Happy Birthday #1!!!!!!!!!!

#1 is 12 today. I still don’t believe it. I’m pretty sure she’s still 8 and this is all a clever ruse. There’s no way I’m old enough to have a 12 year old.

Twelve years ago about this time, we were supposed to be going to church, but didn’t go because I felt “weird”. I’d never had a baby before and was completely unaware of the fact that feeling “weird” is code for “the baby is coming today”.

An hour later my water broke and I told the Computer Guy (well, he wasn’t the computer guy yet, he was low-level-state-employee-guy)that we needed to go to the hospital. He told me he wanted to change out of his pajamas first (totally selfish, I know). Who knew that changing out of pajamas included a 20 minute shower and an impromptu pedicure? I’m being serious here, he had to clip his toenails before we could go to the hospital. I was in labor and sat patiently on the couch as he trimmed his nails. What a hoot! I would never be so patient now, but I was much nicer then.

6 1/2 hours of labor later and we were parents of a screaming, very loud girl who refused to keep her right leg curled up in the blankets. No matter how we tried to swaddle her, she stuck that leg straight out.

I wish I could say she was a beautiful baby, but she wasn’t. She knows she wasn’t., and since she’s pretty now she can laugh about being ugly then. She had that pointy gorilla head all newborns have and all first time parents are unprepared for. Add to that hair that was only there in patches, no eyebrows or eye lashes, and large birth marks on both eyes, and a piercing cry that just never ended and she looked nothing like the little cherub I had imagined. If you listen closely to the video that her daddy shot you’ll hear me whisper to my newborn, “Oh, sweetheart, it’s a good thing mommy and daddy love you.” I was expecting the Gerber Baby and got the Swamp Thing.

Ugly and loud with parent who were unprepared for the reality of her, and still she turned out alright.

Smart and funny, with a quick wit and and a ready laugh, a loyal friend, a patient daughter who tries to help her parents stay somewhat cool (she’s failing miserably). She is one of the best people I know. How cool is it that I get to be her mom?