15 years later

Colby was hard pressed to decide on his birthday activity. His notions ranged from the gun range to a relaxing day at home (right!) or a trip to D.C. He ended up in D.C. with a couple of friends and a couple of siblings as well as dear old dad. They parked in Springfield and hopped on the metro for a trip to the National Archives. It was a trip to remember. Colby recently memorized the Bill of Rights with dates, the preamble to the Constitution and the preamble to the Declaration of Independence; so the destination was a natural choice for him. He really appreciated the history of the artifacts there as well as their significance. 

The boys have made some friends here in the neighborhood. Pictured with our motley crew are David and Jacob McCabe. They are the oldest 2 kids in a family of 11. That's right, a larger family than ours! They are good boys and appreciated the opportunity to take a city trip without little people who cry all the time.

The girls were decked out and thrilled to sport their cute hats and coats in the city.

Once home the boys hit the ground running and played nerf outside. Inside, Hazel cried to be held, the littles ran around smacking one another with balloons, Jackie set the table, Libby talked, and I made dinner. Colby had asked me to make him a surprise birthday cake this year. I decided to make the same recipe I did when the kids were baptized. It's a huge cake that serves a whopping 24 people. No need to worry, we didn't eat the whole thing, but we could have as it was delicious!! 

 I nearly burned my fingers trying to light the thing. 15 is a lot of candles.

Colby was pleased with the cake and really enjoyed his day. We're so thankful for you Colby.

I can remember very clearly the day he was born for it was the last day Jake and I spent together without children to care for. The weather had been drizzly and cool, so Jake and I stayed inside and set up this indoor putt-putt game. We hit golf balls around the house all day long. I had baked Jake his favorite lemon cake that morning, so that's what we ate for lunch. At the end of the afternoon right as we were going to take a nap the phone rang and it was a girl whom I had gone to high school with. It's the last time I spoke with her, I think her name was Erin.. We chatted and I felt something strange happen in my belly. I told her so and hung up the phone. When I stood up, I had been sitting on the end of our bed, I discovered that my water had broke. I was so excited and scared too. I had read that the first thing you should do when you know you are going into labor is to take a shower, so that's what I did. While I was in the shower I started hurting a lot. I didn't know anything about labor then, but I knew enough to think I had better get out of the shower and get dressed. We went to the hospital in Jake's old truck, Pearl. He drove like a madman, just like you see in the movies where the wife is heavily breathing and panting and she's says "Slow Down!' but the man keeps driving because he's been preparing 9 months for this moment to get his wife to the hospital on time... I think that's the last time he did get me to the hospital on time... That's not his fault though :). He flew through traffic lights and over speed bumps as though they were pebbles. We were at the hospital before I knew it and about 2 hours later Colby was born. He weighed 7 pounds 3 ounces, our smallest baby to date. He was very long, with an extremely long umbilical cord and had long feet. That was the only labor my mom was in the delivery room for. My father stood outside the delivery room door. I think that perhaps that's the harder place to be, hearing but not seeing and hoping all will be well. I remember holding Colby that night and looking at him knowing that life was now different, forever different. I knew a little then about mothering and I know a little more now. God wisely placed Colby first in our lives. He's been a pleasure to parent and raise, he's taught us much about ourselves and our Lord. He is a precious miracle; a gift of life. Colby we love you more than words can say, the first child, the first grandchild. Happy 15th birthday son!