Stephen's Birthday Pictures

One

My baby turned one today. How did a year go by so fast? I know it sounds clique... but really where does the time go?

I was very nostalgic all week about where we were a year ago. I went into labor last year on the first day of school. I remember showing Kate the big yellow school buses for the first time and her excitement in knowing that one day she would get to ride on one too, standing with Kate on the cerel isle at Ukrops feeling a strong contraction wondering - was this the real thing?, pulling into my drive way and having a huge contraction knowing it was the real thing, calling my Dad to take care of Kate until David got home, being told by my doctor that nothing had changed and that he thought I was in false labor, taking a 2 hour walk all over Brandermill trying to progress my labor, going to bed at 10:42pm mad because I thought I was wrong, not being able to fall asleep because the contractions got stronger and stronger, the drive to the hospital at midnight, riding in a wheelchair to the labor & delivery floor, 1am offically being admitted to the hospital, David and I both excited that he was really on his way, knowing I was right, the relief of the epidural - finally in after 4 tries (yes, 4), being told at 4:45 we were ready to push and that he would probably make his grand entrance around 7am, but he decided to show up a little earlier... 15 minutes later he was here, arriving into this world on September 5th at 5am weighing in at 6lbs. 3oz. By the way, I really thought I was carring a larger baby, and where did all that platnium blonde hair come from? He also looked just like his sister did as a newborn... and like every baby, perfect.

Last night I was concerned that I was going to wake up this morning and feel like I missed everything. I woke up at 4:42 am and smiled remembering it was the start of his grand entrance into this world and woke up again at 5am. I never want to forget either of my children's births. I know some people want to forget, not me. It was the most amazing experience of my life.

With Stephen I have a had a sling, a Hotsling to be exact. It is by far the best baby gift I have ever been given, thanks to Dr.Jack, Katie, Carolyn, Aisha, Colleen, Nicole, and of course all the cats at Church Hill Animal Hospital. At first, I thought it was great to have my hands free and it worked wonders soothing him when nothing else would. But the best has been able to have him snuggled close to me where ever I go. I always seem to catch a smile or a glance of a mom and in her expression you can tell that she is reflecting on that precious baby time. Sometimes I even get caught in conversation about how fleeting this time is and how to drink it in because there is nothing like it and you can never get it back. You can hold other babies and enjoy their sweetness, but their is nothing like the bond of your own.

Right after Stephen was born, Josie and Gene were the first two to meet the little guy. Gene was holding him and he started to cry, Gene immediately handed him to his momma and he quieted down instantly. Josie commented, "He knows his momma." For Mother's Day Josie gave me a quote that said, "Mother, to the world you may be one person. But, to one person you are the world."

Here is one of my favorite pictures of Stephen that I took when he was in the sling... Mommy cam. As I look, I can't belive how much he has changed.

Doggie Paddle

Here are my "first" girls... My first babies who are now 6 and 7, where did the time go? Tonight was the last night the pool was open and it was the annual doggie paddle. Kate was giddy with excitement, she could not wait to go swimming with her dogs at the pool. I have never seen her so excited! We all had so much fun... We arrived with both dogs on a leash and expected our die hard retriever, Dixie, to jump right in after the ball. Belle, we thought would follow, but not participate as much. However, when it was time to get in the pool Dixie was on overload and continued to run laps around the pool... Belle followed her, so we spent the first 5 minutes running around the pool with two kids. (David and I determined this must be what it is like having 4 kids.) So, we took them over to the baby pool, so they could be enclosed. They had so much fun and Kate could get in with them. Belle retrieved more than Dixie! Maybe she is our water girl? Stephen loved watching and laughing at the dogs. Dixie would jump out of the water run by and lick him, or Belle would shake. Stephen loves dogs, balls, and the water, he was quite entertained.

By the way, we missed this event last year because I was in labor! Stephen will be one on Friday and I can't believe it! How did it all go by so fast?