Lucky Number Seven

~May 22, 2001~May 22, 2008~

Preston's story (this is sappy and braggy and you have been warned):

I was due on Sunday the 20th. Induced Monday the 21st and had him at 11:26pm on Tuesday the 22nd. I was in labor a mere 30 hours with him. Totally worth it! Right after I had him, I remember telling Trevor that the delivery wasn't so bad. I think my exact words were "I could do that again. Maybe not tomorrow, but I could do that again". I'm a crazy lady. I remember who was there. Holly, Heather (on their birthday too, no less), Ashley, and Brandon were all outside the door waiting. Heather and Holly told me later that Brandon was worried they would hear me screaming. They said no, but they didn't expect to hear me laughing:) Ashley (Brown at the time) came at 12:30am to meet him. It was kind of a crazy night.

The strongest memory I have of that day, was the moment they finally let me hold him. With Carson and Abigail, Trevor actually delivered them and handed them directly to me. With Preston, they let Trevor cut the cord, then they weighed him, diapered him, bundled him, and then let me see him. It felt like forever!


~Our first meeting~

He was so tiny. My smallest baby at 6 pounds 12 ounces. I immediately started fighting those teary emotionally exhausted eyes. I was sure there had never been a more beautiful newborn. I pitied the rest of the world. Their babies paled in comparison to mine. He was perfect in ever sense of the word. He barely even cried. Even now, when I look back at the pictures, I can feel the same rush of giddy love that I felt the first time I held him. I love every memory of that day. After everyone went home that night and Preston had been taken to get his first bath, I finally fell asleep. I woke up to Trevor rocking him in my room. You should have seen the way he was staring at Preston. Absolutely, the most beautiful thing.


~Daddy's boy~

The nurses gushed over him and declared he was the best baby in the nursery. Of course. He was perfect. I knew that. The day we left for home, we dressed him up in the precious little outfit we'd brought for him. We took pictures at the hospital and and bundled him up tight in 90 degree weather. Our perfect little family, off to start our perfect little life. Then we got in the car. Let the blood curdling screaming begin. I think we panicked. I was desperately trying to hold his binkie in, while Trevor debated pulling over. I was yelling "NO! Just get us home!". So much drama. Seriously, who pulls over for a crying baby when your less than two miles from home. Rookies. Then, Trevor wanted to record our first minutes at home, all while Preston is screaming for food. In ,the video he's commentating our every move, through the living room, into the nursery, everywhere. I finally just started to nurse him. I've never been the most patient person. After his lunch he seamed much better. Then, he exploded through his tiny little diaper and onesie and precious take home outfit. Our first blow out. The Rookies were at boot camp. Preston was training us hard and fast. That's when reinforcement came in the form of my mother and sisters. I heart my mother and sisters.


~Smiling with Grandma Louise~Syd and Kylie loving on Preston~

Anyway, after that, he really did turn into the most perfect baby. With Preston all you had to do was look at him and he would smile. Those of you who were around at the time can vouch for me. Not to brag or anything but, he rarely cried, was sitting at 4 1/2 months and walking at 10 months. OK. I'm bragging. But just because I can.

Preston would sleep ANYWHERE. Still does in fact. Half of the pictures we took of him the first year were of him sleeping in odd places. I honestly have a video of him falling asleep in his high chair eating a cracker. You can see his eyes droop, close, then his head fall on the tray. He's fallen asleep on the bottom rack of a grocery cart, several times sitting straight up, upside down on the couch, between the foot board and mattress of my mothers bed, and even on the sidewalk waiting for the ice cream truck. He might be narcoleptic. We're looking into it.


~Sleepy Boy~One of a thousand pictures of Pres asleep on Trevor's legs~

At any rate, he's priceless. I've written before what a phenomenal big brother he is. Preston is naturally a very compassionate person. He's constantly worried about other's feelings and wants to please everybody. I hate to say it, but guilt trips work well on him. Not so much with Carson, though. He still has the best smile and wears it most of the time. We still think he's almost perfect. There are days that are like that first day at home, I won't lie. But, most of them are more like the day he was born, sweet little memories of my baby boy. Happy Birthday Preston. We love you so much!


~Breakfast in bed~