Following in his sister's footsteps, Oliver also needed a gentle nudge from the Pitocin drip in order to make his way down to the light – he too was a week late. It was the middle of summer and although most people don't associate the words "extreme scorching heat" with The Great White North, it can get pretty darn toasty here and that summer, the summer I was pregnant with what would be a nine-pound boy, was one of the hottest on record.
It was 114 degrees the day of my induction.
As we pulled up to the hospital we couldn't help but notice several fire trucks screaming down the street toward the building, horns blaring. The biggest, baldest, sweatiest rent-a-cop I had ever seen greeted us in the lobby and announced we had to wait because an alarm had been pulled in the morgue and the entire hospital was in lockdown mode. By that time I was in early labour and leaned against the wall rubbing my gigantic bump while Mr. Security stood in front of the fire doors barricade style, his nervous eyes jumping from me to my belly to Dave to his walkie-talkie.
I did a little extra huffing and puffing (and let out a few muffled groans) just to see the sweat appear thicker across his brow because I was in that late, late stage of pregnancy, the one that makes an overdue pregnant woman want others around her to be as uncomfortable as she is, dammit.
After about ten minutes we got the all-clear and I waddled on up to Labour and Delivery, where I gave birth a few hours later and was immediately transferred to a room with no air conditioning.
114 degrees outside.
Looking back, the signs were clear: giving birth to a nine pounder in the middle of a record-breaking heat wave at a hospital that was locked down when I arrived, the kind of lockdown that warranted fire trucks and entrances blocked by bald, sweaty security guards. I should have known that day was going to be the first day of the rest of my life.
When Dave and I decided to try for a second kid we naively thought we had this whole parenting thing down to a science. After Julia hit the six-week mark and stopped screaming all the livelong day (and night) she became this incredibly easy baby almost overnight, and we went from wondering what the hell we had done with our lives to saying things like, "Hey, this ain't so bad. We should have another one of these."
So we enthusiastically jumped on the Let's Make More Beautiful Babies bandwagon and made another beautiful baby, who was born two years ago today and has rocked our worlds since. Like a hurricane.
There's this part of me that cannot believe that he has made it to two without stitches or a cast of some sort. Every night that I put him to bed unscathed I pat myself on the back and think, "Bonus. He made it another day with no major bodily harm." And now that I'm knocking on Two's door I'm patting myself on the back thinking, "He's two. You made it." Because truth be told, over the past two years there have been moments when I wondered if I would – make it, that is.
But the love, oh, the love. It's so deep, and intense, much like a fire. He's got a hold on my heart, that boy. I wouldn't trade him for anything in the world even on the days when I throw him in the car and drive around scouring for a band of gypsies to hand him off to.
I love you all the time, Oliver. I love you when you're being a stinker. I love you when you're cute and when I've had it up to here with you. I love you when you ask me where my balls are and when you throw your dinner all over the floor and when you eat dirt and all of my guacamole. I love your curious, inquisitive nature, your infectious laugh and that (mostly mischievous) glint in your eyes. You, my son, are the brightest light in my life.
Hello, Two.
We made it.
58 Comments, Comment or Ping
This was a really sweet post. Somehow you made me rethink a second child and want one terribly all at the same time. :)
August 3rd, 2007
Our first was a Julia. Happy, easy. She made us think it was so easy. We went three more times just to see if we could duplicate her. No dice.
Happy Birthday Oliver!
August 3rd, 2007
our #2 (who is now 24!) was much like oliver. we say (with love) that if he had been born first he’s be an only child!
August 3rd, 2007
happy birthday oliver and congratulations to you! I can’t wait until that glint in his eye matures a bit and turns into words and sentences – that will be fantastic… definitely fantastic to read.
August 3rd, 2007
Aw that was such a beautiful post, I could really feel your love for him coming through it :)
August 3rd, 2007
That was a really beautiful post, MT. Happy birthday to Oliver!
