Eleven is a Good Number

At this time, eleven years ago today I was the size of a Blue Whale, was tethered to multiple I.V.s and was attempting to breathe through excruciating contractions with the help of my very zealous doula. I was being induced because my blood pressure had gotten too high and the doctors were worried that I had Preeclampsia.


I spent several hours in pain before begging for an epidural (aka gift from God), then spent several hours giggling happily because I couldn't feel any of the pain (curse my doula for encouraging me to suffer those earlier hours!). Eventually the epidural wore off and we thought Landon's arrival would be soon, but he ended up taking 1.5 hours of me pushing to actually tear his way into the world (and I do mean tear). I remember thinking I was going to die (for real) and that I was okay with that because I'd never experienced pain like that before and couldn't take much more. But he finally arrived and all those thoughts disappeared.


It's hard to believe it has been 11 years since then! It feels like a long time and a short blip at the same time, how can this be? Now that 7 pound 9 ounce bundle is a 95 pound boy who is only a couple inches shorter than me. Heaven help my heart!

Here are 11 things I love about Landon.

1. He is hilarious.

2. He has a desire to do good.

3. He's very sweet. I forgot my pillow when we went camping last month and he put his pillow on my bed and was going to go without one. I gave it back to him (along with some hugs) and later caught him trying to sneak it back onto my bed.

4. He's a good brother to Whitney.

5. He's super smart.

6. He loves So You Think You Can Dance and holds my hand while we sit on the couch watching it together.

7. He never complains. He occasionally pauses as a form of a negative reaction to something, but quickly regroups and rolls with whatever is asked of him.

8. He likes to snuggle in the cozy with me.

9. He often tells Randy and I we are the best parents he could ever have.

10. He has a tender heart and gets upset if he thinks he has hurt someone's feelings.

11. He has a great smile, his whole face lights up when he smiles.

**Do your kids' birthdays wig you out a little bit?
Do you feel like time goes slow and fast at the same time?
Have you ever thought you were
going to die and been okay with it?**