Where do I begin? Where has the time gone? How did I wake up to realize my baby boy is 2?? Let me go back to October 17, 2007...
This is me Oct. 13, 2007...only 5 days before our baby is born!
It was 4:30 in the morning when I woke up. Philip was snuggled beside me with his hand on my belly "playing" with the baby. For a while now my mornings had started with me finally waking up to the feeling of the baby kicking and Philip pushing back. These two have been having a great time together. I don't mind. I think it is so sweet and realize that this morning time is special. Philip has found his own way to have some time with the baby while I sleep. So, after I fully wake up, Philip told me that he felt like today would be the day. I think I was in shock. I questioned how he knew. He couldn't explain it. (Don't you think this feeling is backward...shouldn't I be the one with the "feeling"?) We got up and headed down to Seaside for a short walk b/c I couldn't sit still. And when I say short, I mean maybe an 8 minute walk! Haha! I was waddling and cradling my baby belly. It was so quiet and peaceful outside, like we were the only ones in the world. There was a gentle breeze. That's when I knew this was our last walk before baby Justiss made it's arrival. Excitement took over...until I got home and saw the couch!! Oh, how it was calling my name! I slowly crawled on the couch and dozed in and out of sleep for the next few hours while Philip worked on the computer frantically trying to wrap things up so he could be off for the next few days. When he finally had to head into the office I headed up stairs to crawl in bed. I tried to sleep but something hit me like a lighting bolt!! I got up right then and begin frantically but somewhat calmly cleaning my house from top to bottom. I scrubbed all the toilets, tubs, showers and sinks. I scrubbed the microwave. I vacuumed the entire house. I vacuumed the couch then shoved the couches together so I could vacuum underneath and mop! I did the dishes and hand washed the few delicate ones. I stripped the bed and washed the sheets so I'd have a clean bed to come home to with my new baby. I stopped to eat some of the best jambalaya ever. It's extra spicy and I thought that would help speed up the labor. (Thanks Mrs. Debbie for this recipe!) By this point I was majorly having contractions. I had started a list of the time of them and how long they lasted. My handwriting started out neat but quickly changed to a scribble barely legible to the eye! I called the nurse line and talked to them about my day and contractions and decided I would watch things for an hour. I had already called my mom the day before b/c I didn't expect the baby to come for another few days and I wanted to just have some days with my Moma. She was driving down to be with me when I called and told her what was going on. We had to decide if she should detour to head to the hospital or come to me. I begged her to come to me and that i would wait until she arrived before leaving. I called Philip (for the 15th time) and we decided he needed to head home to get me. I headed outside to pull weeds in the flowerbed and pick up some trash my dogs had shred and scattered in the backyard. Did you hear me...I was in my flowerbed weed eating!! Haha! I was a sight. I couldn't get comfortable doing any of this, but IT HAD TO BE DONE OR I WAS NOT HAVING THIS BABY!! I finally felt content with the house so I headed to the shower. I was not going to the hospital filthy from all this cleaning! I also insisted I fix my hair! Philip and Moma pulled up at the same time and she calmly helped me gather my stuff while he frantically tried to hurry me along. Poor thing was scared out of his mind...we had to drive about 50 mins. to the hospital and his pregnant, in-labor wife was taking her sweet time leaving the house!! I was having some hard contractions but was scared to make a noise about the pain b/c he was driving like a mad man to the hospital. Thank God Moma rode w/ us! I would reach back and grab her hand and she'd rub my shoulders to help the pain pass. We finally arrived at the dr.'s office for a quick check. Philip was still trying to catch his breathe when Dr. Ingram said "Yep, today's the day. Head over to the hospital and go straight to the Labor/Delivery floor."
We pulled into the hospital around 3:30 and I was in bed getting my epidural w/in an hour! Sweet!! It was so wonderful to have my Moma and my husband there with me as we settled in for the big event! Moma started making all the phone calls and we waited, and waited and waited! Finally around 10:30 I felt the urge to push. I loved my epidural b/c I couldn't feel any of the pain. It was actually a smooth labor and delivery. I remember thinking....keep pushing...what is it...boy or girl?? I was SO READY to know what we were having!! I did begin to feel pain around 11ish and finally at 11:20 p.m.I heard the sweetest sound my ears had ever heard! I heard the softest little cry and gasp for air and I knew our baby was here and safe! WILLIAM PHILIP JUSTISS was born! I had asked the doctor not to tell me, but let Philip tell me. As soon as Philip said the words "IT'S A BOY" I sat right up in bed and grabbed my baby out of the doctor's hands! I cried and cried tears of joy and kissed his sweet little head and cheeks. I held him next to my heart and whispered in his ear that I loved him and always would. I just kept saying over and over "We have a son, we have a son, I'm a mommy!" I had to hand him to Philip but kept asking for him back :) I wanted nothing more than to hold my baby in my arms. This part was torture on my watching from across the room while they weighed my baby and measured him and cleaned him up. I wanted to be up right there with him, but knew Philip was taking care of our little boy while they did all the stuff. As soon as he was cleaned and bundled I insisted on him again. I kept kissing his little head and sang him a few songs. I said many prayers of thanksgiving over him. I kept looking up at Philip telling him how much I loved him and how happy I was. It was such a special moment for us. I treasure every second of that time! Philip was with me while my mom, brother (Hunter) and grandparents (Poppi, Granddaddy and Grannymart) were in the waiting room...then outside the door anxiously waiting! (My daddy was serving in Iraq so he couldn't be there) We had not found out what we were having so everyone was on pins and needles! I was IN LOVE immediately!! I cannot begin to try to put into words my emotions and feelings of holding my baby boy! I would be here all day! Oh, how my life had just begun with this tiny bundle of joy! That moment was perfect!! Simply indescribable! I knew God had smiled on me that very moment! He entrusted me and my dear husband with the best gift of all. God's love is so true! I've always known it and felt it, but this was THE MOST PERFECT moment in my life (thus far) experiencing God's love! My life had just begun as a mother and I couldn't wait!!
