Happy 1st Birthday Sweet Luke!!

Today my Baby turns ONE!! It just seems like yesterday that he was born! I will never forget that moment....and WHAT an event it was! He was born here at our home in Strasburg on a Friday night, March 23rd at 6:55 p.m.

This picture was taken the night before he was born! That was quite the handy tray!

Fresh from the oven letting his voice be heard! Oh, he was so cute!
He weighed 7 lbs. 12 oz. and was 20 inches long. Proud Papa!He had long fingers and big hands and really looked like Tyler in a lot of ways. It's really quite the story of how he came into the world: Jake had to deliver him because the midwife didn't make it here in time!!!! Or, maybe I should rephrase that and say I delivered him and he CAUGHT him!! I had been having contractions for two days, every 10-20 minutes so I thought it would go fast, but we had no idea that it would go THAT fast!! Next time we have a baby you can be sure I'll be calling WAY ahead of time!
Here is Tyler playing in the birthing pool before Luke was born. I was in such shock when Luke came without anyone else here.
I was praying, "I speak life to you in the name of Jesus," and calling out to Jake, "pray, honey, pray." Of course, Jake, the ever calm man that he is kept saying, "he's fine, honey, he's breathing." I think I was in such dismay that he was born and no one was here, I couldn't relax and truly believe that all was well!! About 4 minutes later the midwife got here. (Later she told us she was going to stop to get something to eat, but had a feeling she should get here!!) Oh my word! We were so thankful that we had a safe delivery here at home, even though it turned out to be a little bit MORE of an adventure then I had bargained for!!

"In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind." Job 12:10
Here Tyler is meeting his baby brother for the first time. This is my brother Tom, who Luke was named after. Luke Thomas.

So, here we are 365 days later, many sleepless nights lie behind me and for that I am thankful! It's hard those first few weeks, but so rewarding and intimate at the same time.
Luke's personality is started to blossom and it's so fun watching him become HIM! He laughs hysterically at Tyler and likes to tease him as well. This morning Jake and I were talking about the boys and how their births hold such similarities to their personality. For Luke, he just held back for a bit, (he was a week late) and when he decided he was good and ready, HE CAME...READY OR NOT!!!! He knows what he wants and when he wants it and you are sure to hear about it. He loves his Mama, loves to snuggle close and read books until he's had enough....and then, that's it...onto something more exciting. He won't sit in front of a video for anything, too much to do and see. He LOVES to eat. Most days I can safely say he eats more then Tyler!! He will pounce on you if you are lying on the ground. He will give you a kiss if you beg long enough! I anticipate watching his personality come to life even more in this next year!

WE LOVE YOU LUKE THOMAS!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!

"I'll love you forever,
I"ll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
My baby you'll be."
~Robert Munsch~