Our Son's Birthday

I was just re-reading the post I wrote for Will's birthday last year, and I can't believe how quickly this year has passed by!  Earlier this week, we celebrated his 24th birthday.  Another year come and gone, and we're all a year older.  Sometimes, I wish I could slow the clock down!

I've never shared this in my blog before, but two years after hubby and I got married, I had a health issue that reduced, by half, my chances of getting pregnant.  But God was good to us, and very soon, we found out that we were expecting a baby.  It was a really smooth and easy pregnancy until about six months, and then I started having early labor -- our boy was anxious to be born.  :)  I was put on bed rest and medication, and the day after the doctor took me off the medication, our son was born.  He was small, only weighing 5 lbs. and 7 oz., but that wasn't considered low birth weight.  He had all of his fingers and toes, and everything was fully developed.  We were proud parents of a healthy baby, and I never imagined I could be so happy.

 Twenty-four years later, we're still proud parents.  We were never able to have any more children; we would have dearly loved a brother or sister for Will, but things happened the way they were meant to -- I feel certain of that.  :)

  The above picture was taken maybe a week after we came home from the hospital.  (Not the best picture of me)  See how small our boy was?  If you notice a somewhat familiar, shaggy black dog in the left of the picture, it's not Duncan.  That was Bonnie, our first Scottish Terrier; she wanted to be included in everything.  :)

Just a year later, on his one-year birthday, he was a bit plumper.  The pediatrician wanted to know if I was feeding him fertilizer.  ;)

Our young Cub Scout on his first scout trip to Washington D.C.

Fast forward about nine years to Philmont Scout Ranch, near Cimarron, New Mexico.  This is the summit of Old Baldy mountain, at 12,445 feet, it's the highest point in the Cimarron Mountain Range of New Mexico. Will, his dad, his fellow scouts, and three other adult leaders climbed to the top of Mount Baldy that day.

Will, holding the silver French Horn (and looking very serious)  :)  at his University Concert Band winter performance.

Sometimes we miss his presence at home or in the car at unexpected moments; but this is the way it should be.  Besides, he doesn't live too far away.  We gave him roots and wings, and he is glad to be independent.

Happy Birthday, Will, with much love from Mom and Dad.

Denise