39 weeks and 4 days

Thats how long I was pregnant for and thats how long I have been a parent for. 39 weeks and 4 days ago I was in labour now, and James was born at 11:55pm. The last 39 weeks and 4 days of my life have been terrifying, exhausting and rewarding. I would not change them for the world. I am trying to work out which felt longer, my long pregnancy that had me visiting the hospital for constant issues, and not knowing if it is a boy or girl or not knowing when I was going to go pop. Not knowing what the baby is going to look like or if it is going to be healthy. Not knowing how I was going to deal with sleepless nights and breastfeeding or teething or weaning or bathing or or or..... But then maybe his life has felt longer, learning to deal with long nights, and breastfeeding, seeing his teeth break the skin, watching him eat his first meal, experience him only accepting finger foods and enjoying him enjoying his nightly baths. He has generally been healthy, we have had our ups and downs, but I can't really complain. He has had prolonged jaundice, 3 colds, balantitis, an UTI and on Friday gastroenteritis. We have had only one hospital trip, thankfully. He has learnt so much, From being a newborn that just lay there, to smiling, to laughing, to rolling over, to putting his feet in his mouth, to sitting, to crawling, to pulling himself up and walking around the furniture. He has grown in leaps and bounds. He now likes to act up for us and make us laugh. He likes to copy us. He loves grapes, but is not so keen on parsnips. He is such a character now..... he is James now and not just baby. Oh, and while today is the day that he is 39 weeks and 4 days I started a new chapter in my life, I got a phone call to go for an interview for a job on Wednesday.... A first interview in years........