8 years

So it is my son's 8th birthday today. Which seems pretty crazy to me. Especially since it is coupled with the impending birth of my second child. It is amazing how far out family has come in 8 years.

My wife and I found out that we were going to be parents our second semester our Freshman year of college. She was 19 and I was 18. We were basically kids finding out that we were going to have a kid of our own. I still remember the campus nurse letting us know the results of the test, siting in my dorm room, when Nelli came in and we told the first person about what was in store for us. I remember calling home (there was no way I could have gone and done it in person) and talking to my mom about it.

I can't believe how we (mainly my wife) survived in the dorms during the first few months of her pregnancy. We then moved into a little one room apartment in Stevens Point, and readied ourselves to be parents.

We were lucky. Numerous friends and family stepped up to help us out. From Becca bringing us food in the hospital, Nelli helping bring Trevor home, financial support from our parents, my aunt watching Trevor while we went to classes, and the numerous others that would stop by, stay in touch, and assure us that things were going to work out...and they did.

We both graduated in 4 years. Mandy and I both have great jobs, and have been fairly successful at them. I have said it many times, but Trevor was the best thing that has happened in my life (sorry dear, you are second). I can't imagine life without him.

So today, I want to celebrate my son. He has amazed me since the day he was born. He was a gigantic baby (I wonder where his sister gets it from), weighing in at 10 pounds 5 ozs. His first word was duck, and he has been in love with animals and nature ever since. He took his first steps to earn himself a future million dollar pay day from Andy. I remember when we finally had to take him to a day care, and he cried every day for weeks when I dropped him off. Which makes me realize how far he has come when he willingly gets on the bus for school.

He has come so far and learned so much, and I can't wait for him to start passing it all on to his baby sister.