Happy Birthday
My precious first baby turned eight today. I remember her birth so well with all of the newness of if written on my heart and body. I woke up at 5am to go to the bathroom and felt a little gush so I called the doctor and she said to come in. I took a shower and got to the hospital at 6am. I remember when they finished breaking my water for me and what a strange sensation that was, and how relaxed I was because I had an epidural. I was so numb though that even my fingers were tingling and it completely freaked me out so I had them dial the medicine down. My husband was reading the Reader's Digest to me but I was so tired and struggled to stay awake and listen (even though later I found out he was trying to help me go to sleep).
Because I was so numb, it was really hard to push and it took about 2 hours before the doctor threatened to suction my baby out. A quick two pushes later, she was out at 2:04 p.m. on a beautiful summer Sunday afternoon, She needed some immediate attention but everything got taken care of and I remember holding her for the first time and being so amazed that I was a mom.
On her first birthday we were at a family reunion at Aspen Grove, a family camp in Utah. She was surrounded by my entire family, including four aunts, three uncles, 16 cousins, two grandparents and us. It was so special and I remember getting emotional while we were all singing her happy birthday. She enjoyed her few presents and chose to smear the frosting all over the table rather than eat much cake.
On her second birthday we spent the day at the Baltimore Aquarium with some of our closest friends. My daughter is very social and at 2 she already had a best friend, a sweet little boy in her class at church. They spent the day holding hands and running through the aquarium and then we had dinner at the Cheesecake Factory and it was the beginning of having a family fun adventure to celebrate a birthday.
For her third birthday we spent the day at the National Zoo with two of her best friends and their moms. I remember it being hot but we enjoyed seeing the animals and eating cupcakes and having a fun adventure. Then we had a birthday party at a splash park, which I remember loving. We got pizza and I made ice cream cake and most of our friends were there. I love watching my daughter interact with her peers and spending time with my friends too. It had threatened to rain but it held off and it was a fun party.
On her fourth birthday she and I and my dad spent the day in D.C. touring the Capitol and the Library of Congress. I remember it being hot but fun to do something new. We had her favorite dinner that night and then a few days later we had a pool party. We had sub sandwiches and a fancy store-made princess cake that my mom got her and it was a great time.
Her fifth birthday was when we took her to her first movie at the movie theater. She was so excited to have popcorn and sprite and see something on the big screen. It was Planes and I held her sleeping baby sister throughout the movie but I often looked over to see her reaction to the volume or the action. We had another pool party that year and this time we walked our grill down to the pool and had a fun dinner with all of our friends. I love that her friends are pretty much the children of my friends so it is fun to get everyone together.
For six she decided to go on a family adventure instead of a party with friends. We drove up to Dutch Wonderland, an amusement park for kids 3-12, and spent an evening and a whole other day there. She loves staying in hotels and eating out and the park was perfect for our kids, who are kind of wimpy on rides. It was so great to do something new and different and our whole family had a great time. It is this kind of family time that really brings such joy and builds memories and a family culture. We had some friends over for cake and ice cream on her actual birthday, which was on a Sunday.
Her seventh birthday celebration started early. On the Saturday before we took a few of her closest friends to a nearby water park for the day. I think in her mind it blended her desire for a day adventure with the ability to spend time with friends. My kids all love to swim and it is a smaller park that they really enjoy but it wasn't too hard to keep track of everyone. It was a beautiful and fun day. Then a few days later on her actual birthday we invited a bunch of friends to meet us at the park for brownies and to play. It was hot and so while lots of friends came, no one stayed too long. It was fun to see everyone though. Then we got lunch at Dairy Queen and she played with a friend all afternoon until it was time for her favorite dinner and presents. We try to take it easy on gifts since we would rather do something fun to celebrate and I think it has worked out well.
