Happy Birthday, Mr. Big Stuff! This is your second birthday. Your first birthday was one year ago today. You were born May 27, 2008 at 8:46 p.m. at Prentice Women's Hospital in Chicago. You weighed 7 pounds, 1 ounce and were 20 inches long.
I remember the day!
Your daddy called us at home in the early evening and said, "Hi, guess where we are?" Hmmmm..... well seeing as how I'd received one of these kiinds of calls before -- only 10 weeks earlier from your cousin Elliot's daddy on the night he was born..... I replied, "Are you at the hospital to have a baby?"
Your mommy had been in labor with you for a long time, since the day before. She felt like something was up but really couldn't believe the time had come for your entrance. On Tuesday her contractions began getting more frequent, with your daddy timing them with his Iphone stopwatch.
Alas, the baby docs weren't in any hurry. "Call back later," they said. You see, you still weren't due to be born for another 3.5 weeks!
Aunt Cobey came over to your mom's and dad's house to go out for lunch. Mommy kept having contractions all throughout lunch so Cobey, the seasoned pro, said, "I think this is the real deal, Jess!"
Mommy called the docs again and they said to come to the hospital. "Peanut (mommy called you Peanut until you were born) is on his/her (we still didn't know if you were a boy or girl) way!"
Your daddy and mommy got to the hospital around 3:30, fearful they'd be sent back home. But, instead, found out you were real close to being born. Dom texted your grandma in England, who was also waiting for news of cousin Jasmine's arival (she was due before you but arrived 10 days later).
Calls were made all around, including to me. Everything was in motion (especially you).
Mommy was brought upstairs at the hospital to the delivery room. Hooked up on an IV. Had another exam and she was progressing really well-no meds. By 6pm the doctor broke her water and at 6:30 she had an epidural. She shivered as a result of the drugs, but man were they effective.
MiMi and I arrived around then. MeMe and Cobey were also there. We waited.
By 8pm the doctor said the big push would begin in a half hour. And it did.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT??????!!!!!!!!
By 8:46 pm YOU WERE HERE!
Your mommy looked down as the doctor held him up and saw your little willy and she cried "it's a boy!"
You cried and had a deep voice. You slept lots. Mommy tried nursing but it wasn't very easy at first and the nurse said your blood sugar was low so they gave you some formula at first. By the way, you were a good eater then, too!
Your daddy ran into the waiting room as if he'd just scored a football goal, arms above his head, smile on his face, and shouting, "It's a boy!"
Everyone came in to say hello. Dom's friend Sean was the only non-family member there. Uncle Casey arrived just in time.
There is a great photo of all that were there and some day I hope to post it here.
Your mommy tells me that when you guys were upstairs in your final room around 2 or 3 am daddy was asleep, the nurse had been in to check on you and mommy could not sleep. She unfolded your swaddle and put you against her chest and just cried (happy tears). You guys bonded as you will the rest of your long lives.
When you were brought home there were flowers waiting in the house and on your porch stoop was written in blue sidewalk chalk " It's a boy!"
Word is, you've been a very easy baby and a very lovely little boy.
What a wonderful world! Happy birthday!
Henry, you spent last Friday and Grandpa's and MiMi's in Evanston. This was your first sleep over at our house. We had so much fun with you! You went for a long walk and played with the kids on the block. You were very curious about lawn mowers. You ate and.... you had a bath, just like Elliot when he slept over for the first time (see similar photo elsewhere on this blog).
