Happy Birthday To You . . .

Last March Jacob and I went to New Orleans--just the two of us.  It was fun to try the great food and see the sights.  On the way home I just did not feel well at all.  We had eaten a lot of sea food in NOLA and we just assumed that something I had eaten wasn't agreeing with me.  When we got home I still didn't feel well and a couple of days later I was still feeling ill.  It was Saturday morning and I had to buy groceries.  I left the boys with Jacob and ran to the grocery store.  The thought was HEAVY on my mind that I felt like I did when I was pregnant with both the boys. So, without saying anything to Jacob I grabbed a home pregnancy test while at the grocery store.  When I got home Jacob came out to unload the groceries and I hurried to the bathroom to take the test. It was positive.  I remember looking at it for the longest time and comparing it to the picture on the box repeatedly to be certain it was, in fact, positive.  I was nervous about how Jacob would react to this news.  We were done.  We had talked about having children before having Alex and we both decided two was enough.  We had two boys--Alex was 6 and Logan was almost 5.  We were happy with our little family and now in our early-mid 30s. I really didn't think Jacob would be happy about this news.  I took a deep breath and walked outside to the car where he was unloading groceries. I watched him for a minute and then I said, "So, are you SURE you only want two kids?"  He, of course, stopped what he was doing and said, "Why?  What's wrong?"  I said, "I'm pregnant."  He kind of shrugged his shoulders and said, "I kind of figured."

We sat down to dinner one night with the boys and Jacob said, "Guys, mama is going to have a baby."  Logan started crying and asked if there could be two babies of the family (because, he was my baby).  He wasn't too excited about it (until she arrived).

We were nervous about telling our families.  It was crazy.  I remember calling my mom and telling her and she said, "Is this is a joke?"  HA HA.  A few months later we went for an ultrasound and were told the baby was a girl.  Jacob was sitting in a chair beside me, kind of leaned over.  When they told us it was a girl he sat up and said, "Really?"  We just assumed, with two boys, we'd have a third boy.  I would be lying if I said we weren't a little excited about having a girl.

On Nov. 14th, 2011 we went to the hospital to have a C-Section.  The doctor came in and started talking about Rick Astley, because our last name is Astley.  Everyone in the room started singing, "Never gonna give you up . . . " It was funny and light heart-ed and I was just a little nervous. After a little while we heard her cry.  Every mother knows what that is like--when you hear your child cry for the first time.  I remember having to tell myself to NOT get emotional.  They let me see her and touch her and then handed her to Jacob.  He held her while she screamed at him.  She seemed big to us because she was significantly bigger than our boys were when they were born.  After that initial screaming she was really happy and quiet and didn't cry much. She had these big, beautiful eyes and she would just stare at you and look around the room.  She was very observant.  We, of course, fell in love with her immediately.

A year later we all adore her.  Alex is nearly 7 years older than her and lets her do ANYTHING she wants. He is always there to protect her and help her.  Logan is 5 and a 1/2 years older than her and is always gushing over how cute she is and how much he loves her. She has her daddy wrapped around her little finger and she has stolen all of our hearts.  Logan will say, "How did we ever live without her!"

I agree.  So, today, on her 1st birthday we are so thankful for our precious little surprise.   Our family is now truly complete and I couldn't be happier with my three little gremlins! ;)

Happy birthday, baby girl!  We love you!!