Laurel turns one year old on Wednesday. As with many moms in the weeks leading up to her first child's first birthday, I've been asking myself, "where has the time gone??" and staring at photos from these amazing 12 months.

However, these past few days, I've been reliving the memories of last year at this time. December 4th, 2015. I was 39 weeks pregnant, huge, uncomfortable, and so ready to meet our little one.

I remember going to my doctor's appointment that day, hoping she'd say I was dilated, that something was happening. But nothing. She told me to go home, rest, and wait.

Little did I know that in just 4 days, after 27 hours of labor and an emergency c-section, I'd finally meet our daughter. And that she wouldn't breathe on her own for 9 minutes. And that we'd spend the next 25 days in the NICU.

So as I celebrate Laurel's first birthday this week, I'm also reflecting on how much we've been through. How much she's grown. How much I've grown as a person.

363 days ago, I became a mom. It was the hardest, most terrifying, most beautiful day of my life. And I wouldn't trade a single second of this journey for anything.

– Carmel