Happy First Birthday Jeremy!

Dear Jeremy.... Today you are one year old.....It is hard to believe that this year has passed by so very quickly.....I knew that it would...it always does.....
It seems like just yesterday that we were thinking about conceiving you....
The funny thing is that after Daddy and I were married, we had decided we weren't going to have any more children. Mommy already had Krystal and Brandy and Breanne and that seemed like enough for us....Daddy was still trying to learn how to be a daddy to three little girls, and it was hard at first. We were a ready made family......
Daddy and I were married for ten years when God put you as a little treasure in our hearts. Neither of us could believe we were actually considering another baby when our big girls were almost all grown up!! However, we felt that God really wanted us to have you, and so we started trying to have you in December of 2006.
By May of 2007 we found out that we were pregnant with you...I had symptoms and I was so excited that I tested at 4am....and guess what!! We were pregnant! I was so excited that I ran into our room and woke up your daddy by jumping on the bed and shaking him....He was excited too...
For the first few months, I was pretty sick to my stomach....and pretty tired...but mostly, I was just excited. After four mont hs the sickness passed and i felt better....However all I wanted to eat was meat and potatoes...so we knew you were going to like those...And you do...today...potatoes are still your favorite food.
I did have some cause for worry though...the further along I was pregnant with you, the more cramps and contractions I had. After a while the doctor told me I had to quit taking the walks around the park that I liked so much. I was disappointed but it was more important to me that you were safe....
I did have one big scare when I was 28 weeks pregnant with you...I started to miscarry you and had to go to the hospital. I cried when I thought that I might lose you, but after a week in the hospital, and some special shots for your lungs to help them mature...things were better. I did have to quit my job and stay home though....
One day at 35 weeks my water broke..You decided it was time to meet us, so we rushed to the hospital..sure we would have you that night. However, after all those months of contractions...NOTHING HAPPENED! They kept me in the hospital for 3 days before deciding to give me the drugs I needed to help me go into labor..I had some difficult moments...including thinking God was talking to me...but that is the story for another entry. . After 5 hours you were in my arms and safe at last....and daddy and I both cried at the wonder of meeting you....you were amazing...and perfect..(except for the bruising on your poor little cone head) but that soon healed....You were an even 6 lbs....and so tiny....
They wanted to take you away from me right away, because your blood sugar was far too low..3 pts...but I begged them to let me nurse you for a few minutes first...so we could get to kno w each other...It was one of the best moments of my life...
After that we were in the hospital most of the first month of your life...You didn't take to nursing right away, and would fall asleep as soon as you tried...so you lost over 10 percent of your body weight....You were now less then 5 lbs. You also had jaundice very badly, and had to spend all your time under a lamp with glasses on to protect your eyes. I was only allowed to take you out to feed you. I stayed with you at the hospital and daddy visited us whenever he could. I cried a lot. It seemed very unfair to me that I couldn't hold you all the time like I wanted to...I wanted to bring you home to your sisters

and the handsome room I made for you, and I missed Talon who was living at our house at the time. It was also hard to have to try to go home and look after the rest of the family and make arrangements for rides and Talon's care.
.Some of the doctors scared us with dire predictions of your health....but have you ever shown them!
Eventually after the first month, I was able to take you home and that was a wonderful day! We had lots of visitors for a while...everyone was eager to finally meet you! After a while we settled into a new routine, but I wasn't sleeping much because when you were sleeping Talon was awake. That part was hard also. Some days I only slept for two hours a night. I compensated by sleeping with you in my bed so that I could nurse you and sleep....
That also caused some problems because after Talon went home, I had to "ween" you to the crib...and it took awhile. Today, you still sleep with me for an hour or so a night..
In April, Talon went home to his mommy, and for the first time ever...it was just mommy and Jeremy. Now we were all able to spend more time with you and get to know you better. That was a very precious time for us. The first four months you slept pretty much constantly because of the jaundice...but now you were waking up more often and we were getting to know you better. You were so precious...First you learned to smile, and then laugh. You did both all the time. You were such an easy, happy, laid back guy...I couldn't have asked for a better fourth babe...
From about four months old, we began to see parts of your wonderful personality emerging...One of the first things we noticed was that you like books....ALOT. Daddy and I went into a book store one day, and you saw books for the first time. You were so excited that we bought you your first one that day....you never put it down. You play with them now more then you do your toys! We also noticed that you love music.-and I mean LOVE music. You were all smiles every time mommy played her guitar and sang for you, so I did it often. We were excited about that. We prayed that you would like music as much as we did...One of your first words was music..and you would point to the stereo...(but it came out as "sic"at first...Whenever you were crying or cranky we would play your two favorite songs....1234 by Feist, or Thankyou India by Alanis Morrisette....and without fail..with the exception of twice..you stop crying to listen.....
You also like electronics...You get that from your daddy. Whenever you start fussing...he takes out his cell phone, and you stop crying almost immediatly...You also love the computer.
We had to give you your own keyboard to play with, so that you would leave ours alone. It didn't take you very long to figure out that certain keys do things on the computer..(not always good things either....LOL) You also figured out the tv remote control pretty quick!

By 6 months old, you started coming out with the odd word...first mom, and hi, and others followed quickly...No one believed us at first, so we were relieved when other people started hearing you say things...things like "aunty" to my friend Brenda, and "button" to grandma, and Anna (to Anna) and last month..."Shub ub Gibbo"...(mimicing me...shut up gizmo to my dog...) It has been quickly followed by me, mine, and "I do it..." You are fiercely independent, and very determined to do everything your self... We are excited watching you do all your firsts...first smile, first laugh, first word, first roll over, first crawl...(but you stood up first at 9 months)
We are still waiting for your first steps, but you will take off running one day, and we will never keep up then....
You used to be a mommy's boy, and most of the time, you still are, but now you are excited to see the girls, or Talon Balon.....and when daddy gos now you cry, and are so excited to see him when he comes home....Your favorite thing to do when dad is home is to play solitaire with him. You get very excited when he wins and the fireworks come up on the screen...

Now that you are a year old, I will be weening you. I expect to be done by the time you are 18 months old...I am sad that this part of our relationship is over...I have enjoyed the closeness we have shared, but you bite me with all five of your teeth now every time I nurse....I am not expecting it to be easy though...you love nursing, and sometimes do it just for comfort. I have switched you to a bottle when we go out now..but you often rebel and have a tantrum when I don't want to nurse you...
Part of me wishes that we could keep you this age...so I could keep you close...I know that as you get older and older, you will want your independence from me...and I understand it, but it will be hard...
We want many things for you in your life, but mostly we just want you to serve God, and be happy...Daddy and I waited so long to have you, but now that you are here...we don't know what life was like without you...You are our special little man, and I am so glad you are in my life...

Happy birthday my son....Have a happy first year...

Love mommy.