Today is Marshall’s birthday. Warning: “sappy” post ahead.
When I was expecting Marshall, my due date was July 17, but because of some issues I had, he arrived five weeks early. Thankfully, he was fully developed, but was born with pneumonia in both lungs, so that meant a hospital stay for him until he was ten days old.
Throughout my nearly 11 years of blogging, I’ve shared many photos of Marshall, including this one as we brought him home from the hospital.
As I was writing this post, I realized how much pregnancy and childbirth have changed over the years since I became a mom.
In those days, our ‘gender reveal’ took place when your baby was born. In my case (since Marshall was born by c-section), it was his dad telling me in the recovery room that we had a baby boy.
Now, when one of my young soon-to-be-a-parent friends shares an ultrasound image on Facebook, you can almost tell which side of the family the baby will ‘favor’. This was Marshall’s ultrasound, with the nurse’s handwritten note denoting the head and the body. (But I was sure excited to have this photo.)
I think especially on your child’s birthday, you remember some of the little milestones in his life. Sleeping in his ‘big boy bed”:
Favorite pets through the years:
First day of preschool:
And then you blink, and he’s grown.
When you saw him for the first time, you didn’t think you could ever love him any more than you did at that moment. But through the years, you realize just how silly that thought was.
Happy Birthday, Marshall.
“No one else will ever know the strength of my love for you. After all, you’re the only one who knows what my heart sounds like from the inside.”
~These Days Of Mine~
these days of mine 
so sweet – happy birthday, Marshall
Dianna, perfect thoughts of a mother’s love for her child
Hoping Marshall has a wonderful day.
Wonderful memories and photos. Happy Birthday Marshall….enjoy every second of it.
Pam
Happy Birthday, Marshall!!! Enjoy your special day with your special people. Loved seeing the photos and remembering.
Thank you for this post, and thank everybody for the Birthday wishes !!
That is so touching, with the sweetest photos. Happy Birthday Marshall and many blessings for you to come!
Happy Birthday Marshall! Wonderful pics!♥
Happy & Blessed Birthday, Marshall!! You have grown into a fine man.
Happy Birthday Marshall !
Happy birthday, Marshall!
So sweet. Happy Birthday to Marshall! What a blessed man he is to have you for his mom.