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HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAMES DOUGLAS!

We waited 20 minutes for a cab this morning and finally found one around 8 am. So just like James we started the day off a little late. Labor was induced at 8:30 am and Meg pushed from 5 to 6 pm. James Douglas Sennott was born on April 28th, 2009 at 6:08 pm and he weighed in at 8 pounds 1 ounce and is 20 inches long. Mom and James are doing great. James has been a great host to our first two guests Erica and Serge. We want to thank every one for their thoughts and prayers.
Love,
Doug, Meg and James

This was the email that Doug sent out the night James was born at 10:27pm. We were sitting in our room, with little James at the end of Mom's bed, Erica sitting next to Mom and Dad and Serge prepping the laptop so Doug could write the email. That memory is so fresh in my mind I can't even tell you.

Tonight, Dad and Mom just finished a delicious celebratory meal of steak, mushrooms and onions, asparagus with a mustard sauce and wine. Mom and Dad have missed cooking and every now and again, we enjoy a late night dinner to feast on some seriously delicious eats. Every "Cheers" proclaimed was for James and for our little family.

Today, James Douglas Sennott turned one. James is one year old. We have a toddler. As Dad put it so perfectly the other night, James has lived through one entire rotation around the Sun. Cool huh?

Today, ah today. Today was one of those days where you wish it could go on forever. It was magical. Dad took off from work to spend with his son on his very special day. Last night after James went to bed, Dad and Mom filled up balloons and wrapped presents and put this together for James so he could wake up to a Happy Happy Birthday! We had SO much fun doing this - it was like we were little kids again too.

This morning Mom fed James in his room so he wouldn't see the set-up in the main room and then Mom and James went to wake up Dad. Then, Dad got the camera rolling and we taped the whole thing - reactions and opening presents. James was so excited - loved every minute of it. Investigating the balloons, touching the ribbon, opening the paper, playing with the boxes and of course, checking out his new toys. It was awesome. After presents, we left to go and pick up his cake. When Mom checked out the cake to make sure everything was right, all the people working at Sweet Mandy B's wanted to see it too and the result was unanimous, "Awesome cake!" - yep, it was totally awesome. Here it is.

After James' nap and next meal, we packed up and headed for the Shedd Aquarium! We had so much fun! James loved looking at all the fish swimming around and was just mesmerized by the huge tank in the center of the aquarium. We went to the "Wild Reef" exhibit, which is underground, and saw some pretty cool fish and sharks. There was this one shark that was really scary - the area and the tank was dark and the shark would swim off into the darkness and then swim right toward the glass.

There must have been about a million kids there - it was like every public school in Chicago decided to visit the Shedd today. So our stay only lasted about an hour. On the way out, we stopped in the gift store and we were looking at the stuffed animals and then James reached out his little arm towards a turtle and then after Dad handed it to him, James wouldn't let go of it! We even had to lean James over the check out area so the girl could ring it up!

On our way out, we were deciding what to do for lunch and saw this bad boy!

Ah, Chicago style hot dogs for lunch. Done and done. We enjoyed the dogs as we looked over the lake and the city skyline. On a day like this, you cannot help but fall in love with Chicago.

Because it was so nice out, we decided we would walk home along the lake front. It couldn't have been more perfect. The birthday boy slept the whole way home.

After we got home, James ate again and then - the main event - Happy Birthday and the cake. We decided that James would have no limits here and it was the best approach. James put one finger in the cake and looked at both of us as if to say, "This is cool right?" And, then a few short minutes later, this was the result. Hilarious. HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAMES!

We ended the day with a walk to the hospital where James was born. It just seemed fitting to take a stroll over there today to commemorate today.

After James ate dinner, he got a bath, a good scrub down. All afternoon he smelled like frosting! During his bath, James' great-grandmother called and played Happy Birthday over the phone for him. He was smiling ear to ear and clapping along. How great is that? Awesome way to end a birthday day in our opinion.

We have had the best day and feel like the luckiest people in the world. Also, thank you to all of you for your sweet messages and thoughtful emails and calls! We love you all and wish we could all be together celebrating this dear, wonderful little boy of ours! Thank you :o) James has changed our lives and we are so very thankful for his presence in our life.

Happy Birthday Little One! We love you James Douglas!