Happy Birthday Brandon!

This little man is 4 years old today.  My how time flies!  I still remember the day I found out I was pregnant with him - a total shocker for my hubby and I since our first son was an IVF baby and we were told we had a one in a million chance of getting pregnant on our own.  But sure enough on the morning of Darian's FIRST birthday I realized I was late with my period and decided to take a pregnancy test that I had stashed.  And when it said positive I just about fainted - truly our own little miracle had happened and Darian had given us the best gift on his birthday that any mama and daddy could ask for - another baby to love!

Pregnancy with Brandon was eventful to say the least - lots of nausea and vomiting.  Moreso than Darian and so I was convinced until the day of my 20 week ultrasound that he was a girl.  But truth be told I was thrilled when the technician said we were having another boy.  It meant Darian would have a baby brother just 20 months younger than him - built in playmates and best buddies for life!

I had prelabor with Darian and of course the same went with Brandon.  At 37 weeks I had a regular OB visit scheduled but I wasn't feeling well that day and actually asked Salar to come home from work early and drive me there.  I knew I probably wasn't coming back home.  And sure enough when the doctor checked me I was 5cm dilated.  She contemplated for a minute whether or not she should send me home or not and I think I threatened bodily harm if she sent me back home because I knew I'd end up right back at the hospital in no time.

Labor with Darian was super fast and it was no different with Brandon.  I remember the doctor broke my water and said "settle in I have a C section to perform and then I'll be back."  Salar left to get the forgotten video camera from the car and ran into family in the hallway and didn't come back.  And I was in serious pain.  I pride myself on being very tolerant of pain but it was excruciating and I called in the nurse and told her to turn up the epidural.  She said "Oh honey you're at 10cm the epidural will do nothing for you now." So I pleaded to push and was told I needed to either wait for my doctor to be done with her C section or have an intern deliver my baby. 

So I held on for what seemed like an eternity but was probably only about 10 minutes.  As soon as they knew the doctor was on her way they got me ready to push.  She literally walked in the room, put on her gown, said "push" and then a quick "okay stop, he's out."  And just like that Brandon was born with one push ... or half a push ... or whatever you want to call it.  And I remember Salar saying "that's it?  That was so anticlimatic."  Men!  LOL! 

Brandon was the sweetest baby.  So calm and even tempered.  And then he turned two and his inner demon emerged.  Hee hee!  He is so much like his mama it's scary.  We are both stubborn and hard headed and often get into a test of wills (and I can't even say that I always emerge victorious).  And at the same time he is the sweetest, most caring little boy I could ever ask for.  He still has the most squeezable cheeks and gives the best "juicy" kisses ever.  He is full of energy and has an imagination like no other.  He makes me so very proud to be his mama!  Love you little man ... happy birthday!