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I blinked. And then he was eight.
Eight years ago today I was being poked by a gruff anesthesiologist with the thickest Southern accent I had ever heard. His bedside manner was atrocious, and what he lacked in charm he made up for in efficiency. From the time of that prick (ha ha, double entendre!), to the time I had a baby in my arms was fewer than three hours. Mac Daddy and I joked with the nurse and enjoyed being goofy and giddy. Our light mood masked the impending fright of being first time parents. We took it as a good omen that the nurse was named Beth. If we had had a daughter her middle name would have been Beth, after Mac Daddy’s sister who was killed in a motorcycle accident. I was complaining about being hungry while Mac Daddy and Beth snuck a square of German chocolate I had tucked in the bag (Note that other than the chocolate, we didn’t use one single thing out of that bag). Sometime in the midst of our carrying on my doctor had come in and told me to push.
I did. Three times.
And a Bird was born.
I’ll carry that magical moment forever. Hearing the words, “It’s a …….boy!” was more awesome than I can put into words. I mean awesome in the true awe inspiring sense, not in the blase way we all bat around that word these days. Bird twitched and screamed and yelped and shook his little bald head. His eyes were remarkably open and alert. Even Beth said he was the most alert newborn she had ever seen.
I cried and laughed and kissed my husband and thought, “Holy shit! I’m someone’s mother.”
I thought that I would be the one doing all the teaching and nurturing. I thought motherhood was about love and order and laughter and joy. I thought I’d be the one imparting wisdom to my son.
It turns out that Bird has been my teacher all along.
8 Things I Learned from Being Bird’s Mommy
- Potty humor, while inappropriate, is actually funny.
- Watching professional baseball live is fun, especially if you have good seats.
- A dance party can erupt at any moment. Embrace it.
- Phineas & Ferb might be the best cartoon ever.
- The challenging qualities in a toddler will evolve into positive attributes as a kid grows.
- Love is not always patient or kind but it is always unconditional.
- There is no such thing as too many books or too many LEGO bricks.
- The currency of the everyday defines our relationships more than the hoopla of milestones.
Hey Bird. Happy birthday. Today is my mother’s birthday. She is 70 today. Hope you have a happy birthday and at least 62 more.
Happy birthday, Bird! I can’t believe you’re 8. You were such a tiny little guy when I started reading about you. Here’s to a great year!
@Ilina–on the eve of my own baby starting preschool, this pretty much threw me over the edge. I”m a weepy mess. 😉
Happy Birthday Bird! Enjoy your day!
And for Bird’s Mommy – Thanks for the list, #5 is profound my friend! Thanks for the reminder.
happy bday bird! I remember when you were itty bitty and coming to your first meal/rice ceremony when we lived around the corner from you. Maybe some day you can hang with michela again, come boogie boarding in California some day , ok?
Happy Birthday, Carter. I’m glad to have known you pretty much from the start. I got you a realllllly nice birthday present: a full Phillies uniform complete with cap, jersey, pants and stirrups. You’ll enjoy wearing it, i’m sure, when the Phillies and Brewers meet in the playoffs….;-)
Happy birthday, Carter.
Happy Birdday!
May you and your family enjoy many more moments of goofiness and giddiness day by day!
Best wishes – Mary
Happy birthday, Bird!!! I hope this is your best age yet! 🙂
Love this post!
Happy birthday to Bird, one of my boys is turning 7 today and would agree on the Phineas & Ferb and Lego truths, for sure! 🙂
Happy Birthday Bird! 8 will be great!
Happy Birthday Carter!!! Hope you have had a super fun day!
Dear Bird,
I hope you have a wonderful birthday! I hope someone gives you whoopie cushion. Farts rule.
Happy birthday
I hope Bird has a great birthday. What a special post today. Happy Birthday!
Happy birthday Bird! Hope it’s a great one!
I hope you had a delightful day!
Danced with Izzy in the kitchen today and watched Phineas and Ferb on Netflix.
Happy Birthday!
8 makes 7 look like 6.
Happy Birthday Bird! You’re probably asleep but here’s something to read in the morning 🙂
Your friends in ice cream,
Marcie, Bill & Asher
Joyeux anniversaire Carter!! Wish you the best 8th birthday ever. Hope you had an awesome day.
Tounes and Zakariya
Happy belated birthday! I’m partial to Beth … my daughter is Elisabeth Marie. 😉 She also had a NICU nurse named Beth. Happy, happy! And many happy returns!