Saturday, February 28, 2009

24!

Wow -- 24 -- no, not the TV show (though I've heard it's great), but my oldest son, Philip, turns 24 on February 28! Happy Birthday to You! Hard to believe that it's been that long since he was born on a really warm spring-like day that year. And, being the Midwest, it was snowing a few days later when we headed home. He weighed in at just over 9 pounds. Before he was born, my OB predicted I would have a 7 pound baby girl! The doc said he was NOT going to make predictions ever again after he was so wrong that time! :)

Ahhhh -- the first-born -- the things we didn't know when he was a baby! I constantly worried that he had a fever. That poor kid had his temp taken more times that first month than probably in his whole life! And there were no ear thermometers back then! ;) But, oh my, he was such a wonderful baby, even though I don't think he slept through the night until he was almost a year old!


Philip at 7 years old and Connor at 5 -- such cuties!!!

He had a few minor medical issues through the years including those dreaded ear infections and ear tubes. The tubes left a hole in his eardrum that had to be surgically repaired not once, but twice. Then one summer when he was swimming a lot, I was determined to keep that ear dry, so I put drying ear drops in every day. When I took him to the doc after he complained his ear hurt, the pediatrician looked at it and said, "That's strange, his eardrum is so dry, it's about to burst!" Ooops -- sorry about that!

And all of sudden, in the blink of an eye it seemed, he was grown up. He graduated from high school and then from college (those high school and college years go by so fast)! And now, he's in his second year of medical school. Last May he got married and we added his sweet wife Catherine to our family. It's been a wonderful 24 years and we look forward to many fun times in the years ahead.

Happy Birthday Sweetie!

21 comments:

Jodee said...

Happy Birthday, Philip! I had no idea he weighed so much at birth! Where did you put all of that baby anyway?!

Philip is such a great guy and you must be sooo proud of him! He will make a fabulous doctor some day!

I love, love, love the wedding picture! They are such a cute couple!

Half Gaelic, Half Garlic! said...

Happy Birthday Philip!!

What a cute picture of he and Connor.....and 9 lbs at birth...WOW!! You don't look big enough to carry a 9lb baby...YIKES!!

It is funny how we treat the first born babies.....I was a major worrier with Nick and with Sarah, I am much more relaxed about things.

I love their wedding picture. It reminds me of my first visit to your blog. It was right after he and Catherine got married and you had some pictures posted.....looked like a beautiful day:)

Hope Philip enjoys his special day....Have a great weekend Jan!

Lisa

fleur de lis cottage said...

Happy Birthday. What a cute flashback photo...oh my goodness what a cutie. Gorgeous wedding photo too.

Have a great weekend.

Kim said...

Happy Birthday Philip!! I have to say, this is the BEST day of the year! I say that because today is my birthday as well. It is my honor to share this special day with you!

Janet, this post is a beautiful tribute to your first born.

Have a great weekend!
Kim

Laura L. said...

Such a sweet post. It's funny, the things we do when we parent our first one.
Mine will be 24 soon too.
The photos of Maddy are adorable. :)

Kim said...

A very happy birthday to your son! What a great post. You made me laugh and then you mad me cry. Why do they grow so fast and where does the time go?

Cute pic.!

Super Mommy said...

Happy Birthyday Philip!

Funny tales about your first born, my poor Jadey has been a victim of my inexperience and overprotective self too (she still is in a way).

Lovely wedding photo - such a beautiful couple.

Christy said...

What a trip-- 24. Thaat just seems so grown up-- it is grown up!! What a big boy at birth--wow! Very cool and happy birthday!

Christy

Missy said...

Awww, your baby is all grown up! What a handsome fellow he is. I hope he has a great birthday!

Kristin said...

Very sweet post!! Love the wedding picture. :-)

My oldest is almost 18. I can't believe it. Time seems to have flown so quickly.

Anonymous said...

it is amazing how the time rushes by and our children are grown before our shocked eyes.

Lucy said...

Such a cute post! I can't believe your dr. got it SO wrong...and a nine pounder at that!!!
Love their wedding picture, very cool setting!!!

Gail said...

What a handsome guy. I know you are so proud of him. My youngest brother's name is Philip(so I love that name) and my oldest son Nick will be 24 in about 3 weeks. The time goes so fast doesn't it? Happy belated Birthday Philip!

Lisa said...

Happy Birthday Philip! Wow, it really does go by fast! I actually teared up reading your post. You must be one proud momma!

Shell in your Pocket said...

Happy Birthday to your son...how wonderful!
sandy toe

Rachel said...

Happy Birthday Philip! You must be so proud of your son. As my boys are 7 and almost 6, its so hard to imagine them as responsible grown ups!

The picture is so cute!

Rachel

Heather said...

Happy Birthday Philip! WHat a handsome young man, so obviously raised with love, honor and respect.

I would have him as my doctor any day!

The wedding picture is beautiful, what a lovely couple.

Enjoy celebrating your wonderful son!

Heather

Ivy Shaffer said...

Oh What a sweet sweet post! We must cherish these moments!
You must be so proud!

Ivy

Steffie B. said...

Happy Birthday Philip....what a lovely post....

Jennifer said...

Happy Birthday Philip. What a cute picture of your boys!

Jen

Julia said...

I love seeing the kid photo compared with the wedding photo, you can definitely tell it's the same boy.. er, man. :-) He's so handsome and looks beautiful with his wife on their wedding day, I know you are so proud of him! :-)