Oh my goodnesss...

Charlie is 1 year old!!!!

One year ago today at 1am my little boy was born!!

Charlie had a rough start and came out with the cord wrapped around his neck. It was so bad they cut it when just his head was out..still down there!!! He got to spend some time in their version of NICU....so typical!! The plan was for me to be in the room with Cady, but she got NO epidural so that plan was nixed and it was just her mom and sister's. It really was okay with me. I have been in on many delivers and even thought it was my son being born..the awkwardness of the whole situation..her half naked..me there....Let's just say I was MORE then happy to sit with Bradley in the waiting room! We sat out there and met..for the first time..her Dad, his now wife, Grandparents, and an Aunt. It was a little nerve wracking, but they very quickly hugged us and told us they believe that this little baby was meant to be with us.

We got the call on Sat night at like 9pm. We had just come in from a dinner of Sushi and Ice cream..my fav!! We had just put on a movie and my cell rang. I turned to Bradley and said" It's Cady telling us she is in labor"...TOTALLY kidding!! Well, it was (this was a week earlier then her due date) and she told us that she had been in and out of triage that day and they finally admitted her. Since I was not actually pregnant it never occurred to me to pack a bag. We packed for all 3 and hit the road. I think we got out at 9:30 and got there at midnight....no more driving like I was in college..we followed the speed limit!

We got there at midnight and had told no one. I did not want to get every ones hopes up and then her not deliver. Her changing her mind never crossed mine. We only waited an hour and about 3-5 min after he was born her sister came to the waiting room and announced all the info and said Cady wanted me to go back. I felt good that she wanted me to go first, but felt a little sad for Bradley. Although, I knew he felt more comfortable in the waiting room!!

Minus the awkwardness of walking into the room when Cady was being sewn up, the moment was surreal. As I went towards his bed and thought..Is he cute?? I have no shame!! Actually on my way to his warmer I was thinking "This time I am going to see MY baby, not just A baby". I kept repeating it in my head to make it a little more real. By about the 5th time I repeated it my eyes were getting watery so I had to stop repeating to keep it together. When I got there I tried very hard to be "mom" not nurse, but dude, he was PALE. I could tell he was grunting, flaring and breathing to fast and he was PALE.. The nurse started talking to me and my favorite sister chimes in "Don't you know all this since your an NICU nurse". Thanks...as a nurse, I don't want other medical people to know I am one..then they get all rude and hoity (sp). Anyway, this one was a nice one cause she goes "So, you understand why he is going to our NICU". Yup..take him NOW..have I mentioned he was PALE!! I felt really great that I was the first one to hold him and I have always appreciated Cady doing that. Not so I could say "I got to hold him first", but because it helped further give me peace that she was still on board and would not change her mind.

I went back out to see Bradley and then we waited until 3am to be able to go back to the NICU so Bradley could see him. It was so nice cause it was just us and him. It was then that we checked him over and counted fingers and toes and looked at his great mountain peak lips. We were tired, but I kept tyring to stay a little longer!! Bradley finally informed me that we had no place to sleep so we better get to looking for a place to stay the next few days.

When we got to the parking lot we called our parents...I of course begin mine with "Everything is fine"..cause you know how I/Mom worry. Dad answered and I told him " Everything is fine. We are in Abilene and Charlie is here!! We made it in time for his delivery". I knew they needed to know that we were there for the birth. All 4 of our parents..well all our family..wanted this to be as much like a "normal" delivery..they wanted us to experience as much as possible. And there are actually very few things I would change about my time in Abilene. I was perfectly happy....more then happy with how that night went.

We got into our room and crawled into bed at 4ish and I prayed for a long time. Telling God thank you for his safe delivery, and thank you for the peace he had given me that she would not change her mind. I thanked him that he chose Bradley to be on this adventure with me and that he gave us families that already loved Charlie as if he was just born from me. I asked for peace for the next few days and I asked him to always let the joy I felt that night be remembered. As crazy as life was gonna get, I asked he never let me get caught up in the non-important things and forget this moment and the joy I had inside. I think I cried some more(surprise) and finally fell asleep. It was by far the best day of mine and Bradley's life.

These are some from his first 2 days of life in Abilene. And then one from when we got home..there were sooo many to chose from in that first day we were home..but I have always loved that picture.

1 month old

Close to a month..I think! This may be my all time favorite picture of him!

2 months old..ish

3 months

4 months 5 months

6 months

7 month

8 months

9 months

10 months

11 months

I am picking up his one year pictures tomorrow so I will get them scanned for his one year..there is one that I LOVE and cannot wait to show off. It totally shows off my boys personality. On Wed I will hopefully have all the pictures from the big B-day bash and I will get them up! Then with his tubes this week also, it should be a week full of post....at least in theory!!