Happy Birthday Danny!

Today we celebrated Danny's 3rd birthday! All day I've been reflecting back on the day Danny was born. I can remember all the details so clearly, it's hard to believe 3 years have already passed. It's even more amazing to look at these pictures from Danny's first few days and see how much he's changed and grown.
Matt and I woke early on Tuesday Nov. 2, 2004. I was so excited that this was my last morning waking up pregnant. I was huge and really uncomfortable those last few weeks. At this point we still hadn't agreed on a name for our little boy. The previous day I challenged Matt to a game of fussball. Winner got to name the baby. Matt won and promised to have a decision made by early the next morning. I was a little nervous seeing as one of the names on his list was Indiana. Normally I think Matt has excellent taste, but...Indiana?
The morning of the scheduled c-section we took a walk and Matt told me he decided on Daniel. Relief, though not my first choice. I wanted Wesley.
Matt's dad and my mom had flown in for the big day. At around 10am we headed for Arrowhead Hospital in Glendale, AZ. The nurses prepped me, I walked into the delivery room, and about 15 minutes later Danny was out. (For those of you who are thinking to yourself right now, "Ha, no labor? She had it easy." Let me just tell you Rachel more than made up for that:)
They held him up and I saw my Danny for the first time. I remember how smashed his poor little face was. I don't think he was able to open his right eye for at least 2 hours, but he was PERFECT! Even though he was born at 39 weeks, he was only 5lbs. 14oz. I was expecting a larger baby seeing how I gained 40 pounds!!!. All the nurses called him "little peanut." Matt and I were so excited! I still remember the look on Matt's face when he held Danny for the first time.
We had several visitors in the first few hours after he was born, including my dad who had flown in that evening.
Contrary to what you normally hear about forgetting about all the pain, I still remember it quite well. I also remember the spinal headaches and the crazy emotions I felt in those first couple of weeks. Luckily the good more than out weighed the bad and I would relive every difficult moment again if it would give me the same result. A healthy, happy, sweet and kind little boy who has brought such immense joy to my life.
Happy birthday my Danny J! I love you and feel so blessed to be your mommy.