Tyger
Age 0-3 Years
It was February 8, 2008, my 25th birthday, when I discovered I was pregnant with you. I was a full-time stocker at JC Penney, and I had run next door to Target on a break to buy a pregnancy test. I peed on the stick in a stall in the bathroom of JC Penney's, and two lines appeared. I knew what that meant, and I was a little stunned. The first thing I did was pull my cell phone out of my pocket and text "I'm pregnant" to your dad. He was the receiver at JC Penney's, and he was on the dock working at that moment.
I stayed working full-time at the store, but I switched positions to be a pricing associate because stockers have to lift heavy boxes and pallets and climb ladders. As a pricer, I was on my feet and constantly moving from 3 am to noon, or 5 am to 2 pm. This was five days a week, every week, including the day I went into labor with you.
It was the last day of September, and I worked all day feeling small pains every so often. When my shift ended, I waited in the car for your dad's shift to end. I told him about the pains, and he wanted to take me to the hospital. I told him to take me home, and I made a spaghetti dinner for myself and ate it all. A few hours after that, about 6 or 7 pm, the contractions were coming every 7 minutes. We went to the hospital and I did not let your dad drop me off at the front door; I wanted to be with him while he parked in the parking garage. We walked together from the car to the hospital entrance and went up the elevator to the labor and delivery floor.
I was checked in, and after a few more hours it was determined that I was in labor and the nurses moved me to a delivery room. By this time, your grandparents- my parents and your dad's mom- had arrived. I began having terrible contractions closer and closer together, but no one came to give me an epidural until I was 7 centimeters dilated. The epidural put me to sleep, and when I woke up several hours later I was in even more pain. I pushed for one hour or so, and then I gave the doctor permission to use the vacuum to suck you out.
When you came out, your dad was the first person you saw, and he cut your umbilical cord. Then you were weighed and taken away to the NICU because you did not cry. You were 7 pounds 11 ounces and 20 inches long. I didn't get to hold you or see you until the next day. You were so tiny and perfect and I was overwhelmed with love for you that has only grown over the years. You stayed in the hospital for four days to be treated with antibiotics, and then we brought you home. You were half breastfed and half bottle fed until you were five months old, and then you had only formula. I would’ve breastfed you longer, but you were my first baby and I didn’t know what I was doing. My milk ran out too soon.
The first week, your dad had time off work to spend with us. We were a happy little family in our one-bedroom apartment in Midwest City. Your dad and I were totally enthralled with you. Everyone in both our extended families remarked on how pretty you were and what big blue eyes you had. After 4 weeks, I went back to work, but only part-time. You stayed at Grandma’s house during my shifts. I only lasted 3 months back at work before I had to quit to be with you full-time because your dad got a better job. You were born in October, Daddy got his new job in January, and I became a stay-at-home mom in February.
We moved to a 2-bedroom rental house at 3712 Woodside Drive (Midwest City) in the winter 2 months or so after you were born. I got up with you every morning, fed you, watched some Price is Right and other shows while you played with your toys, and waited for Daddy to come home every day. Sometimes I took you to Grandma’s house, and sometimes we went shopping during the day. Sometimes your great-grandparents would come to visit.
(When you were almost a month old, you had your first Halloween. We made you a pumpkin. For your next Halloween, you were a skeleton. The next year, Scooby Doo. This last year, a smurf. Daddy, me, you and Cougar were all smurfs.)
Your birth inspired me to make something out of myself and help to better provide for you. I had 20 college credits from Rose State that I’d acquired right after high school, but I hadn’t been in school since then- about 6 years. I did not enjoy school, and I had strong opinions about the actual value of a college degree. But you changed all that. I saw the future in you, and enrolled in an online university that was physically located in Iowa. I was determined to get my bachelor’s degree to help give you a better life. I attended the online school from February 2009 to December 2009.
