A Chip off the old Block (Jr.)

Every man I have known who reaches that time in his life where he chooses to start a family, wishes for a son. First you wish for a healthy child, then a son. That's just the way it is. It is part of our design. You want someone to carry on your name and unless your really lucky, that requires a son. My first three children were girls. They are all special and unique in their own way and I wouldn't trade them for anything. Then came Jr. My namesake. My son. Someone who I could teach all the manly things in life. Sports, Hunting, Fishing, and anything else he needed to know. The day I found out, I couldn't contain my joy! I told anyone and everyone I saw on our way out of the ultra-sound. It's a boy! It's a boy! I couldn't wait for him to arrive.

Had to pick up some boy stuff in the following months to prepare. No sharing with your sister. Not happening! No way! Then finally the day, (night actually) came and things were moving slowly at first. We were at my sister in laws volleyball game and things were getting down to some consistent contracting but not enough to get in the car and drive the 80 miles to my wife's doctor. (Yes we still hadn't gotten a doctor in the valley) As mom to be was putting big sister to bed, splash down, H2o breach, we have a water breach!

In the car and timing the contractions. Plenty of time. Grandma came to get or stay with big sister, I can't remember which? We get to the Hospital, check in and here comes the heart beat on the monitor. That sound, no sound like it, my sons coming soon! My excitement is matched by the sound. Things are going along fairly slowly and I was getting anxious. Didn't take long for that to end and next thing you know there are several nurses saying let's get you into delivery! Across the hall, quickly! I'm looking around and everyone seems to be in place.... except the Dr! I think I see his head and no Dr. This is my fourth child and I watched them all come into the world. So I am thinking I could do this if I had to!

I ask again where in the HE_ _ is the DOCTOR! Just about that time in comes the Nurse Practitioner putting on her gloves and no sooner than they are on, my son is born! The smallest of my children so far at birth. But looming so large in all his boyhood! I was so proud, so full of joy! My first son. So the N.P. asks if I want to cut the cord and since I have done so with all my girls, I say of course. As she starts to hand me the scissors, I am thinking to myself, why hasn't she squeegeed out the blood where I am going to cut? They have always done that before? As I start to ask, she interrupts and motions for me to go ahead, so I do, and SPLAAAT! Looked like a scene from Aliens as blood flies across the front of her smock. She looked at me and said, "my fault"

He comes in with a bang and a splash! My son. He was the smallest, most handsome boy. Mom says he has Mick Jagger lips. I say he is perfect. In the coming months he has a growth spurt, (and I don't mean he got taller) He had rolls on his wrists, his thighs, his ankles, pretty much had rolls on his rolls. What happened to that tiny little boy? He is only drinking what nature intended, so what, is this some magic potion? His sister didn't grow like this. I had always wondered what he would look like? Would he look like me? Fact is he did look like me. The thrill of it all! Like an intoxicating elixir filling you with excitement, anticipation, and the wonder of what is to come. Will he be like me? Truth is, he is just like me. As he has grown into a young boy he is tall, athletic, loves video games, is so competitive, and has an outside the box way of looking at things. He likes the arts, drawing, building things, creating things, and did I mention SPORTS?

You won't find an ounce of fat on him. He is all muscle, fast, agile, sensitive and caring. (Not like I am biased or anything) My boy, my son. It is hard to express in words the love I have for him. A special bond. Something I was not able to have with my father. I love all of my children equally and do my best to show them every day. I consider myself a blessed man who now has both girls and a son. Blessed to have them all, blessed to spend time with them each day, and blessed to have my prayer answered. The prayer of a son. A Chip off the old block, (Jr.) BigBlogAlphaDog