Seriously? He's 8?!?!

OK - I need to take a breath because today is Aidan's eighth birthday.  Yes.... I said EIGHTH!!! How did this happen?  When did he move from being a little boy to an EIGHT year old?!?!

In honour of his birthday I thought I'd recap his birth story since he predates the inception of this blog.

The morning of February 19th, 2003 I woke up very early - like 5:00 a.m. early.  I got out of bed and went into the family room and tried to relax through some mildly uncomfortable pains.  When Chris woke up I said: "I think today is the day cutie."

To which he responded: "But it's not due until March 4th.  And oh crap - I left my computer at work!!"  (he said "it" because we didn't know if PJ - short for petit James - was a boy or a girl)

So off we head in the car together (because we were terrified that something might happen if Chris went by himself) to Chris' office so he could pick up his laptop.  We got home and chilled for a bit, because I had a previously scheduled appointment with my OB for that day anyways.

Funny aside:  my work called home because the 19th was my first official day of mat leave.  My replacement was calling because she had a question about some things.  Chris answered the phone and said: "Ummm.... I guess she can talk to you, but we're pretty sure she having contractions."

My replacement screamed so loudly Chris nearly dropped the phone!

OK - back on track now....

We went to my appointment, and my OB wasn't there because he was on a two week vacation in Hawaii - lucky guy.  The nurse downplayed the whole "I'm pretty sure I'm in labour because I'm having contractions" - chalking it up to first time mother freaking out over every twinge and pain.

But Chris and I held fast, and insisted that the Dr. examine me.

Sure enough the Dr. checked things out and said: "Well, you're going to want to head next door to the hospital because you're having a baby today.  You're 4 cm dilated."

Holy crap - I don't think I've ever seen Chris move so fast.

So off to the hospital we went, and it's like Aidan knew we were there because within 5 minutes of being in the hospital the contractions kicked into high gear.  We were admitted at 6:30 p.m.

After hearing various other moms-to-be screaming in agony we decided to have the epidural administered at around 8:30.  By 9:30 Aidan made his entrance into the world, kicking, screaming, peeing and pooping.

Eight years later we have one heck of an amazing boy before us.

yes, this is a picture from last summer - but I love it.