Happy Birthday Bubba Louie

Four years ago today, I got some reallly bad news.  The baby I had been working on freeing from my body so hard was being difficult and stubborn.  He was more than willing to put me through all sorts of pain and punishment, but not so willing to part ways with the warmth of my uterus.  And so, to my own devastation (I REALLY, REALLY had my heart set on a VBAC birth), after two days of hard back labor and 14 hours of stalling at 7 centimeters, we headed to the OR for the c-section.  At 10:07 AM on January 11, 2006, the beautiful Brady Loren was born tipping the scales at 11 pounds and half an ounce and peeing all over the doctors as they pulled him out.  I was stunned.  I would have bet BIG money he wasn't that big.  Not only was he a little chunky monkey, but he was a whopping 22 1/2 inches long.  I had just given birth to a three month old.  Of course, Brady was our little surprise, and he has continued to surprise us from the moment we knew he was on his way.  

Right away, I should have seen the signs of who my Bubba Louie, Bubba for short, was going to be.  To this day he is stubborn, he can be difficult, he likes warm snuggly places close to mama's heart, and he always, always does things in a big way.  His daddy and I often describe him in one word - passionate.  Bubba is passionate about every little thing he sets his mind to.  He is passionate about what he has for breakfast and what color his socks are.  He is as passionate about the sudden kisses and declarations of "Hug Time!" and "you da besest mama in da wowld" as he is about when I tell him no and he storms off screaming and declaring me to no longer be his friend.  Yes, in a nutshell, my little man is quite passionate.  He always has been, and I hope he always will be.

He gave us a wee bit of a scare with his blood sugars going all over the place and his lungs not working so well.  Poor little man had to stay in the NICU for 24 hours.  This meant I didn't get to meet my baby until he was already a day old because when you have a c-section, you can't jump right out of bed and head on down to the nursery.  They have to bring your baby to you until your legs start working again.  My arms ached and felt so empty for those long twenty four hours.

Finally free of his tubes and needles!

This one just makes me giggle.

"He did it"

Life hasn't changed much since this picture.  Hedidit still lives here.

His baptism. 

We had to hurry and do it before he was 3 months old because he was quickly outgrowing his little outfit that his big brother wore!

They've been best buddies since day one

I used to sit and watch him sleeping, amazed and grateful to have this gorgeous wonderful creature in my life.

I know he will claim child abuse for this picture one day. 

It was worth it.  I STILL laugh looking at it. 

Those cheeks must have been tough to haul around!

He still looks like this after he eats spaghetti, his favorite meal!

I have spent the last week looking through pictures of my baby as he grew up.  I would have included all of them because I love each and every one, even the bad ones, but Blogger limits the amount you have on a post (a rule I am sure you are glad of by now).  Every photograph, each smile, each drooly, chubby glimpse of my past brought tears of joy and laughter  It saddens me to realize how quickly the time is gone and yet, at the same so happy to see who he has become and even more excited to see who he will be.  His passion is going to take him places in life and change the world.  And I will always love looking at the snapshots I take of his glorious and wonderful life, always starting with that very first day when my life changed forever. 

And now, four years later, the chubby cheeks are smaller and he no longer looks like a baby, though he is, of course, still MY baby.  And he always will be.  So, Bubba Lou, thank you for surprising me with your life.  Thank you for loving me as passionately as you fight with me.  Thank you for being you and bringing such joy and happiness into my life.  I like you.  I love you.  I will always, always be here for you.  

To the moon and back, baby, I love you forever.  Happy Birthday Bubba!