Today is Nathan’s 8th birthday. As the oldest of the WunderKids, his birthday makes me feel very old.

8 already….Wow, I guess I better start that college fund for him…I only have 10 more years….

Nathan is an amazing kid. He is almost always in a good mood and he is very considerate of his younger siblings. He has always set the tone for the other kids in the house and is a good example to them.

20 months old holding Charlie

Getting big

Blowing out the candles

LEGO’s!!!!!!!

His birth was earth shaking for both of our families**. He was going to be the first grandchild on either side. About a week before Jen went into labor, her mom and dad moved in with us so they wouldn’t miss the birth. We were living outside Atlanta at the time and it is a 3 hour trip from Albany.

We were living in a little 2 bedroom townhouse and while it was cramped quarters, we had a great time. As the day of the birth drew closer, her sister joined the rest of the family in our townhouse.

There were many, many false starts. Not knowing what to expect in regards to pain, she timed her contractions and when they got to where the book said they should be, we called the doctor. Sometimes they had us come in so they could check her, other times they said just be patient.

Jen walked all the time. The way the townhouse was laid out, you could make a circle from the kitchen to the living room, to our room, through the common bathroom, down the little hall and back to the kitchen. I see her now, great big pregnant…I’m not joking….walking her little circuit course.

Speaking of big pregnant. She came home from the store one day and said, “I swear, if ONE more person asks me if I’m having twins, I’m going to hit them.”

The doctor said it would be anytime now, so they told her to walk as much as possible. So we headed to the mall and walked and walked and walked. Around noon, we went back to the doctor hoping it was time…it wasn’t.

We packed up and headed back home, convinced Nathan would always be inside her. Her mom made a big batch of tuna salad and we all lay down for a nap.

After about an hour or so, Jen woke me up and said she was having contractions. Having been down that road a few times, I was skeptical. So I suggested she hop in the shower to see what that did.

When she came out, she was writhing in pain. I thought to myself, “Hmmm, this is different…”

And off we flew to the hospital.

Jen went through 12 hours of labor, with no epidural, only some pain medication. But her contractions slowed down and things just weren’t going like they were supposed to be going.

The midwife called the doctor in around 4 in the morning. He looked at her and said that he was going to perform a C-section on her.

We were so sad, but happy it was finally going to be over.

They prepped her for the OR and then they let me in.

When they pulled Nathan out, around 5:30 in the morning, we were excited he was finally here. He was a big boy, over 9 pounds.

Now he’s 8 and I can’t believe it.

Nathan you make my heart happy and you are a blessing from the Lord.

Happy Birthday Son!

** It was earth shattering in that between Jen and her sister, they have given her parents 8 grandkids in 8 years (soon to be 9, how’s that bun coming Aimee?). Nate’s birth set off a baby birth race if you will.