5 years ago today...

5 years ago at this time (3pm), I was struggling desperately to hold onto my ideal, natural birth for my first child. In approximately one hour, I will say "f-that" and scream my code word for the epidural. At a little before 11pm on March 6, 2003, Jack will enter the world blue and breathless with the cord wrapped tightly around his neck. He'll spend the next 3 hours in the nursery maintaining his own body temperature before the nurses will finally release my new baby boy to his mommy.

And the rest, as they say, is history. This big dude is truly a shining light in my life. His stories, wit, creativity, logic, love, tenderness, gentleness, patience and kindness bring me joy that never would have been there if he hadn't come into my world.

Jack is currently upstairs playing with the new Star Wars Lego set he received for his birthday, and as I had just finished singing his praises in the previous paragraph, I hear Jack loudly proclaim "Somebody pooped!" Did I say Jack was tactful? Oh, good. Glad I left that one off!

Happy Birthday Big "J"!