Happy birthday to Bradley

14 years ago to this minute I had been a mom for exactly 1/2 hour. Bradley Scott Hydorn was born on Sunday, January 7 at 8:02 PM. He weighed 6 pounds 4 1/2 ounces and was 20 inches long. That morning when I woke up I had no idea I would become a mother before the night was over. I carried Bradley high throughout the whole pregnancy. I was always pushing a hand or foot out of my ribcage. We didn't know whether it'd be a boy or a girl, but I was completely convinced he was a girl- and we had the name Alexis Dawn picked out. I sang to HER, rocked in HER rocker in HER room, and planned for my little girl. Thankfully I did not go so far as to buy pink clothes because I would have been returning them!

I noticed that morning in church that I could breathe a little easier, but I really didn't think much about it. I was over 3 weeks away from my due date so I wasn't planning on anything to happen yet. After church we came home to our apartment, had leftover pot roast for lunch, and I even got an afternoon nap in! After my nap, I went to the bathroom, and my water broke on the toilet!!!! It took me a bit to realize that my water had actually broken! I wasn't having any contractions at that time. That was about 2:30 in the afternoon. We called the Dr., headed into the hospital, and they started me on Potocin. Then the pain kicked in - hard and fast! I dilated quickly, and pushed for only 5 minutes or so. He was beginning to get in distress so they had to suction him out. His cone head only lasted a day or so! But he was beautiful! And once I had him in my arms, all thoughts of a baby girl were gone.

This photo was taken by my mom as soon as we got home from the hospital. My mom and dad were at our apartment with supper all made. Does he look a little orange to you?? He developed jaundice and had to wear the light band for 8 days. That was a long stressful 8 days! For the most part he was a good baby. I thought he was a little fussy, but after having Brennan, I realized Bradley was an angel!!!

He LOVED to be read to when he was little. He was always dragging books to Dad and I and he'd sit for a long time flipping through his favorites. And even when he was little, he showed a liking for sports- golf clubs, bats and balls of all kinds.

This was taken when he was 3. His little smile just melted our hearts! This is one of Gary's favorite pictures of Bradley- I think he still even carries it in his billfold to this day!

He was a great big brother and helper for mom. This picture was taken right during Brennan's colicky phase, so I'm surprised that he's not screaming in this shot. That's what he did during all his waking hours! Bradley tried so hard to make him happy during those rough days- shaking toys in his face and singing to him.

He loved sports from when he was little. He was SO excited when we went to our first major league game when he was 3 or so??? He used to watch Sportscenter in the mornings instead of cartoons. We could tell from when he was very young that baseball would be his game.

I'm not sure exactly which birthday this was. When he sees pictures in this stage, he cringes at his hair. He hates how it was parted and slicked back! But of course, I thought it was adorable.

Looking older and more mature!

After a football tournament game in Carlisle. He didn't want to play football for several years, but now this sport ranks as one of his favorites!

This is one of my favorite pictures of him.

In the last few years, he has become obsessed with golf. I got him a membership at Countryside Golf Course this last summer, and we would go every chance he could.

Bradley has had a good day- it started at 6 AM when school was cancelled due to blizzard like conditions. He played his new X-Box that he got for Christmas pretty much all day. His friends Trevor and Payton came over for awhile in the afternoon. Tonight we had tacos for supper, he opened his new Call of Duty game, and right now is talking to his friend on X Box Live. We're going to have cake in just a few minutes. He's anxious to get his permit. I, on the other hand, am not so anxious!

I'm so thankful for you Bradley- I'm proud of you and love you bunches! (I know he'll see this post because he is a faithful blog reader of mine!!!)