Today we repeated the fun of last year. We took a few of her friends and spent the day at the same water park. It was another beautiful day and I think even more fun than last year because they are a year older and even better swimmers and it was more relaxing. An exciting part of her birthday this year will be her baptism into our church, which can happen once you are eight, so I am very excited about that happening on Sunday. It will be another time to celebrate the wonderful girl that she is and her good choices and desires.
My heart is full this evening with the joy of being a mother, especially to such a wonderful daughter. She is smart, kind, helpful, funny, and sweet. I enjoy being around her and am grateful to have her in my life. We've had a few rough patches and she has tested me and challenged me on occasion but she is a miracle to me and after years of wanting a child so badly, I couldn't have asked for a better way to start our family. Happy birth day to my darling daughter. It certainly was a happy day and continues to be one for me.
On her first birthday we were at a family reunion at Aspen Grove, a family camp in Utah. She was surrounded by my entire family, including four aunts, three uncles, 16 cousins, two grandparents and us. It was so special and I remember getting emotional while we were all singing her happy birthday. She enjoyed her few presents and chose to smear the frosting all over the table rather than eat much cake.
On her second birthday we spent the day at the Baltimore Aquarium with some of our closest friends. My daughter is very social and at 2 she already had a best friend, a sweet little boy in her class at church. They spent the day holding hands and running through the aquarium and then we had dinner at the Cheesecake Factory and it was the beginning of having a family fun adventure to celebrate a birthday.
For her third birthday we spent the day at the National Zoo with two of her best friends and their moms. I remember it being hot but we enjoyed seeing the animals and eating cupcakes and having a fun adventure. Then we had a birthday party at a splash park, which I remember loving. We got pizza and I made ice cream cake and most of our friends were there. I love watching my daughter interact with her peers and spending time with my friends too. It had threatened to rain but it held off and it was a fun party.
On her fourth birthday she and I and my dad spent the day in D.C. touring the Capitol and the Library of Congress. I remember it being hot but fun to do something new. We had her favorite dinner that night and then a few days later we had a pool party. We had sub sandwiches and a fancy store-made princess cake that my mom got her and it was a great time.
For six she decided to go on a family adventure instead of a party with friends. We drove up to Dutch Wonderland, an amusement park for kids 3-12, and spent an evening and a whole other day there. She loves staying in hotels and eating out and the park was perfect for our kids, who are kind of wimpy on rides. It was so great to do something new and different and our whole family had a great time. It is this kind of family time that really brings such joy and builds memories and a family culture. We had some friends over for cake and ice cream on her actual birthday, which was on a Sunday.
Her seventh birthday celebration started early. On the Saturday before we took a few of her closest friends to a nearby water park for the day. I think in her mind it blended her desire for a day adventure with the ability to spend time with friends. My kids all love to swim and it is a smaller park that they really enjoy but it wasn't too hard to keep track of everyone. It was a beautiful and fun day. Then a few days later on her actual birthday we invited a bunch of friends to meet us at the park for brownies and to play. It was hot and so while lots of friends came, no one stayed too long. It was fun to see everyone though. Then we got lunch at Dairy Queen and she played with a friend all afternoon until it was time for her favorite dinner and presents. We try to take it easy on gifts since we would rather do something fun to celebrate and I think it has worked out well.Today we repeated the fun of last year. We took a few of her friends and spent the day at the same water park. It was another beautiful day and I think even more fun than last year because they are a year older and even better swimmers and it was more relaxing. An exciting part of her birthday this year will be her baptism into our church, which can happen once you are eight, so I am very excited about that happening on Sunday. It will be another time to celebrate the wonderful girl that she is and her good choices and desires.
My heart is full this evening with the joy of being a mother, especially to such a wonderful daughter. She is smart, kind, helpful, funny, and sweet. I enjoy being around her and am grateful to have her in my life. We've had a few rough patches and she has tested me and challenged me on occasion but she is a miracle to me and after years of wanting a child so badly, I couldn't have asked for a better way to start our family. Happy birth day to my darling daughter. It certainly was a happy day and continues to be one for me.
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