August 3rd, 2007
Congrats! Isn’t it funny how much life changes when going from 1 kid to 2 (or more)? My wife & I went through some similar thoughts. The first was not too bad, so we decided he “needed a friend close to his age”, since we both had 5+ years between our siblings. Ha! Number 2 arrived and all hell broke loose!
August 3rd, 2007
Happy birthday, Oliver. And contgratulations, K, for making it and doing so in grand style…the kind that makes the rest of us just a teensy bit jealous of how great you are at all of this.
August 3rd, 2007
I hope you celebrate with a dirt and guacomole sandwich!
August 3rd, 2007
happy birthday O and his mom. here’s to more stinking and more loving.
August 3rd, 2007
Awww. Happy Birthday, bright light Oliver.
August 3rd, 2007
Happy Birthday! I have a sneaking suspicion that our #2 will be an Oliver. And I know that I will love him OR her all that much more because of it…I love the mischief-makers.
August 3rd, 2007
Happy birthday, Oliver! He’s clearly destined for greatness.
August 3rd, 2007
Happy birthday Oliver! And happy BIRTH day to you!
But, whoa – induced after a week?!
August 3rd, 2007
Pregnancy + labor + heat + no AC = some seriously good use of the F bomb. Yes?
August 3rd, 2007
happy birthday boy! i will see you saturday =)
just wanted to mention, the phrase “giving birth to a nine pounder” makes me think of squeezing out a turkey like you get all bald and wrapped up in plastic at the grocery store. tee hee!
August 3rd, 2007
That is so sweet.
Minus the heat part.
August 3rd, 2007
Even with all of the “terrible-ness” that it’s supposed to bring, two is a sweet, sweet age. Enjoy it!
August 3rd, 2007
Happy birthday, Oliver. No airconditioning?! Ye gads. I think I’d ask if they had ice for the birthing pool…
August 3rd, 2007
Aw!!!! Great post Tulip! I love it!!
Happy Birthday Oliver!!
August 3rd, 2007
Happy Birthday Oliver and Happy Giving Birthday Mama T.
I was born on a day like that and Nanabumper never lets me forget it (and how late I was).
August 3rd, 2007
Happy Birthday to your beautiful boy, and to you too.
Beautiful post.
August 3rd, 2007
Aw, happy second Oliver. George turned two a couple of weeks ago as well.
I think two and three are THE BEST ages ever.
August 3rd, 2007
I had no idea it could even GET to 114 degrees in Canada! Congratulations to YOU! And a happy day to Oliver.
August 3rd, 2007
Happy Birthday Oliver! Hopefully two will see you taking it a bit easier on your mamma.
August 3rd, 2007
Such a wonderful post. Happy birthday, sweet boy.
August 3rd, 2007
Great post! You’ve probably jinxed yourself now…and he’ll need stitches and a cast tomorrow (hopefully not). :) Even with all their wonderful faults…aren’t 2-year olds great?!?!?! We’re approaching 2.5 years for G-Man…and I’m ready for round 2 in the kid department.
And I feel for you….110+ degree heat and giving birth can’t be fun.
August 3rd, 2007
we did the exact same thing. emily was the best baby…so we jumped right away to have baby #2…were we in for a rude awakening!!!
happy birthday Oliver!
August 3rd, 2007
May the trip to three be just a little less taxing.
Happy Birthday O!
August 3rd, 2007
Happy Birthday to your number 2!! Mine recently had a birthday as well, and I am still trying to process all the thoughts and feelings that go with his growing up.
August 3rd, 2007
Happy Birthday Oliver!!
August 3rd, 2007
Happy Birthday, Oliver!!!
(You made me cry, dammit.)
August 3rd, 2007
Oliver, you have a heckuva mama, and damn she loves you a lot. One day, in about 15 years when you’re telling her she hates you because she won’t let you go to that party on a school night, make sure you go back and read this.
