50 Days of Summer: Day 46

Happy Birthday Bryce Carter!! 

I can't believe our "baby" turns 5 today. I can't believe it's been 5 years already. I still have a hard time believing I have a son. 

 

Once upon a time I was convinced that having my two girls was heaven on earth. All my friends had boys and I had the girls. When we found out we were pregnant with number 3 (can you say surprise?) I won't lie; I started dreaming of having another girl. There weren't any signs for me to think otherwise as my pregnancy was exactly the same as was with the girls. 

On July 22, 2008, Bryan and I got up at the crack of dawn to make our way to the hospital for my 7:00 am cesarean. We get checked in and before we knew it we were being wheeled into the OR. As they started moving me into the OR I looked up at Bryan and said, "I think we are having a boy today." He said rather surprised, "Really?" From there we listened to all the OR staff make their predictions on if we were having a girl or a boy.  They were all having a good time making their guesses as they prepped me.

The big moment arrived. Dr. Street had Bryan stand up to see over the curtain as she pulled our baby out. Bryan's face lit up and he literally fist pumped...It's a BOY!!! I started crying because I was so happy to meet our baby, but it would be a lie if I said I shed a few of those tears over the fact we had ourselves a boy. The whole time I kept thinking: 

What am I going to do with a boy?
 I have an attic full of girl clothes.
 I don't have any boy blankets. 
Boys are dirty and stinky.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had 2 named picked out for a boy. Bryce and Gavin. As soon as I saw his little face I knew he was our Bryce. 
Our little Bryce Bryce Baby. 

It didn't take long for me to fall head over heels for my new son. He was so little and so perfect. I was over the moon, two beautiful girls and one handsome boy. Our family was truly complete. It also didn't take me long to learn that moms and boys have a really special relationship. I'm so thankful that I have gotten to experience being mom to girls and a boy.

Being Mom to Bryce has been the most challenging experience of my life thus far, but I have loved every exciting, exhausting and crazy minute. He has no idea how much he has taught me about being a parent or about life itself. I am so thankful for him and so thankful for the 5 years of health we have been giving so far. There isn't a day goes by that I don't pray for his continued health.

 1st Birthday

 2nd Birthday

 3rd Birthday

 4th Birthday


And here we are...5th birthday.

 

 

  

 

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Birthday festivities today included lunch at Steak N Shake where Bryce proclaimed that he will eat cheeseburgers now that he is FIVE. From there way came home for present time and birthday brownies, which we haven't touched yet. I guess we can dig into those after dinner tonight.

 

 

Walked in the house to find his birthday surprise!

 A new bike!!

 

 

 

Fruit of my labor...and Bryan's...the completed Darth Vader lamp. I did the painting and Bryan sketched the face onto the lampshade for me.
Got the idea from Pinterest, but want to give proper credit to the original source HERE. 

 

What a fun day!
Bryan has volleyball later so for now we are all just relaxing around the house, which is something we haven't done in a while. 


Before I wrap this up let me give some shout-outs to a few people who share a birthday with Bryce. Looks like July 22nd is a popular day to have a baby.

Erin Mauldin Duff
Chrissy Mauldin Denman

Mark Whitlock aka Jr. or Marky Mark as I like to call him.
Becky Niese
And possibly a royal baby!