.
In 1999, I needed to have some uterine fibroids removed surgically, and this surgery guaranteed that I would need to have a Cesarean section if I ever became pregnant.
I started dating Ed, married him, and in 2004 I was pregnant with Lily.
I had an easy pregnancy; no morning sickness or other aches and pains. Ed never fails to remind me of one whole week when smells bothered me. I cooked dinner one night and had to run out of the house because the smell was so horrid. I made myself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich while tormenting Ed. “How can you eat that disgusting food?” I asked him. It smelled and tasted just fine to him.
My C-section was scheduled for November 15. On the morning of November 5, Ed left at 6:00 for work as usual, while I slept in. I woke up with cramps. I called Ed, and he came home. The cramps stopped. I called the doctor’s office anyway. I already had an appointment scheduled for 11:00, and the nurse said I could wait until then. Ed went outside to rake leaves and clean up the lawn; it was a beautiful fall day, and was the last day of leaf pickup for the year.
We went to the doctor’s office, and I was hooked up to a fetal monitor. When the nurse looked at it, she said, “Here’s a contraction!” I had no idea I was having contractions; they were so mild.
Since the doctor didn’t want to risk me going into labor as my uterus might rupture along the old scar tissue, he told us, “You’re having a baby today!”
Words cannot describe the joy we felt when we saw our little Lily for the first time. I burst into tears when the doctor said, “It’s a girl!” We were unprepared to have a baby that day; we didn’t have a camera or an overnight bag with us. No one in our family knew we had gone to the hospital to have a baby that day, so we had no visitors. I had always wanted to have a natural birth, so the surprise of Lily’s arrival was wonderful despite the need for the C-section.
That first, precious day when we became a family of three holds a special place in my heart. Happy birthday, Lily!

Awwwww! Happy (belated) Birthday do Lily! She was originally due on Princess Nagger's birthday!
Very sweet. She will love reading this one day!
That is such a sweet story.Happy Birthday Lily!
Oh! This is so sweet and wonderful to read!
I will remember that day, with all the joys and surprises, forever!!!