Happy Birthday to my baby!

Happy Birthday Jeffrey!

Today, Jeffrey, my only son and the light of my life, you are 26 years old. Your big party is Saturday at your Dad's house, and all of us -- Me, Randy, Papa, Mary, Debbie, your Dad and your girlfriend Dee, will be there to help you celebrate. A lot of your friends from work will also be there. You've already seen your present -- an electric guitar. You're going to learn to play it at the Service Center where you work.

I'm so proud of you, Jeffrey. I know things could have been different. But I honestly could not have a better son in the world. Everyone loves you. A lot of our readers "grew up" with you, Jeffrey, and they remember watching you grow. But they didn't meet you at the beginning. So here's a little history...

You were born on a Saturday morning in Savannah, Jeffrey, and I remember how scared I was. Your Papa and both Grandmas drove down from Atlanta that morning and got there at 10:16, just before I went into the operating room to have you.
Your Dad and were young then, Jeffrey, and I know we were so worried -- after all, I'd been in the hospital for seven weeks with complications. We didn't know if you were a girl or a boy until the doctor told us "It's a Jeffrey!" at 11:20 a.m. And the first thing you did was pee in the pediatrician's face. I was just glad you were a boy, because I swore I wasn't having any more babies.

That first 24 hours were kind of scary, and I didn't even get to hold or feed you until you were a day old. I know in this picture I look really rough, and you, you're tiny...even if you did weight 7 pounds and 12 ounces. Do I look as scared I was?



I have always loved these two pictures of you when you were just a few days old. One is of you and me. This has always been my favorite picture of us.



And this one, well it really makes me miss my Mama -- your Grandma. She loved you so much Jeffrey. And Papa? He still looks at you that way today, 26 years later. We're so lucky....



A few days before Christmas in 1982 we flew to Germany to be with your Daddy. Here's one of your first pictures in Germany. I love how peaceful you are here.



Here's another cute picture of you around age 7.



And this picture was taken just before we moved to Milledgeville in 1996. It was taken on Mother's Day.



Who's your baby, Julie Boucek?



(Joy and jason, and Jenn, I have pictures of Jeffrey at both of your weddings. I wish I had them here to add now).

Anyway, I hope you have a great birthday today. We'll be celebrating all weekend.

Much love -- all my love really,
Mom