I became pregnant with your brother around April of 2009, and continued caring for you and doing my schoolwork until I gave birth to Cougar in January. You were 15 months old, and a mischievous, beautiful, very lovable little boy. You started walking on Halloween of 2009. You were very tall and skinny for your age, and I was constantly worried about your food intake. Your dad and I kept your hair long until you were old enough to say you wanted it cut, which was around age 3. Until then, everyone thought you were a little girl because you were so beautiful and had such pretty hair, even though we dressed you like a boy.
Your first Christmas you were the center of attention, being the only grandchild of my parents and only great-grand of my grandparents. All my cousins and aunts and uncles and my brother wanted to hold you and play with you and give you toys. Everyone loved you. Your first birthday party was at Grandma’s house, and she made you a special cake decorated with Tigger. By then, I was six months pregnant and tired all the time, so I let Grandma plan most of the party. Most of your extended family showed up, and you got lots of presents. You were such a happy little boy.
As soon as Cougar was born, everything changed for you, Daddy, and especially me. Cougar was in the hospital most of his life until he was about 5 months old. During that time, I was living in the hospital for week-long stays to be near Cougar, because he was struggling to survive. I missed you so much during those times that I had to be away from you that I was crying a lot. When Cougar finally got to come home for good, we all adjusted to being a 4-person family. You started playing with your brother and everyone was happy.
You had your 2nd birthday party at the park. It was very windy and the cake I made for you didn’t come out right. However, the cupcakes I made were good, and you enjoyed playing on the swings. That Christmas, you shared the spotlight with your brother and your baby cousin Lexi. You babies were all so cute and dressed up and spoiled rotten.
I believe your dad and I bought a house in April or May of 2011. It’s the house we are living in today (2012). It has 3 bedrooms and 1 and a half bathrooms, so you and Cougar have your own rooms. We have 2 dogs, Sugar and Spice, and 2 cats, OB and Sassy. The house is in a good neighborhood, and the elementary school is only a block or two away. We are also within walking distance of the park. You have the biggest bedroom because you are the oldest child, but you prefer sleeping in the living room with the TV on. You are very scared of the dark, and you have said that you’re scared of your bedroom windows. I cannot figure out why, but you actually sleep most of the time in your bed now. You used to sleep all night in your rocking chair at the rental house. Now it’s either the couch or your bed. You still won’t sleep properly under the covers with your head on a pillow. You sleep all over your bed with lots of random blankets piled around you, and hardly ever with a pillow under your head. You have drawn with crayon and chalk all over your walls, and you have torn up most of your storybooks. I can handle the wall-drawing because I think maybe you are just expressing your creative side, but I cannot stand you destroying books. All books are precious, and I am currently trying to get you to understand that.
Every day you wake me up by throwing off my covers and turning on the light. Then we both go and get Cougar up, and then I make you both something to eat and drink. You two play all day. Today, you woke me up to tell me you had been taking pictures all over the house while I was sleeping. When Daddy came home, we looked at the digital camera and all the pictures you had taken. You did an exceptionally good job for a 3-year-old, shooting many very good quality shots. We saw pictures from your room, the living room, kitchen, and bathroom. You took pictures of yourself in front of the mirror in your room, and pictures of the neighbor’s houses through your window. The most shocking pictures were from the bathroom, because you took pictures of yourself peeing, wee-wee and all. Your dad and I couldn’t stop laughing. I think the word for you right now is precocious.
Fast facts:
When you were born, George Bush (the 2nd one) was president, but a month later, in November, President Obama was elected. I actually took you with me in a baby sling to vote. I am a registered Democrat and your dad has never registered. His reasoning is that he doesn't want to be called for jury duty.
You were born on a leap year.
Your tree is the hazelnut tree.
Jimmy Carter (former president) and Julie Andrews (actress and singer) were born on October 1st.
Disneyworld in Florida was opened on your birthday in 1971.
The first Model T Ford was produced in 1908 on your birthday.
Your plant is ivy.
Your birth flower is marigold.
Your birthstone may be opal, tourmaline, or jasper.
Daddy wanted to name you Shadow and I wanted to name you Rhett. We compromised because we both love cats of all sizes, and especially tigers.
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