Just Yesterday

Today my baby is 6 years old.  

Unfortunately, I do not have any photos to share from him as a newborn so you can see the before and after.... This was as far back as I could find on our computer.  I didn't get into the digital camera thing until he was 2.  He was a cute lil booger though, wasn't he?

I wanted a baby for as long as I can remember.  I couldn't wait until I turned 12 so I could babysit ~ and not just because I wanted tomake some extra money.  I didn't do fashion shows with my Barbies as a little girl ~ I made them have husbands and families.  I always knew I would be a mom one day.  

We tried for a year before finding out we were pregnant with Tyler.  I was only 23 at the time and had just been married for just two years!  It was probably too soon but I could not wait any longer.  I like that I am a young mom but not so young that we are growing up together.  I like that my own childhood wasn't so far away that I can not relate to my kids.

I remember the night I found out I was pregnant.  I did the pee on the stick thing when I woke up in the middle of the night.  I had taken many before the instant I thought I had missed a period.  Finally!  Two lines!  I was going to get my baby!!  I eagerly woke up Shawn and we called our parents.  It was probably 3am.

I read every book and magazine I could get my hands on when I was pregnant.  I kept a pregnancy journal as well (which I continue to write in when I think of it) so that one day he can look back and read about how excited we were, how much we wanted him.  We had names picked out almost immediately - Tyler for a boy and Madison for a girl.  

My pregnancy was easy ~ I didn't have morning sickness, strange cravings, complications, etc.  I loved being pregnant!  I bought maternity clothes as soon as I could ~ I wanted the whole world to be excited about my baby like I was!  

As the big day approached, I started to become a little uncomfortable.  I was enormous... and Tyler was born in Maryland ~ where August was hot and humid.  I did nothing in the last few weeks but lay on the couch with the air conditioning on full blast.  Our due date (a couple days before my Dad's birthday ~ August 10th) came and went.  I felt like a whale.  I wanted my baby here with us SO badly I could hardly stand it!  He kept growing bigger and bigger until finally my doctor decided to induce, a week and a half late.  We were starting to be afraid that my 5'3" frame would not be able to

deliver such a big baby!  With a little nagging in the form of pitocin and 12 hours of labor, my baby finally came out.  He was one of the biggest babies my doctor had delivered at 9 lbs 11 oz and 22" long.  He looked like a 1 month old!  

Finally ~ I was a mommy.  I felt like I had everything I had ever wanted... a husband that I was crazy about and this perfect little (er rather, big) baby.  I bought him the softest things I could find as far as clothes, bedding and toys went.  I took him everywhere ~ there was no way I was leaving this precious child with a stranger.  I talked to him and cooed to him and video taped his every breath.  I sent hours of video taped footage to our family (who was 1,000 miles away in Indiana) so they would be able to watch him grow too.

Tyler was a really happy baby and had the biggest dimples you've ever seen.  Everywhere we went, people would go on and on about his dimples.  He smiled and cooed at everyone who looked at him.  He loved to be the center of attention and to this day will do anything for a laugh!  I think he will be the class clown...

Tyler has grown into a handsome (yes, I may be a tad biased) young man.  He is sweet and sensitive and well behaved.  He's very entertaining to be around.  He's smart and inquisitive ~ he has a question for everything!   He is outgoing and gets along with just about anyone.  I feel so lucky to have such a great kid!  

I can't believe how quickly these past 6 years have come and gone... It seems like just yesterday we were bringing him home.