Happy 6th Birthday Jamie!

My Baby James,

Six years and nine hours ago, I was huge and exhausted. You were 13 days late! Just wanted to stay put, warm and comfy in my tummy. Little did I know that this need to be close to me would last to this day and beyond.

Aidan was two and he had croup and I was perched on his bed taking his temperature when labor started. For the next 8 hours, I would hold and rock Aidan through the night, stopping only to breathe through contractions every ten minutes or so. Finally, around 6 a.m. I woke Daddy to tell him it was time to go to the hospital-our James was coming into this world at last!

So we bundled Aidan up, called Grandpa to meet us at the hospital, and headed into Hoag's emergency room, where they took us up to L&D. Within a few hours, I was hooked up to moniters and epidural, had my water broken by a nurse while I talked with Grandma on the phone (she was so excited you were coming!) and soon after, I fell asleep.

When I woke up many hours later, it was to feel you slip-sliding right into this world. I calmly buzzed the nurse to let her know you were being born right then. She laughed, saying that she was sure you were not coming yet but came in anyway to check on me. Seven minutes and two pushes later, you were born. The doctor placed you on my stomach, covered in new-baby gunk and gazing up at me with huge eyes. You weighed nine pounds even and were 21 inches long. A big boy!





Daddy and I were so happy you were here to hold finally!


We named you James Donald Cedric Platt. James comes from Daddy's cousin, Jimmy. Jimmy and Daddy were best friends their whole lives. Jimmy died at the age of 19 just a few weeks before we found out I was pregnant with you. Donald comes from Grandpa Jack's dad, who was a very kind, loving man. Don died just before I was born. And Cedric is for Grandma's dad, who died when Grandma was a little girl. Cedric was a brave and handsome man. We could not decide between Donald and Cedric for your middle name but just before you were to be born, your Great Grandma suggested we use both-so we did!


You came home from the hospital with me on Daddy's birthday. Grandpa Jack and Grandpa came over and Aidan got to meet you for the first time, since he hadn't been allowed in the hospital because he was still sick. The hospital even kept you and I an extra day to assure that you would not catch Aidan's croup.



The following few months were hard, you were colicky and cried 8-10 hours a day. Nothing could calm you down. We had a photographer come take your baby pictures in our living room. You cried the entire time but somehow he got a few good pictures of you.



By the time you were six months old, though, you had calmed down and become the sweet, loving James that we know now. Good thing too! At the rate you were going, you may not have made it to your first birthday without being sold to the circus or driving me to the nut house! Ok, so you did drive me to the nut house but, I forgive you! :)

By your first birthday, we'd all come to know and love that bright smile of yours!


You find joy in so many things in life, James!


At two years old, the world held endless wonder for you and you loved to explore everything!


For your third birthday, you wanted to go see the dinosaurs at the Museum of Natural History in Los Angeles. I was pregnant with your little brother, Thayer, and sick as a dog, but we all piled into Grandpa's car and drove up to L.A. We had lunch at Canter's and went to the museum. You had so much fun!



James, you are always so loving and never forget to tell me you love me at least 54 times a day! ;) Always ready with hugs and kisses, you are my sweet Jamie.


When Thayer came, you were so excited to be a big brother! Always smothering Thayer in kisses and hugs, you can get a smile out of him anytime!


At four years old, you were in preschool and loving it! You had been begging to go to preschool for years and it was finally your turn! You immediately became very attached to your favorite teacher, Mr. Glenn.
That summer, we went to Utah, where you got to ride an ATV with Daddy for the first time:


You and Aidan have always been best friends! You may fight a lot but, when it comes down to it, you are always there for each other and you love each other immensely!


My three boys...you fit perfectly in the middle, James. A great source of comfort for your younger brother and a wonderful friend for your older brother.



By your 5th birthday, we were living in Utah and all you wanted for your birthday was SNOW! It didn't look good, it hadn't snowed in a week and the ground was clear. But, the morning of your birthday, the snow started falling and it didn't stop until well into the night!


And today you are Six! I can't believe you've grown so much, the time has gone so fast!
You are our world, James! We love you so much!
Happy Birthday, my Jamie!