Tag - Birthdays

Ten years ago I was pregnant. The fun and excitement of Christmas was over and we were enjoying the peace and quiet of the days that follow. Our baby was due during the first week of the new year and we were mostly ready.

I’d taken a walk with my mom that afternoon. It was a crisp, clear day in a Maryland suburb of DC. The baby felt really low. Really low.

I decided that it was as good a day as any to wash the cover on the infant car seat. I threw it in the washing machine with some other items. It was done drying by the time Phil got home so I had him install the car seat into the car. Just so we’d be ready.

In the meantime I sat on the floor, folding the rest of the laundry. My mom was in the kitchen with Boo. I felt two pops. My water broke!

We didn’t leave for the hospital for another hour. During the short ride to Andrews AFB, my contractions grew stronger. By the time we arrived it was clear that I was definitely in labor, but they put me in the labor and delivery triage room where I continued to labor.

I will spare you the details of the complete chaos and buffoonery that followed when they finally realized that not only was I really in labor, but that the baby was coming RIGHT NOW!

I did make it to the delivery room just fine before I pushed twice (please don’t hate me) and our little Pumpkin Girl was born.

All 5 pounds, 12 ounces of her. Thick black hair and big brown eyes. Sugar and spice and everything nice.

Happy Birthday, Pumpkin Girl! You bless us every day with your beautiful smile, you dancing feet and your quiet, but funny sense of humor. You are a princess among the princes, the crown jewel of our little kingdom. Proof that every good and perfect gift comes from above.

Boo turns twelve today. I was due in early November and the one thing I did not want was for him to be born on Halloween. So much for that.

I don’t even remember what my thinking on that was, but as always, I was making plans instead of letting God do the work. So Boo arrived on Halloween – thus giving him the nickname “Boo”. It’s not just a family nickname, everybody calls him that. Everybody. It goes on certificates, his Boy Scout uniform nametag, and everything else. He does have real name, and it’s a nice one. I use it when I’m mad at him.

The top five things on his birthday list this year were an iPod Touch and iPod related accessories. Including a $50 iTunes gift card. A boy can dream, right? He actually already knows he’s getting the iPod Touch because he’s paying for most of it with money he saved up himself.

He likes 80’s music, Star Wars and being a Boy Scout. He loves history and will sit through any documentary. Right now he’d like to follow his dad’s exact career path.

Tonight he is going trick or treating as St. Michael the Archangel and he thinks that next year he’ll reuse the gladiator costume, minus the wings, and then that might be his last year trick or treating. But he’s not sure.

He loves being an alter server, he doesn’t like to draw, he couldn’t care less about spelling and math is still his arch nemesis.

He grew five inches last year. He and I wear the same size shoe. He drives me crazy most of the time. I look at him and I see both the little boy he once was and the man he is growing to be.

Twelve years ago I became a mother. This is why.

Nine years ago, this sweet little girl came into the world.

Happy Birthday, Pumpkin Girl!

Eleven years ago today, our Boo entered the world, all 6 pounds of him.  He stubbornly refused to come out without the use of vacuum and forceps and he’s been giving us a hard time ever since.  Alas, he is cute and funny, smart, helpful, generous and an all around nice guy so we can’t help but love him deeply.

Happy Birthday, my young Jedi.  May the force be with you.

Four years ago today, I had lunch, took a nap and ate half a bag of mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.  Philip came home from a softball game and asked me what I’d been doing.  I told him about the peanut butter cups and he said, “uh oh” because he knows that they are my preferred method to bring on labor.

At 6:00 PM my water broke.  A little after 7:00 PM, Bip was born.  We’ve been laughing ever since.

“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” Psalm 30:5

Happy Birthday, little Bip.  You are truly our joy in the morning.

Today was a good day.  Today we celebrate a good day eight years ago when our Pumpkin Girl arrived.  All 5 pounds, 12 ounces of her (and full term, too!), she was the tiniest, sweetest little thing that changed our lives forever.  We are so grateful for her.

Happy Birthday, Pumpkin Girl!  We love you!

Ten years ago Philip and I became parents for the first time. Our little Boo arrived in the wee hours of the morning, crying loudly.  He’s never been quiet since.  He even talks in his sleep.

He’s not so little anymore!  From that high needs, clingy baby, to a perpetually in motion toddler,  head strong little boy, he’s now a fun, smart, funny – very funny – young man. I’m proud to call him my son.

So to the one who started it all, Happy Birthday, Boo!  May God bless you and keep you safe today and always.