Happy Birthday Pumpkin!

I can't believe an entire year has passed since Pumpkin came into this world. From the moment he was born he was such a joy to us. It's funny to see how much he's changed since he was just a little baby. I was looking at the picture we sent out with his birth announcement compared to a picture I took of him today and it doesn't even look like the same baby! I can't believe how much he's changed. Take a look:

As I was falling asleep last night I thought to myself: Exactly one year ago tonight my water broke and we were so excited about finally meeting our new son. My mom was going to watch Mister for us, but she'd just flown to California that morning (I wasn't due for another 12 days) and so she obviously couldn't get home fast enough. My mother in law was out of town too, but it wouldn't have mattered anyway because there was a snowstorm that night and she wouldn't have been able to get up to our house with all that snow on the ground. We finally called our friends Cory and Kellie and asked them to come sleep at our house until my mom could get back home in the morning. They graciously agreed. I felt so bad because Kellie was also pregnant and due the next day, but there I was going to have my baby first. But fortunately she didn't hold that against me. :)

I remember wanting to do as much as I could naturally before getting an epidural. I remember getting into the jacuzzi tub to make the labor pain more bearable. When it got so bad that I was literally begging and crying for the epidural I got out of the tub and gravity kicked back in and nearly blinded me with the pain and I wanted to jump back in the tub, but I literally couldn't move, so Scott and Jami basically carried me to the bed. Then the nurse said I was fully dilated and couldn't have an epidural. I couldn't believe it. Fortunately Pumpkin was born just minutes after I got out of the tub and I didn't have to wait around long in pain. Much to my surprise I did it naturally. The nurses didn't expect him to come so quickly so they were on the other side of the room preparing things and waiting for the doctor to come. The doctor didn't make it in time and Jami (my friend and doula) and Scott almost had to deliver Pumpkin themselves because the nurses were in their own little world getting the equipment ready. Pumpkin weighed 7lbs 12 oz (pretty good for coming 12 days early) and was 20 inches long. He was born at 4:17am one year ago today. What a wonderful time we've had getting to know him and his fun little personality.

Compared to Mister's birth, Pumpkin's was really fast (3 hours 47 minutes from first contractions to birth) and much easier. Maybe it's because it was my second baby, maybe it was because I didn't have pitocin or an epidural, maybe it was the tub, maybe it was having a doula. Whatever the reason, I can honestly say I enjoyed giving birth the second time around. It was wondrous and awe-inspiring.

From the beginning Pumpkin has had an easy-going nature. He's very even-tempered and was more of a cuddler than Mister was when he was a baby. He was terrible at nursing (didn't last as long as I would've liked) but has always been a great eater. Right now he eats more than Mister who will be 4 next month. It's amazing how he can pack it away. And he's not picky - he'll eat whatever you put in his face. His favorite game in the whole world is peek-a-boo and he'll play it anywhere and with anyone - in the pews at church, behind the dog's crate, behind an open cupboard or door, in the check-out line at the grocery store, in his high chair, or just in your arms. He's got more energy and determination than I know what to do with sometimes. Someone once told me he was "high wattage," and I have to agree. :)

Now that he's a year old we turned his car seat around to face forward, which he was really excited about. He kept looking around like his head was on a swivel stick, just taking it all in. I'm sure it's much more interesting that looking at the back of the seat when he was facing the back. And thank goodness it's time to start him on whole milk. Boy, that baby formula is REALLY expensive! Yay for regular ( and much cheaper) milk!

We couldn't feel more blessed to have Pumpkin in our lives. He is such a gift from heaven and we know he was meant just for our family. Both of our boys are so loving, entertaining and full of life that we just can't even remember what our lives were like before they came along. I wouldn't trade being their mom for anything in the whole world.

Here is a photo journey through Pumpkin's first year with us:

Ready to pop, just days before he was born.

Our first picture with Pumpkin, exhausted but deliriously happy:

First day of life:

Just a few weeks old:

Doing his best Zoolander "Blue Steel" impression:

One of my all-time favorite pictures:

Pumpkin at 6 months old:

Enjoying a day at the beach:

What a happy boy!

Pumpkin's first Halloween:

Big boys facing forward in the car:

Re-living the memories from both Mister's (whose birthday is just 9 days away) and Pumpkin's first years, and seeing so many of my friends pregnant and having babies makes me feel excited to do it all over again. I can't wait to have another baby and do it all all over again! :)