Born on Monday fair in face .......

Today our little man Joe turns five. Joseph Patrick was born on Monday September the 8,2003 at 9:49 pm.He decide to enter this world on his own terms,not ours and that folks should have been the tip off right there and then that he was going to be a boy to be reckoned with! And true to form that is pretty much the way it has gone down.Up until Joe,I had never gone into labor with any of the other kids. I always thought it would be really cool if my water broke or something unexpected would happen. Seeing this was going to be our last,yeah I know,I have said "last" a number of times.Anyway since I THOUGHT this was going to be our last,a little change up in the routine would be kind of fun. But like all the rest, we just picked a c-section date and that was that. Joe was supposed to be born on the 10th. I planned everything,every detail, around the 10th.Life was scheduled to the tee, around the 10th.But Joe,my do it my way child, did in fact decide to change it up. I actually went into labor on the 8th and I was so excited.Yes excited. Labor pains and all. The whole nine yards. We all look back on that day and truly,fun, is the word we use to describe it. Of course "labor"didn't last long.A c-section was still in order and before we knew it, there was Joe. Number 5.Gorgeous little guy.Spit fire from the get go. Spit fire to this day. He keeps us all on our toes and keeps us all smiling.There is never a dull moment around here with this boy. Joe makes his presence known at all times.He is a confident,full of life little child, who enjoys and embraces each and every moment of his life. I often have said that if I could handle Joe I coud handle anything and well,you see what happened didn't you? I guess someone up there thought I was doing a fairly decent job with this little soul because let me tell you, he has absolutely tested my parenting skills like no other.He also has brought equal and unparalleled joy as well. He can be the absolute sweetest guy.He loves to snuggle. He is so very gentle and loving with Zoey and he keeps us all in constant stitches with his funny one liners.A couple of weeks ago he said,"Hey mom,there are three guys watching us,God Jesus and Santa Clause." That is just a sample of the way Joe views and speaks of life and the world around him. We do also so love,on most days,that mischievous little glint he has to his eyes.You are a darling boy Joe.You add joy and laughter and endless smiles to our lives. Have a happy one little man.We adore you.

"There is no such thing as too many children ....... that is like saying there are too many flowers."Mother Teresa