Over the next 2 years I have grown so much as a person. I have experienced life to the fullest and have loved everything about being a mommy! God has truly blessed us in life! My heart is so full and my cup runneth over for my little boy! How fast the past 2 years have flown by... how fast my little boy has changed and grown up. He amazes me daily at his love of life and desire to constantly learn and experience life. The saying about "getting everything out of life you can"...well, my 2 year old little boy does so on a daily basis, and I'm so blessed to be right there with him every step of the way! (I am taking the liberty here to get all mushy about my child, so bear with me) William is so full of life! He is so full of happiness and love that sometimes I have to catch my breathe and pinch myself. Oh, God is so good! I am forever blessed! I am so thankful that God chose me to be a mother to my little one. William completes me. William completes Philip. William completes us together. I know we all think our child is the sweetest/happiest/cutest/smartest, etc and that's as it should be. But when I tell you my child is the sweetest child and has the kindest heart that's an understatement by far! He's all boy, but he has such a gentle spirit about him that I can't get enough of and simply love! His innocence is so rewarding. His laughter is catching. His calmness is reassuring. When he walks up to me for no reason at all to say "I love you Moma" and gives me a hug and kiss I melt completely! When he looks up from playing/coloring/painting and flashes that beautiful smile at me I melt again and feel myself renewed. I love how he LOVES to snuggle with me. He is such a cuddle bug and gives the best hugs and the sweetest little pat-pat on the back. When he sleeps in bed with us, he always gets right up next to me but yet still reaches for his daddy. It's as if he wants to make sure we are both there and we're all connected. God's grace is so evident to me in my little boy. I pray others experience it through him. I pray William touches other people with his spirit and loving heart and that others will always see Jesus in him. Oh, the plans God has for my William! It's only been 2 years and I feel I could write a novel! I can only imagine what life has in store with this little boy of mine!!
It has been so amazing to experience William and all his developmental milestones over the past 2 years. His vocabulary and thought process blows my mind! He can carry on full conversations and loves to ask questions. He loves being outdoors and playing and being all boy! He's such a helper around here. When it's time to clean up, he knows just where to put his toys away (for the most part). He LOVES to say the blessing when we eat and he always wants to "Bwess God" with our prayers at bedtime. He knows his colors and shapes. He can count to 20 and sing the ABC's. He knows some opposites and loves to point out the traffic lights (red means stop, green means go). He attempts to help dress himself. He is attempting to go to the potty and is good when it comes to diaper changes. He enjoys bath/shower time and loves brushing his teeth. He's getting better at washing his hands on his own (but I still follow up and give a quick once over) He has the sweetest "pwease, tank-you, welcome, yes m'am". He is content to just play by himself but also loves to be the center of our attention. When he needs some quiet time, he'll get off by himself and curl up on the couch or find a spot off to the side in the playroom (any room for that matter) and just sit quietly and play. He still takes about a 3 hr. nap during the afternoons and sleeps through the night for us (for the most part). He has a vivid imagination and great hand-eye coordination. He loves to kick the ball and throw the ball with us. He loves building towers with blocks or anything that stacks. He loves trains and is fascinated by them. Painting is one of his favorite things to do! He just loves it when I pull out the painting tub and brushes/sponges. His face just lights up. He loves singing songs and repeating stories from books. He loves fruit of all kinds, but strawberries and watermelon are his top favorites. He loves Peanut Butter sandwiches or bagels. Cereal is a favorite in the morning. He loves yogurt, jello and pudding. Butter beans are his vegetable of choice right now. Chicken and hotdogs are the meats he eats now. Popcorn, pretzels, crackers and granola bars are favorite snacks. Macaroni and cheese is a special favorite too! About a year ago he would eat anything we offered. He loved all vegetables, soups, casseroles, meats, etc. His favorite was homemade mashed potatoes and homemade dumplins, but he's just a in a phase now. He is a healthy eater all the same.
He's just so smart and amazing to watch!! And he's only two!! This is barely skimming the surface of what all he does, but hopefully you get the picture. ***Can you tell I'm a very proud mother who loves her child with my whole heart??
William's 1st Birthday (Oct. 17, 2008)
William's 2nd Birthday (Oct. 17, 2009)
