Having children is one of life's greatest gifts. Like any mother, I am extremely proud of my sons and all they have accomplished in their young lives. Still, no matter how old they become, they will always be my 'baby boys'.

Oftentimes, I will sit and remember the days of their births. I loved being pregnant with Andrew. I had lots of energy and felt like Mother Earth. I was proud of my swollen belly (didn't even mind the swollen ankles. LOL) and held my head high as I walked down the street. The pregnancy was fairly easy...I ate anything (cravings for sub sandwiches and sweettarts!) and walked up to 10 miles a day...right up to the day I went into labor.
By the time I had gone into labor with Andrew, I was growing tired, anxious and eager for it to be done. I was almost a week overdue. I went into labor on September 12 and spent the next 27 and a half hours wondering how my husband could have done this to me! LOL I finally had to undergo a C-Section (my water had broke long before the contractions started...in fact, it broke while I was shopping!!!LOL)

On September 13, 1987, I gave birth to a beautiful blue eyed blonde and we named him Andrew Tyler. He weighed in at 6 lbs. 12oz and was 19 1/2" long. We went home on the 16th of September.

For anybody who knows my family, there is an irony in the dates. You see, my dad died on September 13, 1978 and was buried on the 16th. Andrew was born on the 13th, went home on the 16th of September 1987...just the year flip flopped! I felt maybe this was a sign from God. I had grieved for a long time and maybe this was God's way of telling me things were okay...my dad was safe in his arms and I had a precious baby to love.)
Three years later, we were blessed with another gorgeous boy, this time blue eyes with black hair (like his dad). Nicholas Timothy Michael Alonzo (yes, those are ALL his middle names...to honor his dad, his late uncle and my dad, his grandpa) was born August 7, 1990 to the sounds of the theme music from Entertainment Tonight in the background. Unlike Andrew, Nick was three weeks early and was born by VBAC (Vaginal birth after Cesarean). My pregnancy with Nick seemed long and I was exhausted all the time (chasing after a three year old will do that to you!). I was happy to see the day! :-) Nicholas weighed in at 7 lbs. 1 and a half oz. and was 21 inches long. We went home 18 hours after he was born!! My OB/GYN told me if Nick had waited until his due date (August 28), he probably would have been a 9 lb baby! Nick's first few weeks of life were spent with colic (Yikes!! Learned I can be extremely patient and boy, Nick and I developed a deep bond from that experience!) and a few days in the hospital with Jaundice (three weeks early, his liver had not fully matured).
Watching these two grow has been a great pleasure of mine. They are so different! While Andrew looks like me, he is more sports oriented like his dad. Nicholas looks like his dad but is more of an art-type...loves to sketch, write stories, make ceramics (he also hooks rugs and can cross stitch). Andrew is the all American boy...loves to get dirty and sweat. LOL Nick is more of a sensitive, introspective type. They are so opposite yet defend each other, go to bat for the other and love each other...I love them both with all my heart and I beam with pride! :-)

Both are excellent students...Honor and Merit Roll. I have never heard a bad word from any of the teachers in regards to behavior or grades. In fact, Nick's teacher this year, a sweet lady who is retiring, asked if I could clone Nick! LOL

I never could understand parents who would go on and on and on about their kids...now I know because I *am* one of those parents!
MY BABY BOY AND ME

t's three AM, they're all asleep,
and no one's here to see.
As we rock slowly back and forth,
My baby boy and me.

His little hand is feather light
Tucked up against my chin.
I hold his tiny hand in mine,
and stroke his baby skin.

The house about us creaks and groans,
The clock hands creep around.
He snuggles closer to me still,
And makes his baby sounds.

I love these quiet hours so much,
And cherish every one.
Store memories up inside my heart
For lonely nights to come.

All too soon he'll be grown up,
His need for mama gone.
But until then I still have time
For kisses and for song.

Time for quiet hours like this
With him cuddled in my arms,
Where I wish he'd always stay
Protected, safe and warm.

And yet I know the day will come
When his tiny little hand,
will be bigger than my own.
He'll grow to be a man.

But until then he's mine to love
With no one here to see.
As we rock slowly back and forth,
My baby boy and me.


(Author Unknown)
Andrew: above at age 11  months old.  Below  at  18 : October 2005
Nicholas: Above at  age 28 days.  Below, at  age 15 years old! October 2005
Have you ever noticed all the songs are about baby girls? I rarely, if ever, see anything about how precious baby boys are. As the mother of two sons, I love them as much as a person who loves their daughter. This poem, author unknown, speaks loudly of my feelings for my precious sons.
Andrew
Nick