Today is my birthday! I love birthdays! I love my birthday!
I’m 33 today, get that out of the way so you’re not just wondering about it the rest of the time. I can remember being in high school and one of my Math teachers turned 30. I can remember thinking yikes his life is basically over. That thought cracks me up and constantly reminds me just how little we know – when we think we know it all!
At 4:16 pm we met. I don’t remember the day at all. My memory is formed by the snippets I’ve been blessed with throughout the years. It was snowing, hard. My Grandpa drove her to the hospital. My Dad was on the road, trying to make his way back. My Grandma was at work, finishing her lunch shift downtown. She’s told me it was a relatively uneventful experience. No horror stories, no complications. Just a new baby. I spent my first Christmas in the hospital. My Mom soaking up her time in the hospital for as long as they’d let her. She thought their food was delicious.
At 5 weeks she put peach oatmeal in a bottle for me. She needed me to start sleeping longer at night. It was time to go back to work. My 5 week old self was not having the peach oatmeal – I threw it up everywhere. My 33 year old self does not like peaches. Just sayin’. At 6 weeks, I was sleeping through the night. Also, just sayin’.
Soon after I was here we were on our own. She was divorced and a single-mama and we became a team. That’s her story, you’ll have to ask her if you want more to it. Fast forward a few years to another new baby. The baby I’m convinced explains so much of my personality traits. At 5 years old and a Kindergartner I got to go to school to tell my friends I had a new sister! I remember that.
She loves me regardless. She thinks I’m talented, smart, funny, and a really good Mom. She loves me even though I screwed up again and again. She loves me even though I didn’t smile one time in the morning during years 13 – 23 (only stopped after year 23 because I didn’t live with her anymore, now Babe deals with this.) She loves me even though I forget she was once a Mom to little people too. And that she’s been here before with the guilt and the worry and the fear and the pride and the lump in the throat. She loves me regardless.
I remember this too. The sweater, the hair, the guardian angel lapel pin… I remember it all.
And I still love her, regardless. More than my luggage.
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24 Responses to today she had a baby
Jen Has A Pen
Replied on: December 28, 2011, 10:45 PM
I didn’t know I missed your birthday! Idiot. Happy belated!!! And, I love the new header! Fancy.
Jamie
Replied on: December 28, 2011, 11:03 PM
Better late than never, I always say! I’m glad you like the new digs… the dust is settling and I’m just crossing my fingers that people make their way here!
Kelly
Replied on: December 23, 2011, 8:45 AM
Happy Birthday a day late! Apparently I missed the switch… I feel so left out! jk!
I just tagged you on my blog!
Merry Christmas!
Jamie
Replied on: December 26, 2011, 10:11 PM
I’m so glad you found me… still lots of kinks to work out and make sure I’m easy to find here!
Bridget
Replied on: December 23, 2011, 12:34 AM
Happy Birthday friend!! I hope you had an excellent day!!
Jamie
Replied on: December 26, 2011, 10:09 PM
Oh I did I did! Thank you!
Runnermom-jen
Replied on: December 22, 2011, 11:06 PM
Happy Birthday, Jamie!!
Love your new look over here
Jamie
Replied on: December 26, 2011, 10:09 PM
Thank Jen!
XLMIC
Replied on: December 22, 2011, 2:03 PM
What a sweet, sweet birthday post for yourself (and I’ll bet it makes your mom smile too!)
Happy Birthday to you!
Jamie
Replied on: December 26, 2011, 10:08 PM
Thank you!
Jill @ Mommy Inconsistent
Replied on: December 22, 2011, 1:51 PM
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I love the way you wrote this post. And I love the pic of you and mom and sis. It’s cool to see pics of my mom when she was about my age…and think of what she went through as a single mom, probably much like yours. Happy Day!
Jamie
Replied on: December 26, 2011, 10:08 PM
I so agree… to wonder what it was like for her and for us and how we all managed so wonderfully to get to where we are now.
So glad to see you here!
Greta @gfunkified
Replied on: December 22, 2011, 12:53 PM
Aw, sweet! Happy birthday to you, Jamie, and happy day of giving birth to your beautiful mama!
Jamie
Replied on: December 26, 2011, 10:07 PM
Thanks Greta!
Melinda
Replied on: December 22, 2011, 12:14 PM
p.s — love the mullet/perm/bangs look, FIERCEEEE.
Jamie
Replied on: December 26, 2011, 10:06 PM
tehehehehe
Melinda
Replied on: December 22, 2011, 12:13 PM
gotta love moms! happy birthday (again — I wonder how many places on the www i can wish u happy birthday!) xxx
Jamie
Replied on: December 26, 2011, 10:06 PM
I think you hit them all… love you!
Kim Pugliano
Replied on: December 22, 2011, 9:39 AM
Happy Happy Jamie!! Your story is so similar to many of ours. And look where it got us!!
Jamie
Replied on: December 26, 2011, 10:06 PM
Thank you… the world is better because of good Moms!
Kir
Replied on: December 22, 2011, 9:35 AM
HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY…!!!!!! *yea* cupcakes for everyone!!!!!
Jamie your blog looks AH-MAZING!!!!!!! and I am so happy for your on your birthday.
this is exactly what I wanted to do for my mom on my blog for my birthday (shhhhh, don’t tell her ok??? LOL)
I think this is perfect and lovely in every single way…(even more than my luggage, a true Steel Magnolia Fan like me. )
xoooox
Kir
Jamie
Replied on: December 26, 2011, 10:05 PM
I’ll keep your secret… I think I got the idea from someone else too!
Open your eyes Shelby!
Alison@Mama Wants This
Replied on: December 22, 2011, 8:45 AM
Happy Birthday Jamie!! Love the pictures too. Your Mom is beautiful.
Jamie
Replied on: December 26, 2011, 10:04 PM
She is, isn’t she! She looks the same today!