August 3rd, 2007
Happy Birthday OLIVER!
:]
Enjoy your weekend, love!
♥
August 3rd, 2007
Happy birthday Oliver – and at least you can look back at that day and blog!!
August 3rd, 2007
I didn’t realize that Oliver and the monkey are, like, the exact same age!? The monkey’s 2nd birthday was July 28th. Cool! And, that summer WAS RIDICULOUSLY hot. So is THIS summer. I’m LOSING MY MIND! ;)
August 3rd, 2007
Happy 2nd Birthday, Oliver!
August 3rd, 2007
YEAH! Congrats mom. I think moms should get some sort of merit badge for every year their child has a birthday. heeehee. You know over the fact that we’ve remembered to feed them and haven’t given them away to gypsies.
Happy Birthday Oliver!
August 4th, 2007
Oh, wow. What a sweet post. I didn’t get a chance to post about my sweet little thing 2, but yesterday august 3rd was her 3rd Birthday. Happy Birthday Oliver. So far 3 with a girl is starting off a little rocky, but I have high hopes. Two with a boy meant lots a running for me. Have fun!
August 4th, 2007
Nothing I love better than an incorrigible hell-raiser.
Sounds like you’ve made him right to me, Tulip.
Loved this post.
But I heart you more…
August 4th, 2007
happy belated birthday to Oliver, your bright light. what a lovely post.
August 4th, 2007
You did make it!!!! I love that – “Hello Two” – good title.
114 degrees!?!?!?!? That is just soooo unnecessary.
August 4th, 2007
Happy birthday Oliver.
Go easy on your mom today, okay? I think she’s earned it.
August 4th, 2007
Hurray! Happy Birthday Oliver! Many, many happy returns.
August 4th, 2007
Happy, happy b-day to Oliver! It’s my husband’s birthday too!
August 4th, 2007
Yay for two! Happy birthday to Oliver and happy birthing day to you.
p.s. 114 degrees and no airconditioning? Yowsa.
August 5th, 2007
Happy Birthday to Oliver and congratulations to you and Dave.
Oh, and speaking of a girl who can write? You, my dear, can flat out, by-God WRITE. Love this post, lots.
August 5th, 2007
Awww, Happy Birthday Oliver!
Have you noticed that it is damn near impossible to find any bands of gypsies? Believe me, I have looked. :)
August 5th, 2007
Fitting for a little Leo, to be born on such a firey day! He sounds like he is all fire, all the time. What a life he will live, I bet. Some of my favorite people are just like him. ;)
LOL at that gaurd. I SO would have done that, acted all “IN LABOR”, just to make him upset. Move your ass, nutsack! I’m having a baby, here! LOL
:)
August 5th, 2007
Happy birthday Oliver! And congatulations to you, mama.
August 5th, 2007
How about when Dave asks you where your balls are and when you throw your dinner all over the floor and when you eat dirt and all of your guacamole?
August 6th, 2007
Happy Two Years to Oliver! Congrats on making it this far, MT. Sounds like you’re doing a beautiful job of raising that handfull of yours.
August 6th, 2007
Happy birthday to your little guy!
You’ll have quite a story to tell him someday!
:)
August 6th, 2007
Happy Two, Oliver! What a lovely gift from your mama this post was.
(Mine, too, were 10 days late, and 9 and 10 lbs, but thankfully in the dead of winter. I love birth stories!)
August 6th, 2007
Happy number two, to you both!!
August 7th, 2007
Happy Birthday to Oliver!
August 7th, 2007
Congratulations, Mom of a Two. It’s been a helluva two years, sounds like — but you’re all relatively unscathed.
Relatively.
;-)
August 8th, 2007
I suck. I am so belated. It was one of those things where I left a comment and my browser funked up, so I was going to come back and *poof* a wk has gone by.
Happy belated bday to the second cutest boy I know. :)
August 11th, 2007
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