Happy Birthday Brooke

11 years ago was the happiest day of our lives as we became parents to a beautiful 7 lbs, 4 oz baby girl, who stole our hearts immediately.

Brooke,

It is such a joy to be your mom, you are so incredible, the older you get, the more of a pleasure it is to be your mom.

You’re extraordinarily smart. You…well, you always have been. I could sugar coat it or put on that “aw shucks” attitude about it – but, you were just born this way. Wish I could take credit for it, but dang, girl. You’re kind of just amazing by nature. It’s fun to watch your brain work.

I have no idea what this upcoming year holds for you – but I know that I will sit back and try to enjoy this ride. I imagine this is a year where you will start demanding more independence and thus it will be the year where I will have to learn a little bit how to let go and when to let go and when I still get to hold on. You are amazingly grounded with a level-head on your shoulders, and I’ve been blessed to have you in my world.

Eleven years ago today I first looked at your face and my world was changed, and daily you keep changing my world in all kinds of spectacular ways. Eleven years ago I officially became a mom, and though I’m not one to define myself solely by the fact that I am a mother, being a mother – being your mother – has shaped who I am more than anything else in my world ever has.

Happy birthday to you, Princess. I love you with my whole heart and I am oh so very lucky to be your mom.

I love you,

Mom

Now for my yearly tradition of her birth story

I was 19 when I got married, Andrew 20, all I ever wanted was to get married and be a stay at home mom... So we decided we would work on that right away, some people choose to wait, we didn't and not once have been sorry!!!

We found out about Brooke in Nov of 2002 and wanted to wait til Christmas to tell our family, well that didn't work out like planned bc I got to sick and my mom was really worried... So we broke the news to her, there were tears of happiness all around....

It was a long nine months... I was sick and still in college, I had to take time of from school and be admitted in hospital, I had kidney stones and was so sick....

Andrew lost his job and we had to move to St John's, moved here at 8 months pregnant and had a time trying to find a doctor, found one I really disliked, he had no bedside manners, 

I was due Aug 12, 2003. I went to see him July 28 and he said I dilated 3 cm and would give birth early that morning, he also went ahead and stripped my membranes, I still really didn't think this was it, sure enough I woke at 630 am and needed to pee, before I stepped out of the bed, my water broke, I told Andrew I had peed my pants, he said no your water broke, I had no pain and had no reason to go to hospital, called my parents and told them I was in labor, SO I showered, ate, pack my bag(just in case), got to hospital around 8 am, they checked me and I am 6 cm dilated, they take me to labor and delivery, they told me to take a shower and relax, I had one of the best showers of all time, contractions were so much easier in the hot shower, once out of the shower I am 8 cm and ready to bring my baby into the world, with only her mom and dad there to meet our bundle of joy!

The nurse hurries to get a doctor to deliver my baby, no doctor makes it, and she was delivered by an intern at 8:54 am after 15 mins of pushing, 100% natural  Brooke Lynn Grothe, 8lbs 4.1 ounces!! The nurse was so impressed and kept telling me to come back anytime, hahaha.

We got to hold her for a few brief moments before they took her to check her over, this is also when they came in to tell us we could not hold her for some time because they were thinking she had broken ribs from her quick delivery, after checking her over they brought her back to us and she was completely healthy.

We adore you Brooke. 

Here is a video from about 6 months up to this summer