HAPPY BIRTHDAY to two of my favorite people...
Happy Birthday, smacky30! Happy Birthday to you!
I owe you CM fic (about halfway there) and Carrot Cake (the next time I see you). You are an amazing writer, a wonderful person and a better friend and I am fortunate you're in my life.
AND
Happy Birthday, sapphirejoy! Happy Birthday to you!
Fourteen years ago last night I had gumbo for dinner, so when I woke up at 5:00 the next morning with pain in my stomach, I thought I had indigestion. It didn't take me long to figure out the baby that wasn't due for two more weeks, that we all expected to be late, was impatiently insisting on becoming part of the action early.
But then you, being you, got stubborn and wouldn't budge, so fourteen hours later the doctor had to go in and get you. They wouldn't let me hold you at first because of all the anesthesia they had had to give me to do the c-section, but your dad held you up to me and I got to kiss your little face for the first time and tell you I was glad to finally meet you.
I felt, I imagine, the way a lot of parents do. Awed, overwhelmed, and completely unprepared. That hasn't changed a lot in the past fourteen years, I'm just better at faking it. I am often awed by how smart and funny and beautiful you are. I am overwhelmed sometimes when I realize how everyday you get a little more independent, when I realize, everyday since that day, you have been growing away from me and that is as it should be. Everyday I remain completely unprepared for the ways you've changed me, how having you has made me want to make the world a better place, how being your mom has made me want to be a better person, how knowing you're a part of this world makes me realize just how beautiful this world is and all of the people in it are. Thank you for all you have given me.
As Brian Andreas says, "There has never been a day when I have not been proud of you, I said to my daughter, though some days I'm louder about other stuff so it's easy to miss that."
I knew I couldn't top last year's video, so, I didn't try. But I am going to rerun it.
I love you, baby. Happy Birthday.
You can watch this video on www.livejournal.com