Four years ago this morning I held our 4.5 pound boy against my bare chest in the NICU, waiting for Kaitlin to arrive via wheelchair. It had been an intense, unexpected night given his due date wasn’t until the end of July.
The hardest part, especially for Kaitlin, was not being able to take him home for over a month. It nearly drove her mad.
Tucker didn’t make it easy on us from the very beginning. He hasn’t changed. He’s a challenging little dude in ways, we’ve found, that only we can really grasp. It’s hard.
But the things that make Tucker most challenging are the things that also make me believe he’s special. I understand all parents believe their children are special, but I mean it differently. I truly believe he’s going to do great things. I can’t put my finger on it, and it’s tough to describe, but there’s something there.
He’s also the most incredibly loving little guy in the world, constantly giving unsolicited hugs, snuggles, and kisses. He’s easy to love. And I do love him a terrible amount.
We celebrated early this morning with presents, a new bike, and cake for breakfast. We ordered takeout sushi (his favorite) and gave a shot at the pedal bike a bit tonight. It’s going to take some work, but I think he’s going to pick it up quick.
I can’t believe it’s been four years. Happy birthday, Tucker! I love you.