...you came into my life. I remember so clearly. It was the week of Thanksgiving in Brunswick, Maine. The first snow of the season was just beginning to fall when I looked at your Dad and said it was time to go. He looked at me, slightly confused and said "Go where?"
I should have known then what I was in for.
After 32 hours of labor you finally decided to make your appearance at 2:32 a.m. November 20, 1989. You were 7 pounds, 6 ounces and 20 1/2 inches long. I was amazed that you were so small because I was so BIG! I had gained almost 100 pounds carrying you. I had found out in my third trimester that I was having an adverse reaction to the amount of testosterone you were creating. I laughed at the Doc and told him that after growing up with six brothers, I was now allergic to boys!
You were a very high maintenance child. You had colic and I tried for weeks to nurse you to no avail. I was 22 years old and totally clueless so we went to formula. I learned so much in that first year. When you were fifteen months old you had your first asthma attack. It was 2 a.m. and Daddy was on deployment. Miss Cammie came to my rescue and drove us to the E.R. That night was the first of many nights with me rocking you in the old rocking chair administering a breathing treatment with the nebulizer. So many nights were spent that way, especially in the cold winter months in Maine.
You were born with a mind of your own and a stubborn streak a mile long. You were a determined little man and you remain so to this day. You will do things your way. Conforming is not in your genetic makeup. Sometimes that's a good thing and as your learning, sometimes that's really hard.
When there is something you are curious about you are all in, reading and researching everything you could get your hands on. You were very inpatient with me teaching you to read. So at four you taught yourself. You can still say all the Dinosaur names because of the books you read as a child.
You loved music as a little dance machine and still do. Anything with a strong base and electric guitar and you are there. It was an interesting phase you went through in junior high with the whole Christian Rap thing, but we survived it.
I remember the year you were a shepherd in the Christmas play. The next year you were a Wise man. You told me you were so happy for the promotion! Don't get me started on your love of the barking dog Christmas album! That must come from your father's side of the family! I love standing next to you at Mass listening to your deep baritone loudly proclaiming Christ is Born! It brings such joy to my heart.
