4 years ago, my water broke at 12:30 am. Welsey drove me to the hospital in the quiet darkness. The hospital was silent, except for the poor woman in the room next to me who'd gotten there too late to get the epidural. I remember Family Guy was on television. The anesthesiologist tried 2 times unsuccessfully to place my epidural before finally getting in on the 3rd stick. By that time, I was fuly dilated and ready to push. Everything until that point seemed to go so smoothly and effortlessly. It was the calm before the storm, but I didn't know it, yet. I had inklings during my pregnancy that I had a little spitfire in my belly, but I had no idea what I was in store for.
At around 3:30 am, our lives changed forever. Victoria Elise Seigler was born on October 1, 2005, weighing 7 pounds 5 ounces. She came out screaming and didn't stop until they took her to the nursery and hour later. The day she was born, she held her head up and turned toward voices. She rolled over at 2 months, crawled at 7 months, and walked at 10 months. Victoria was never content to be held like a baby, cradled in your arms. She demanded to be held sitting up, facing out. She always had to see what was happening.
The past 4 years have been the most challenging, yet rewarding, of my life. Victoria frustrates me in ways I'd never thought possible, but she is one of the most caring, intelligent, hilarious people I've ever had the pleasure to know, much less parent. She's headstrong, determined, and beautiful, and I couldn't be more proud that she's mine. I adore the fact that she asked for a rock-n-roll party and wanted a pink guitar as a gift. That requests says it all. She's my little rock star, and I look forward to watching her take center stage throughout her life.
