Mitchell was our little souvenir brought home from a fabulous trip to Hawaii. I knew that I was pregnant with him within HOURS. No joke. It took what seemed like forever for a test to prove it-- but I had serious heartburn and craved donuts the next day. NO LIE. Jason thought I was nuts, and was annoyed with the mini fortune I spent on pregnancy tests. Had I not told a couple of girlfriends from that moment, no one would ever believe that story.
My pregnancy was TOTALLY different than with the girls, but I still fully expected to have another girl. It was all I knew. I was even a little sad to find out I was having a boy, with all the hype (in my head) about having 3 girls. 'She' would have been Ella.
But I was finally going to get my Mitchell Wade. I cared for a Mitchell my first year at Kosair, in 2000, who I grew to love- and loved the name even more. Wade is a family name, and I've always wanted to use it.
He was my favorite pregnancy. Even at nearly 39 weeks at Christmastime- with (c)ankles in equal diameter to the skirt around my Christmas tree. As a matter of fact, after our Christmas Eve party (hosted at our home), Jason got a lovely stomach bug, so I had to play Santa all alone (which in this house, is no small feat). After our Christmas morning festivities, I dragged the kids, alone, to the family Christmas, then home to rest.
December 26th was a shopping day, of course. The 27th, we rested, and played with Christmas gifts. Until late that night, when labor began. I was a scheduled C-section, for December 30th, but as with Jenna, I didn't make it.
Mitchell was born around 9:30 am on December 28th. I still didn't really believe he was a boy, until I met him as one. My most fond memory of his delivery? The "OOHS!" and "AAHS!" and even one "You've got you a big one!" He weighed in at 9 pounds, 4 ounces, and was absolutely content from his first breath.
My hospital stay flew by. We left without Mitchell passing his hearing screening, and needing bili lights, but we headed home to practice as a family of 5 on New Years Eve. We were asleep by 9.
It was cold outside- but inside, I was the happiest I have *EVER* been. The first few weeks of Mitchell's life was a dream. He was an awesome baby- nursing well, sleeping well- and he had two big sisters who ADORED him. It was the most perfect ending to my favorite holiday season, at a time when Jason was home with work-- and we were together as a family. I'll never forget how elated and blessed I felt.
The transition from two to three was by far the easiest for this growing family.
It's true what they say: boys and girls are COMPLETELY different. 'A baby is a baby,' I thought. Not so much. Little boys have the innate ability to turn anything into a "vroom vroom." Or, rest their hand down their diaper while riding in their carseat. And steal their Momma's hearts, even differently than girls. OH MY.
I'm gonna jump ahead: I've always wanted three kids. Until I had a son. Then, I knew I needed another. So, I begged for #4.
Back to Mitchell. Basically, in this house, he is a superstar. The girls dote over him constantly. They clap at everything he does. He gets 3.3 billion kisses a day. Leah is his other mother. Jenna is his playmate. At the ripe old age of 2.5, he gets her down in a headlock, she screams "Mom, I can't breathe!!," I have to locate them and save her life, he says "Sowwy, Jenna," and they're back at it again. Not much longer and he'll rule the house.
He finally passed his hearing tests after ear tubes, and speech was delayed until about now, and listening to him talk is simply awesome. He's a funny, funny kid. Using words like "wackumbackle" for motorcycle, and "airplane port" for airplane. Cars, trucks, trains and airplanes. The kid is OBSESSED. He can be heard shouting "take me out to the ball game" from his crib during nap time.
- He's generally lazy. Didn't walk until 16 months.
- Will sleep upwards of 14 hours at night if I don't wake him to start our day. AND he naps.
- His Papa and Papa Boone are his FAVORITE people.
- He's a Momma's boy, but loves to "hit-fight" with Daddy.
- Loves "dot dogs," but rarely eats any other meat.
- He lines his cars and trucks up and calls it "choo choo train cars."
- Calls semi trucks "choo choo train trucks."
- He loves to wear Leah's shoes.
- He loves to learn Jenna's tap dances, and does them with her.
- He wears his shoes on the wrong feet most of the time.
- He loves, loves, loves his baby sister. He gets mad at me when I put her to bed.
- He calls Norah "Baby Sissy."
- I think he's going to be a lefty like Leah.
- He begged me for a bat and ball at Meijer, so I bought it. He uses it like a golf club, and won't have it any other way.
- Like the girls, he has a Teddy Bear, and boy is it loved.
- He has three sisters, and two girl cousins. It's a special treat for him to play with boys!
- He loves his sisters, and generally goes with the flow, but is still sometimes tortured.
I thank God for all of my kids, everyday, but I give special thanks for sons. I didn't know what I was missing, and I'm so extremely thankful that I didn't miss out on the Mother-Son relationship that little Mitchell has brought me. Man, is my heart full of love for that boy.
