It was one year ago today that I learned that I was pregnant with the Bird. It was one day after JB's hernia surgery and I was supposed to be taking care of him. Instead, I was suffering from lots of nausea and was having a tough time just taking care of myself.

I didn't expect to get pregnant so soon, so the little plus sign on the stick was a little startling. In fact, I hadn't even considered that my nausea was the result of pregnancy: it was JB who suggested it. I never was ready to have a baby but here I am, one year later, with my own little dolly!

I wouldn't say that my terrible pregnancy was worth it. More like, necessary. But what's done is done and I'll probably willingly go through it again. But I won't be happy about it.

I have many friends who have had trouble conceiving, who still have trouble conceiving, or who have had high-risk pregnancies. So I consider myself blessed that misery was the only byproduct of carrying Olivia around.

Today she was in rare form. She jumped in the Johnny Jumpup with more gusto than usual (I like to think it was because I was playing rock music for her). She chattered up a storm with Annie--Annie would say something to her, and she would respond with a sound or shriek and they went back and forth for some time. Extremely entertaining. She laughed and laughed at JB when he made weird monkey sounds at her, and it was the most she's ever laughed out loud. She also had an incident with her hat falling down over her eyes while we were in the car and she was so scared that she was crying and crying and blowing bubbles and scratching at her eyes in frustration. I felt pretty bad when I discovered the problem. Not being able to see must be scary for a baby!

All in all, I'm glad that the last year is OVER. Being pregnant was tough, having a newborn was tough, and dealing with work drama for the last 4 months and then getting fired was tough.

Work drama is over and Olivia is finally entering the "fun" age. JB's brother is getting married this June and my sister Melissa is having her first baby, a girl, in June as well. The Teague girls are having fun scheming her baby shower preparations. My Dad is also turning 60 and Olivia will be turning one.

Here, here, to 2009!

Latest photos of the Bird: