Tonight, as I was reading my almost 2 year old his third story before bed, I began to think of how much he has changed since he was born.
For those of you that don't know, Isaiah was born 7 weeks early, weighing in at only 3lbs, 14oz, and 12 1/2 inches long. He was and is my miracle child. He spent a month in the hospital in Portland before we were able to bring him home. I spent almost every waking moment with him, holding his tiny hands through the hole in the incubator, encouraging him to grow. Once he was moved into the Continuing Care section of the hospital, it was a little easier, I was able to hold him more, and love him harder. There were days that I would see parents of preemies like ours, and watch them suffer as their child took their last breath. I am so grateful that we never had to go through that.
The first year of his life was like a whirlwind of emotions. Once we brought him home, it was so different from the hospital. We were his full-time caregivers, not the nurses or the doctors in the hospital. We watched him grow so quickly that first year...trying to capture every moment on camera. He didn't progress as fast as normal babies, but I was told that that was okay, he was doing great. He was a preemie after all, and in his mind, he was right where he needed to be. Safe in our arms. It didn't matter that he wasn't crawling when other children his age were trying to walk, and it didn't matter that he wasn't talking at the same time either. We were and still are so proud of our little man!
I still cannot believe that it's been almost two years since he was born. Time flies when you're raising a little one!
The second year of his life has been a blast! He started walking or should I say running around 13 months, and hasn't stopped. It amazes us and our friends how fearless he is, but he had to be fearless to be born into this world so early. He loves trains, the outdoors, his family and animals. He will play outdoors for hours and cry when it is time to come inside. Our son is becoming his own person, and though I am sad that he isn't a baby anymore, he still loves to cuddle...and I'm going to hold onto that for as long as I can!
Isaiah...Mommy & Daddy had no idea how much love you would bring to our lives, and for that, we are forever grateful! We love you! Forever and always!!
