First Birthday Eve

As I sit here on the night before Curran's first birthday, I can't help reflecting over the past year. One year ago, Dr. Sharon admitted me to the hospital to begin induction the next day. I went into labor around 4 am and I must admit, the first thing I did was ask the nurse to call the anesthesiologist! I have to admit, now, that I wish I had tried to stay calm and breathe through it. I suppose the issue was that I was asleep and the labor pains woke me up with a vengeance and were coming very quickly. I didn't have time to ease into it or get used to it. It was just there. And after 10 hours or so, it was time to push. That, of course, was when the real trouble began, but I'll spare you. Curran was born at 5:05pm and was amazing from the start. It was apparent that he had fought a brave fight to get here as evidenced by the bruises all over him. But he was calm and sweet and looking in our eyes from the start.

I remember those first few months when he would wake up about 2 or 3am. I would hold him and feed him thinking that we were the only ones awake at that time. It felt so personal and private and safe. The world is different at that time. It's quiet and dark and calm. Even the birds are asleep. Only the moon, my baby boy, and me.

I've watched him grow from a kicky-pants baby to a kicky-pants almost toddler and have been amazed by every moment. I love to show him something and then sit back and watch him figure it out. I love his laugh when I'm being silly; he gets me and not many people do. I love to make up crazy songs that only he and I know and watch him begin to dance at the first note.

The latest thing for him to start doing is hugging me tight and sharing his snacks with me. I'm happy to say that he is a sweet-natured boy and is loved by everyone who sees him. I am looking forward to this next year of discovery with Curran, both for him and for me. Never has a mother loved a son more than this one.

Mommy's Boy

Curran is the sweetest little love bug and he definitely prefers his Mommy and Daddy to anyone else. He has even begun to prefer us to Tina which he never did before. When we're in his playroom and I'm on the floor, he'll crawl over to me and climb up in my arms and hug me. At night, he sings me and song and tells me a story before he goes to sleep.

We're gearing up for his first birthday. Wow!! What a year! I'm recovering finally from all of the childbirth issues, but have also had some cough issues. But I finally saw a pulmonologist so I'm getting better from that as well.

Curran has five teeth and three other partial ones. He pulls up to standing very well, cruises, and is able to carefully sit down from a standing position. He has excellent balance. He is also getting very tall. At Christmas, he could not reach the top of the Laugh and Learn House and now he's as tall as the house and easily reaches it.

Of course this means he is into everything. I've had to babyproof everything in his playroom, even things I wouldn't have dreamed of. He has his own personality and opinions, but I do think that he gets over things very quickly. I can easily distract him with other things. He is sweet-natured and just gets slightly upset when something might now go his way. But he appreciates a patient, loving approach.

He loves his tubbies, but he has started trying to stand up in the tub. Of course, Mommy is right there to watch him. He is also fascinated with looking at himself in the mirror. He smiles and laughs and just loves it. He also loves to go to the store and ride in the cart.

He's becoming more interested in sitting and reading a book. He will also watch Zaboomafoo, Thomas and Friends, and he absolutely love Ellen and dances with her at the beginning. He tends to like girls with blonde hair- even on TV.

His birthday is on a Thursday, so we will have a little party on Saturday, the 27th. We'll have a Baby Einstein cake and smash cake, my parents will be here, Tina and Paul, of course Mommy, Daddy, and Cason and another friend of mine, Lesley. We'll just have a small celebration and takes lots of pics so stay tuned!!