I Wanna Walk Like You, Talk Like You, Oooh oooh ooohh

The Quick-ish Version of Slade's Birth - 1st Birthday ever!!

(Slade after his very first bath given by daddy right after birth! I LOVE this picture!September 17, 2007)

369 Days ago my cervix finally decided it was time, well almost- it DID start contracting (going into overtime past my due date b/c up to that point it had not even indicated to the Dr. that I was harboring a child thus not near releasing one anytime soon) in an attempt to push Slade out of my body. 4 days later he actually came out. 4 LONG days of contracting and NO sleep only to find out I'd have to have him taken through Cesarean anyway! After 4 days of on and of contracting- painfully- the contractions finally fell into a pattern and we went to the hospital. 12 hours later I could not get past a 7, with many doses of pitocin, the Dr. advised that we do an emergency Cesarean to protect the baby. At that point I was exahusted, as was Slade, as were my family who'd been there with me since I checked in at 12am - needless to say I agreed with the Dr.! 12 minutes later Slade joined us in the world - ONLY 12 MINUTES after 108 hours of contracting- 12 of which were dang hardcore. Why the heck we didn't just skip the torture and jump straight to the surgery, I will never know!

(1 minute after Slade was surgically removed from my body, I don't recommend them leaving this way- but this moment will live in infamy as the most amazing for all eternity - after all, this is where it all begins right? The Taylor Family Forever - I feel like a book of our lives truly began here!)

When I heard Slade cry for the first time I was in shock. I kept repeating, "Is that my baby? That's my baby? I have a baby?" Yes, I had a big healthy, strapping boy (9 lbs. 12 oz., 22 inches long!). Heavenly Father has blessed us with one of His most healthy, adorable children. Though Slade was pretty fussy for those first few months and is still a fairly demanding child at times- I can honestly say I understand why parents keep having children- they're amazing, wonderful, hilarious, ect... When he's asleep or he's with daddy and I'm away from him I truly miss him. I love his little baby body, his oh-so-adorable baby words and his voice, his funny faces, doing things that he thinks are funny, doing his crab-walk, clapping his hands (which consists of hitting one hand to one stationary hand), or throwing his arms in the air in pleasure. I love my baby. I love getting his very sloppy baby kisses, kissing his chubby baby cheeks, holding his warm little body in my arms, hearing his little baby breaths, having him crawl after me and be my little buddy all day long, hearing his giggles as daddy tickles him, seeing his huge grin as he hand walks around on the furniture, and of course hearing him say mamamamamamamama loudly and continusously as I shope in Babies R Us with him in my arms (just practicing his words and voice). I can't wait to have another one and another and another and maybe another and grow our family. I love my husband for insisting I be a stay-at-home mommy and working so incredibly hard for me to do so. I am so grateful that Heavenly Father has blessed us unworthy creatures with such love (yes, amisdt trials and severe imprefections on my part).

(Slade in his first diaper ever right after his bath & first nap after birth!)

I can't imagine my life now without Slade. Last night as my husband and I were laying in bed, ready to sleep, we shared funny stories of Slade from the day, as we often do, laughing to ourselves. It got quiet for a moment as we were in thought, smiling to ourselves (corny, I know) and Mark said, "What did we used to talk about before we had Slade?" I know we used to talk and had wonderful times together before we had Slade, but how he has been such a blessing to us. It has brought us closer together as a couple in love and happiness and we look forward to all of the fun family things. I very recently read about some mothers who wish they could have their single lives back- when life was easy with no children - as they watch their single friends living the fun-filled club nights and come and go as they please- no real attachments or responsibilities. I cannot fathom why mothers would ever regret children or wish for another life - there is truly nothing better than being blessed with an eternal family. Children bring the greatest happiness. I never understood this until I had my own and am so glad I took the leap and left singledom behind for greener pastures...I just wish I'd done it sooner!

I love you Slade so very very very much and mommy and daddy wish you a very Happy Birthday on this FIRST celebration of your life!! You've made your parents very happy big boy, you're such a blessing to us - we love you! We can't wait to spend the rest of eternity with you!!! Happy Birthday Our Sweet Little Baby-Man! Here are some pictures to add to this Ode to YOU!

(Right after Slade's blessing, 2 months old, November 2007 - we were so proud, he didn't 'blow out' his outfit in front of the congregation- truly a valid worry for parents of a baby, especially a newborn! And of course, a marvelously wonderful momentus day!)

(UPDATE: Slade just took his first steps TODAY!! He's been 'walking' along the furniture and has even started letting 'go' of things and standing on his own for a moment or two. Well today as we were hanging out on a wonderful Sunday afternoon as a family he walked from us to daddy's guitar- FOUR SOLITARY STEPS!!! He then proceeded to walk several more times that hour totalling about 15 steps of his very own today and we didn't get any of them recorded, but I'm sure he'll be bustin' them out from now on so I'll post a recording soon for anyone who is dying to see them! He's also started really mimicking us lately and looking at objects that we name as he tries to repeat what we're saying like: Balloon, Moose, Bye Bye (he's got this one down pat!), mama (down pat as well), Daddy. Kids are so much stinkin fun!)

(Slade w/ Taylor Cousins, Jacob & Jace @ 3 months) (Slade & mommy @ 3 months)

(Slade's First Christmas, 4 months old- Need I say more?

A picture tells a thousand words - and being the parent of a newborn is indescribable!)

(Slade loves to play in his crib after his bath at night- we call this 'punch drunk' time for him)

(What can I say, the boy likes his baths! Slade at 8 months)

(Slade loves mirrors, so much that he likes to make out with them. This mirror used to be in the bathroom but he just couldn't leave it alone, so I relocated it to our bedroom temporarially - as he is not allowed in our room - but when i was putting clothes away one day I let him in to come hang out with me and he went straight for it! It's not narcissism, just a healthy sense of self? 11 months)

(Trip to Capitol Reef & Goblin Valley, July 2008. Slade is 10 months. I'm excited for the day when my little boy realizes how much his daddy loves him and how lucky he is to have a daddy who is so wonderful!)

(Yes, I look a bit chubby & disheveled, but Slade is just too adorable to not post this picture from Capitol Reef! I especially love this one of Mark & Slade - Mark has this saved to his work laptop so he can see it everyday when he is working hard for our family- it's absolutely adorable! Love my family!)