A year ago...

A year ago, I wrote a post entitled "A week ago". It was Elliott's birth story. My birth story.

A year ago, a baby was born
- a baby who is no longer a baby.

A year ago, a mother was born, too.
    And a father.
        And a couple new grandparents and great-grandparents, and a couple seasoned grandparents and a great-grandma. And aunts and uncles and cousins and a huge family were awaiting this birth.

Those first few quiet weeks, shrouded in the fog of sleepiness and winter and staying-close-to-home seem like an eternity ago. This year, the weather is warmer and our sleepy brand-new newborn is a flurry of toddler activity.

I am different.
I am a year older (today!)
I have a year of parenting under my belt.
I have had my life changed by a new person, whom I still look at and periodically marvel and the fact I managed to keep another human being alive for an entire year. Unbelievable.

Still all so unbelievable.

This mother was born a year ago, but so was an activist. An advocate for mothers and women and children. Josh laughs at me when I get up on my soapbox, but I can't help it. I've learned that motherhood is hard and parenting choices are hard and women and moms and kids need all the help they can get, to be able to make the healthiest, more informed choices they can. I've found a new passion this year.

It's been fun. It's been worth every minute. The year to come is surely going to hold new adventures and new challenges. I have no doubt our little family can tackle them head-on. 2012, bring it on!