Birthdays — A Southern Fairytale

Eight

12:05 AM ByRachelFiled UnderBirthdays, Princess

“Mom, Can you believe I’m going to be Eight?”

“No, no my darling girl — I can’t”

Wasn’t this just yesterday?

So much has changed, So much still the same.

The moment you saw the ocean, it was true love. You were a water baby,

and now you’re a Boogie Boardin’ Diva.

Even from the first, you’ve been much more fashionable than I ever was.

nov 18 2005

I’m so glad that hasn’t changed, your fashion sense makes me so happy.

I love how you’ve always marched to the beat of your own drum

nov 18 2006

How from day one you have been strong and confident in who you are.

You are independent and fearless.

Fun loving and silly, you love life and all that it has to offer.

You are your brother’s favorite person

Your Daddy’s little angel

and my … my favorite playmate, the one who made me a Mama. You are my heart and soul in a smart, funny, beautiful, wonderful, blue eyed, freckle faced package.

I am so blessed to be your mother.

There will be times that I will yell at you, there will be times when we won’t like each other very much, there will be times we both say things we don’t mean, but there will never be a time that you are not loved, a time you are not cherished, a time where I am anything but thankful for you.

I have always known and understood love. Your Daddy showed me a different kind of love, but you, you my amazing, wonderful daughter, you have taught me a love like no other.
You are borne of my body, my heart, my soul and my mind and you opened up a place in me that I didn’t know even existed.

You are smart, funny, strong, beautiful, compassionate, silly, confident, loving, temperamental, friendly, energetic, inquisitive, vibrant, frustrating, head strong, lively, independent, fearless and amazing.

I pray that at 18, 28, 38, 58, 78, .. you retain all of these qualities.

I will do my best to stand back and allow you to live, fall, experience, fail and triumph. I will try to never stand in your way, to allow you to stumble and fall because the biggest disservice I can do you would be to never let you fail. That being said, I promise that I will always and forever be there to pick you back up, kiss away the tears, whisper I love you and nudge you back towards the right path.

Happy 8th Birthday to the one who changed everything.

I love you.

16 Comments

Happy Birthday, Becca Jane

3:45 AM ByRachelFiled UnderBeBe, Birthdays

My mom is an amazing woman. She is strong, beautiful, funny, passionate, loving, smart and the original Southern Belle.

Happy Birthday Momma.

My Mom on her First Birthday

My mom making it to her first birthday was a miracle. This picture, is a miracle.
My mom was born in mumblefiftymumblesomethingmumble. She was born with brain tumors. She survived the surgery. She survived terrible asthma and lived to thrive and take that picture. That picture up there. A powerful tribute and precious memento, a tribute to her strength and a precious memento for her mother, my Granny.

Tackling the first of many obstacles in her life

This picture is adorable to me because it reminds me not only of Princess learning to navigate stairs at your house, but because it represents to me the many obstacles you have overcome in your life with a sweet smile, grace and a sense of humor.
I don’t need to list them here.
You are powerful and strong beyond your own understanding.
I am proud of you.

Thank you for helping me to learn how to overcome my own obstacles with grace, strength and compassion. Thank you for dorm rooms, first apartments, margaritas, being there for my ADPi initiation, thank you for late night cries, for caring enough to interrogate Nathan to make sure he was good enough for your little girl. Thank you for the bachelorette party, the orgasm talks, the shopping trips but most of all, thank you for believing in me.

Mom, you are a beautiful, strong, loving, passionate, graceful, funny, smart, loving and wonderful woman.
You have taught me much in life and I am blessed by you.
I wish we could be there with you today but I know that Dad will make this day wonderful for you.

You are Princess’ favorite person and playmate.
You are my first and most special best friend and playmate.
You are more than I have words to describe.

Thank you for helping me to learn Grace, Humility, Love, Compassion, Strength, Independence, Grammar, Power, Respect and so much more.

You are my mother and my friend and I love you beyond measure.

Happy Birthday Bebe.
If it ain’t messy, you ain’t havin’ fun.

Happy Birthday Wishes and Big Kisses,
from your little girl

Happy Birthday Momma.

All our love.

Rachel, Nathan, Princess and Monkey

5 Comments

Happy Birthday, Monkey

12:26 PM ByRachelFiled UnderBirthdays, Monkey

Five years ago – 9:36 PM I sat in a hospital room waiting on your dad to get back with some food.

I sat in a hospital bed with my fingers tracing lazy circles over my stomach, over you. I tickled and pushed and watched you push back. I talked to you and dreamed of you. I shared dreams and hopes and wishes with you, whispering and imagining.

12:26 PM on September 20th, 2006 – our family became complete.

Sept 20th, 2006 at about 3:26 PM

Monkey, 2 hours old

The moment you were in my arms, I knew - you were what we’d been waiting for. Our family was complete, my heart full, every piece in place.

September 30th, 2006 – 10 Days Old. Our Family

You bring such joy to our lives

(age 3)
big-boy

you make us laugh

You take my breath away

You scare the hell out of us

You are fearless

You are loving
Science Camp Day 3 sweet pic

You are a gift.

You’re a devilishly brilliant perfect combination of your Daddy and Me and you’re designed to enchant us and drive us bananas.

You’re sweet and cuddly and snarly and prickly.

You have the biggest heart and the attitude to match it.

You give hugs and kisses as freely as you climb the walls of our house and send my heart racing.

Every. single. one of your joys, I feel in my soul.

Every. single. pain, bump, bruise, scar, knock and heartache (Of which you are the king of all) I feel times 1,000.