My favorite birthday isn’t my own. It’s my daughter’s. That was the day she came into my arms, a red, rooting, stretching, bleating bundle of joy. Her birthday will always be MY best day. I thought I was ready for this: I had written a novel. I’d earned a master’s degree. I had a successful teaching career. But nothing–NOTHING–could compare to THIS:
I birthed that baby the way I did everything else–fast, cluelessly and over-achieving. I worked a full day at school, came home and detailed the car by hand, had a multi-course frozen entree (yes, frozen, I’m not SuperWoman)Â of sole meuniere, duchess potatoes, chocolate cake (why do I remember this?). This was the “nesting impulse” they warned my about in childbirth class, but I didn’t realize that until the undigested dinner erupted in every direction a few hours later (sorry about that visual). No anesthetics (yes, I was that stupid). 30 seconds of pushing. (Because, no anesthetics, remember?) and BOOM. A lovely round-headed daughter whose birth weight was the same as my own.
She rearranged my heart. She became my living doll…
my playmate…
my best friend…
my pride and joy…
^^^ same picture, 2 decades apart ^^^
my confidante…
Park City family time
my co-writer…
 
my world.
And today, she is still my biggest, best and brightest achievement.
Happy Birthday, Elizabeth!
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12 Responses
Tearfully heartfelt! So lovely to read, great photographs too. Happy day to you both! xoxo
Tearfully heartfelt! So lovely to read, great photographs too. Happy day to you both! xoxo
Love the pictures. Happy Birthday Elizabeth!
Love the pictures. Happy Birthday Elizabeth!
Absolutely the best kind of birthday gift and one you will enjoy for years to come! Happy Birthday!
Absolutely the best kind of birthday gift and one you will enjoy for years to come! Happy Birthday!
I’ve always said my children are my greatest assets, Every time I mentioned this fact to my friends, they laughed at me for saying it. I’ve come to realize that either they never had children or something was seriously wrong with the relationships they had with their children! I am thankful for my daughter and son–and the relationship we have had and still have. Happy BIRTH day to both of you.
I’ve always said my children are my greatest assets, Every time I mentioned this fact to my friends, they laughed at me for saying it. I’ve come to realize that either they never had children or something was seriously wrong with the relationships they had with their children! I am thankful for my daughter and son–and the relationship we have had and still have. Happy BIRTH day to both of you.
Loved this!
Loved this!
Beautiful! Thanks for sharing.
Beautiful! Thanks for sharing.