Happy Birthday Squirrel!

Dear Savannah,

This day two years ago was one of the most incredible days of my entire life. The day before was very memorable. Your Nana was visiting us in Japan, waiting for you to be born. It was a Friday and we had gone to an art gallery to see Van Gogh's Sunflowers and it was standing in front of that beautiful painting that I had my first contraction at about 11:00am.
Nana and I finished walking through the gallery and then made our way back to Hiroo, the neighborhood where our apartment was. We walked up Hiroo shopping street and bought some lunch and then walked home. I had contractions on and off all day and by early evening they were coming regularly. Your dad came home and we ordered food from our favorite Indian restaurant, Moti. I ate a very spicy curry dish, asking for them to make it as spicy as they possibly could. That was my last meal before you were born. That night we stayed up late timing contractions and then finally decided to try and get some sleep. After about 30 minutes I decided that it was no use, there was no way I was going to sleep. We finally called Dr. Sakamoto because my contractions were about 8 minutes apart, and he had asked us to call him when they were under 10 minutes apart. We couldn't get a hold of him, so we called the hospital and finally went in about an hour later.
It turns out that Dr. Sakamoto was delivering another baby when we called him. My contractions quickly got closer and closer together and got stronger and stronger, but not much else was happening.

Saturday morning I had been in labor with you for 24 hours when a doctor put a cell phone up to my ear. The voice on the other end was Dr. Sakamoto telling me that something was wrong and that if we didn't act quickly you were not going to survive. I remember not being able to respond because a nurse was slipping an oxygen mask over my face. I remember the confused and worried look on your dad's face as I was being wheeled out. He didn't know yet what was going on, and with the oxygen mask over my mouth all I could do was to tell him that everything was going to be okay as they wheeled me out the door.

A few minutes later Dr. Sakamoto arrived as I was prepped for surgery. Your dad came in all dressed up in scrubs. He got to sit by my head and hold my hand. I couldn't see anything but him because they had put the surgical guard very close to my head, so I watched him the whole time. He was awesome. He watched the whole thing and never flinched once. His face stayed a normal color and everything! They quickly had you out and dangled you over my face so that I could get a glimpse of you before they rushed you away to take care of you. You were quite the impressive shade of blue and the only bit of you that I really got to see was your bum (but it was a very cute blue bum). That first little cry you made when they pulled you out made your dad and I cry--it was the most beautiful sound I've ever heard. I fell asleep at this point as the doctors sewed me up.
I know from pictures, and from what your dad and Nana tell me that you were putting on quite a show in the NICU. You were kicking around and trying to eat the edge of the oxygen hood.

I finally got to see your sweet face for the first time about 6 hours later and fell instantly in love.
Holding you in my arms for the first time was mind blowing, and a moment that I will always remember. From the moment you were born you looked like your dad and Nana called you "Little Nathanette" for a very long time after that.

It's hard for me to believe that two whole years have passed since those moments.
When I remember them, they are very clear and seem like it was only yesterday. Yet here you are, our crazy little Savvy-Squirrel.
You have more energy than anyone I know and never stop talking.
For over a year now you have been obsessed with Elmo. You constantly amaze us with the things you say and sing. Just this morning we heard you singing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star when you woke up in your crib. Your other favorite songs are the ABCs, The Wheels on the Bus, The Eensy Weensy Spider, Old McDonald Had a Farm, Follow the Prophet, and I Am A Child of God. Your nursery leaders tell us that your favorite time in nursery every week is when they bring out the bubbles and you run around going crazy trying to catch them.

You are very curious, always examining everything. I love how you brush the hair out of your face when you've been playing hard. I love how you scold Neko ("Yako"), telling her to "be nice," when it was really you antagonizing her. I love it that when you hear a sound that interests you, like that of an airplane in the sky, you say, "Ooooh, an airplane! You hear it? You hear it?" I love how you desperately ask for more kisses whenever we are leaving your room at night, trying to delay bedtime for just a few more moments.
You are one amazing little girl and I have loved watching you learn and grow over the past two years. I am excited to see what the future brings. I believe that you can accomplish anything you decide to do--you are just that determined.

I love you Savannah. Happy Birthday!
Love,
Mama