Birthday Eve

A year ago at this very moment I was woken up by contractions. This wasn't anything new as I'd been having contractions off and on for several days and braxton hicks contractions for months! I have a journal for Brody that I write in every so often. The entry on August 13, 2006 reads:

"You really like to tease me! I'm still having contractions, but not enough to go to the hospital! At church today everyone was anxious for you to come! I think I'm gonna be pregnant FOREVER!!!"

Little did I know that 2 hours later I would wake up to go to the bathroom and have my water break! I didn't know that I would be holding my little baby boy within 12 hours!

I don't know if it's just fatigue...but I'm really emotional today! Tomorrow is my baby's birthday! I guess I'm coming to the realization that he's not a baby anymore. If I get this emotional over a first birthday....I don't even want to think about what I'll be like when he graduates from high school or gets married!!! I'm glad I have a few years to prepare ;)

This past year has gone by sooooo quickly! There have been a lot of struggles and sleepless night...but there has also been so much joy. It's amazing how someone so small can brighten the dreariest day. I don't want to forget all the special little moments that I've shared with Brody in the first year of his life.

Here is a just a portion of the list of things that I love about my son:

I love how when I walk into the room in the morning your tears instantly turn to smiles and laughter as you reach for me. You love the outdoors...and cry sometimes when I won't take you outside (sorry...but 103 degrees is TOO hot!) I love how you hurry to the couch when I ask if you want milk. I love how you reach for my face while nursing (even though sometimes you scratch my nose! lol). I love how you say "ahhh" after taking a drink (and sometimes even after nursing)! I absolutely LOVE your laugh! I love to see you and your daddy playing chase and laughing so hard your tummy hurts! I love how easy it was to get rid of the paci. I love how you snuggle with your pillow and stuffed animals when I put you in your bed. I love when you give me a zrbbt (pronounced "zerbert"). I love how you point to the kleenex box and blow air out of your nose (then practice blowing your nose on a kleenex when I hand you one). I love how you put your hand to your ear and say "hello" (or at least your version of hello) whenever you see a phone. I love how even the apples and oranges at the grocery store are balls (shouldn't everything round and shiny be a ball?!) I love how you pick out books and want to sit in my lap for me to read to you. I love how you "dance" to music. I love how you tell us when you're ready for bed (you wave "bye bye" and go to the stairs...even climb up them towards your room if the gate isn't there). I love how excited you are to see your daddy (whether he just got home from work...or you catch a glimpse of him mowing outside). I love to hear your laugh when we play "This little piggy went to market..." with your toes on the way home from work. I love how much you love bath time....and I love how you lay down on you belly in the bath and blow bubbles in the water. I love how much you enjoy swimming. I love how excited you are to see me or Mike when we pick you up from the nursery after church. I love how much you talk and how many words you are saying! I love how at a year old...you still have a toothless grin! I love when you walk to me...and get so excited that you fall into my arms!

Ok....I could go on forever with things that I love about Brody Michael...but I'll stop there. I need to go to bed. A year ago today I didn't realize how short this night was going to be!