Emery's 1st birthday

Emery celebrated his 1st birthday two weekends in a row. Here are some highlights...Emery's love of Toby seems to grow daily. They love the same toys and chase each other all the time.
He was pretty content to just play with the wrapping paper on his gifts.
His birthday cake! Thanks Mandy.
Too bad it's over exposed, but this is his first taste of birthday cake. I think 4 or 5 flashes went off at the same time.
Such a ham.

It's a boy!

Yep, Emery will be a big brother to a little brother in April. I can't believe it's real. No doubt about it, another boy! I'm really happy they are the same gender. I think they'll be built in playmates their whole childhood. Blake wants to add that they're built in enemies too. He'd know, he and his brother are 11 months apart. Sheesh.

I'll post a belly pic next week when I reach 20 weeks. Half way now!

BTW-all measurements and scans came back normal on little Peanut. No overly large head or too much fluid. So far, so good.

Also, Emery had his 12 month visit to the doc, all is well there too. He is 31" long (85%) and 23 lbs, 11.5 oz (69%) and has a 49cm head (97%). All is well there. No more formula after tonight, he's a whole milk boy.

I love my boys!!!!!!!!!!

One Year Ago...

I was about to give birth. Sheesh. Has it been one year? I can't believe it in some respects and in others, it seems like an eternity ago. We went in to be induced on the evening of November 5th. We were told to be there by 7 and as we were waiting in the lobby, two, count 'em two, women were rushed through who were in labor. Grr. There goes our nice room I thought. If I'd had any, ANY idea what I was about to go through I don't think I would have been envying those women at all. Being induced isn't very fun. You don't get a lot of sleep the night before (it's like trying to sleep in an airport next to the check-in desk) and then they give you a bunch of unpleasant drugs in the AM and you are left to "progress" the rest of the day. However, this is what I wanted. I labored all day and into the night. It was 10:20 at night before I threw in the towel and asked if a C-Section was a choice. I had progressed to 9.5CM but stalled out there. Who knows why, some people say it's because I'm an "older mom" and that can happen. Others say it's because Emery's head was too big (it's freakishly large, even now.) Whatever the reason, he didn't come the normal way. He was born via Emergency C-Section at 10:41 pm on Friday November 6th, 2009. I'll always remember that I heard his little cry before I ever got to see him. When I did get to see him, I was amazed that that HUGE thing was living inside of me!!! He weighed 8 lbs. 13 oz. and had a huge head of black hair. Looked nothing like he looks now. Blake was overcome as was I and it will be my fondest memory for the rest of my life. We had become parents! I leave you with some pictures over the last year. Enjoy. It's been the ride of my life and we're about to do it all over again. Love every second!