Thoughtful Thursday...my baby's birthday

Four years ago today, I became a mother, mom, mommy. At 1:34am I heard the sweetest sound known to man when my newborn son cried for the first time...welcoming me into the fold of motherhood.  At that moment, I knew my life would never and could never be the same.  I would live and breathe for that boy and I like to think I still do.

Today, my sweet baby boy, born full term at 5 lbs 12 oz and 19 1/4 inches turns four.  FOUR.  I simply cannot believe he is that old.  Let's not even go into how old that makes me.  For reminiscing sake here are some pics of then and now.

This is my son at 4 days old, ready to come home from the hospital...ready to change my life and oh how he did.

This is my big boy all of four years old...still changing my life

That sweet four year old boy is such an amazing little guy.  He is rambuncious, smart, and definitely all boy, although he has on occasion asked me to paint his toenails when I am doing mine.  He knows all of his colors, shapes, most if not all of his letters, he can sing his ABC's and many other tunes. He knows he is allergic to milk and is smart enough to tell people if he can't have something (an ability I wish he didn't have).

today, I pay tribute to my first born with a pancake breakfast, complete with 4 candles.  Happy Birthday sweetie.

TS3...let the countdown begin

For those of you who do not have a young boy in the house, TS3 is the acronym for "Toy Story 3"...it is all that I hear about these days, and it seems fitting that since its release date falls on the day after my big boy's birthday, that we should approiately have a Toy Story birthday party to celebrate it.  So Toy Story it is.  Add to this lucky phenomenon of dates the fact that Greyson's birthday was completely overshadowed by his brother's early birth and subsequent NICU rollercoaster ride and you have the makings for one hell of a party.

I will post pictures in good time, I don't want to ruin the surprise of what this semi-insane mama is up to.  He better understand how much I love him...lol

Greyson's getting ready for his b-day

Greyson's birthday is close at hand....here is his first present!

Birthday Party Central

Do you know what happens when you have two birthdays 12 days apart? Holy party overload. Yes, both of our boys are June babies, so we have one busy June for the rest of our lives!

June started with a bang with Gunner's first birthday celebration...Greyson and I are up early making the cupcakes...lots and lots of cupcakes!


The birthday boy wakes up from his nap and the party is ready to begin! Note that little man was fighting a bad ear infection (he was on his 4th day of anitbiotics) so he looks sleepy in every picture, which is not himself! In the sharing of the pics, I am hearing "he looks like his Mimi"

Here is Gunner's cake, made very carefully to be allergen free (no milk or eggs) lest we relive Greyson's first birthday allergen attack. The pictres are before, during and after him enjoying it!

We also had the opportunity to get a four generation shot at the party, here is Great Grama Mattheis, Grampa Mattheis, Mommy, and the birthday boy...big brother was too involved in the festivities to be in the pic!
Here is his first gift....

Sappy Saturday...my baby's birthday

One year ago today, I was blessed with the miracle of a second son.  A son that in the last year has dramatically changed my life.  The sound of his first cry was even more remarkable than his brother's, as we didn't even know what or how he would be due to his early birth.  I remember the perilous fear of not knowing...if I could turn back time and ease my mind each day in the hospital, oh I would.

As I said, this boy has completely changed my life, for the better I would like to think.  Some amazing things he has done this year include:

• He has hit all his milestones according to his adjusted age (2 months later than his actual)
• He is almost 20 lbs and has been on the full term baby charts for months
• He has made his family active in the mission of the March of Dimes, doing our first (annual) walk and rasing over $3000 for the babies of the Kalamazoo/Battle Creek area
• He has inspired Mommy to become a milk donor all proceeds to healthy preemie babies in Michigan
• He has made the nurses at Bronson and Spectrum very happy when they received their goodies during Nurse's Appreciation Week.
• He has made the preemie mom's days day with the delivery of an gender appropriate preemie sized outfit for Mother's Day

 For reminisince sake, this is my little man just a year ago...

 

And this is my BIG boy as of today...

Gunner can sit unassisted, crawl, he pulls to a stand any chance he gets, he babbles with the sweetest sounds of ma ma ma and da da da and many more, he points, he gestures, he gets excited when he sees something he wants, he loves to be outside (waves his hands the minute you get near the door), he adores his big brother, he has to be the happiest baby I have ever seen (or had), he loves his doggies and parents.  He is a very very special boy that I consider myself blessed to have.  And honestly, this is hard to say as I know there were portions of this last year that were tough and downright awful, but if it meant he wasn't exactly who he was, I wouldn't change a thing.  I would go thru hell for this boy...and probably already have!

Happy birthday baby boy!