Today marks a milestone for me....I am officially the mother of a teenager! Today is Lyndsay's 13th birthday. Lyns is in Arizona with her dad, as she always is on her birthday. We celebrate a month early, but when the big day comes, she is, of course, on my mind.
I was due with her on July 6, 1994. We were so excited to be parents and we tried everything to get Lyndsay to want to come out as the big day approached. I went for long walks in the mall, sat in a squatting position throughout the day, even painted the trim on our house, but because a week had gone by (and I was an inexperienced and more timid first-time mom), my doctor decided to induce. I remember very clearly waking up that morning to call the hospital and register. We hung up the phone and went back to sleep, thinking it would be hours before they called us with availability. Not so! Thirty minutes later, I was in the shower and shaving so we could hop in the truck and head over to the hospital. (First time moms feel the need to shave before giving birth.) I distinctly remember the combination of emotions that flooded through me as I walked down the corridor of Labor and Delivery. I actually had to do this and I couldn't go home till I did. Yikes.
As far as actual births go, it wasn't the best. There was an epidural that went awry, an episiotomy that later became infected, and a vacuum delivery. But I was so thrilled with the end result, and had nothing to compare it to, so I was ecstatic. At 9:14pm on July 13, 1994, I became a mother, though I look back at pictures and think I look like such a baby myself! I remember in the stillness of the night she was brought to me to nurse and as she and I gazed into each other's eyes, I couldn't believe my good fortune, and the love that swelled within me. I had this perfect, beautiful little girl. Beautiful from second one. Seriously. And she changed my life. She still does.
Happy Birthday, Sweet Lyns. You make a mother grateful.
6 comments:
Happy Birthday to The Pins!!!
A lovely tribute! You're such a great mom.
I keep forgetting that 'celebrate a month early' thing and only remember that she isn't gong to be home. Card is coming there anyway, so she gets a very long birthday.
She's a beautiful and amazing young person -- and of course, now she's made me the grandmother of a teenager.
Not possible. :o)
Sweet story. Thye grow so fast.
My oldest will be 13 on Aug 17, I too can recall the aprehensions of a 1st time Mom.
Thanks mom. I love you so much. You rock!
Sweet pictures and a great post that brought me down my own memory lane. I'm a year out from having a teenager, and I'm already freaking out. (HOW did this happen? I'm not that old! HE'S not that old!) I'm still trying to grasp it!
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