Happy Birthday Jimmy!

I have made it my goal to blog about each one of my family members on their birthdays. I hope you enjoy reading my trips down Memory Lane as much as I enjoy writing them.

My firstborn, James Robert King. Born at UCSD Medical Center in San Diego, CA. on March 24, 1975, at 5:38pm. 6lbs. 15oz. 18.5in. Named for Daddy, and Uncle John. My baby. 18.5 LONG hours of labor...LOL...every mom has a 'labor' story. I'll spare you the details.

Jimmy was a happy baby, for the most part. By the time he was 2, I figured I'd pretty much marred him for life. He was my 'trial and error' baby. The first one always is. He's the one whose piece of fingertip I cut off while trimming his nails with the baby 'safety' clippers. From then on I BIT my babies' nails....no more clippers for THIS mama!

I wanted to be a good mommy, so I decided to use cloth diapers. That's what we did WAY back then. It's a NASTY way to go, let me tell ya! But, nevertheless, I rinsed, soaked, scrubbed and bleached those little nappies so my baby would have sparkling white diapers. No one told me that poop STAINS! Ah well...I gave it a go anyway. Until I pinned him to his diaper. He was screaming, and I'm thinking, 'what is wrong with you child??! I just fed you, burped you, bathed you, and gave you a clean diaper, and you're screaming???' So, I decided to check his diaper, one more time, and discovered, to my utter horror, that I had pinned the poor little guy to his diaper! I don't know who cried harder, him or ME! We switched to Pampers. That's all we had back then, but it sure beat risking the chance of 'pinning' him again!

Jimmy was a typical little boy, always running, jumping, climbing, and falling. In most of his professional portraits, he looks like a classic child abuse case...a black & blue bump, right in the middle of his forehead. Broken bones, sprains, lots of 'owies'...typical boy, all the way around.

I could go on about the teenage years, and even his 20's, but I prefer to talk about now. I am so incredibly proud of the man he has become. I love that I have such a special bond with him (as I do with my other 2 kids, but their turn is coming in later blogs), and I can call him with a need, and he's right there. He's always been there for his dad and me. He made the wisest choice ever in his choice for a bride. He's a dad who loves his kids passionately, and will stop at nothing to ensure their well being. He's a brother who's best friends are his brother and sister. He's a friend who is there in good times and bad. He's a man who takes his job seriously, never afraid to go that 'extra mile' if need be. He's had some hard knocks in life, and has learned from each of them, and he is a better man because of those 'knocks'. He appreciates what he's been given, and teaches his kids to appreciate too. He strives to be a good role model for his kids, holding himself accountable, and telling his kids to hold him accountable too. He's a wonderful daddy.

Husband, daddy, brother, cousin, friend, uncle....and son. Awesome man, and one that I am proud to call MY son.

Happy Birthday Jimmy. I love you.
Mom