Happy Birthday Jacob

My precious, precious boy.  You are 5 years old today.  I can hardly believe it.  You are getting so grown up and it makes Mommy so happy to see you growing tall and strong and healthy.  But at the same time I want you to stop and stay little and want to cuddle with your Mommy every morning forever.

I will never forget the first moment I saw you.  I was so weak I couldn't do anything but whisper. But they lifted you over the curtain, and I saw your chubby cheeks and your crazy, thick, black curly hair and I smiled the biggest smile ever.  And I cried the happiest tears of my life.

But you were very sick, and Mommy was so weak I didn't get to hold you until the next day.  You had to have oxygen and a feeding tube. It made me very sad.  Then you had to go on a ventilator, and Mommy was just beside herself.  You had what Mommy has (MG) but only for a while.  It would go away and never come back, but waiting was the hardest thing ever.  I was the only one to hold you every single day.  Mommy had to leave you in the hospital every day and it was the hardest thing I've ever had to do.

We FINALLY got to take you home, exactly 5 weeks after you were born.  You were such a good baby.  You slept all night almost right away, and you only cried when you were tired, hungry, or needed your diaper changed.  You just watched, observed.  You loved bright shiny things, and you took everything in.  You were kind of somber and quiet, (Mommy thinks your cheeks were too heavy for you to lift at first!) but when you smiled and giggled my heart just melted.

You grew and grew, and were so healthy.  That was the best news for Mommy.  And now you are five. You are smart and strong and beautiful.  You are crazy and wild and tender all at the same time.  You are the best of your Daddy and me.  You are ALL boy, but yet you have such a tender heart and compassion for all things.

I hope for you that you keep growing up strong, and that you keep loving God and Mommy and Daddy as much as you do today.  Remember that loving God and listening to Him is more important than anything else in the whole world.

I could not possibly be more proud of you than I am.  Your smile melts my heart.  Your eyes make me cry.  When you squeeze my neck and give me the best hug ever, all is right with the world.

I can't imagine how I ever took a breath without you in my life.  It's hard to even remember life without you in it.  You are my very special, precious boy.  You are the most perfect gift I've ever received.  I will love you forever and ever....and always.

Happy Birthday my darling boy.  Mommy is so proud of you.