HAPPY BIRTHDAY Dear Daughter!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR DAUGHTER!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!!

I Love You, Mommy

Thursday Thirteen -

Thirteen things I'd do for DD's birthday if she wasn't turning the BIG blank-0 ...

1. plait her hair


2. put day of the week barrette's on the ends of the plaits


3. buy her two scoops of Baskin Robbins' Cookies 'n Cream ice cream


4. read with her in the bed


5. brush her hair from her face - ( the plaits always untwist)


6. have a "movie mania" day ( that's when I'd let her and her brother watch movies until their eyes popped out...okay maybe just two or three in a row)


7. have her friends over and watch her interact with them


8. cook with her


9. dream out loud


10. have a family room picnic with shrimp and scallops


11. eat out


12. stay up talking and doing needlework together


13. tell her "I love you"; "I miss you when you're away"; "I'm so very proud of you!"

hmmm...looks like some of this I can do even if she is turning the big blank-0...

so do you think she'd wear the barrettes? (LOL)

Happy Birthday DD!!!!!! - Love Mommy

Birthday minus 2

DD's birthday minus 5 - take 2

I enjoy watching my DD negotiate her life. She is beautiful, capable and strong and I really appreciate how well she speaks up. "Speaking up" is really important to me for all kinds of reasons and I mention it here and now because she didn't always. She used to shut down. She used to hold it in. ...especially if she had a different opinion than mine or if she was angry with me. I didn't want her to be like that. Not with me ...not with anyone. I wanted her to express her opinion especially in opposition with others and I wanted her to also learn to express herself well when she was angry.
It was not the easiest lesson for me to teach. Sometimes when she was angry with me I was also angry with her...not necessarily the best environment to create lesson plans! But I figured working it out with me at lleast was the "safer" environment if not the most conducive environment because I love her and have always wanted the best- better than the best- for her!So I made a point to encourage her to speak up and to stand up for herself and for her thoughts and opinions.

and now what do we have? Through a combination of DD's experiences, her own skills, her personality (and a little loving push from her mom) and we have an awesome, strong, articulate woman in any circumstance (and with any emotion!)

Happy (five days before your) Birthday!! ...I am so proud!

DD's Birthday minus 5

It is about five days before my DD's birtday. I hope to complete five entries as birthday reflections for us both.

On her birthday DD will be the big blank -O this year. she mentioned it with some wonder and bemusement the last time I saw her. I was listening but inside I was in some stunned state wondering "when did I get to be the mom of a blank year old?! ARGGH!!"


Of course I am aware of and have been present for many of her major life events.

I have been there through it all...but still I want to know...when did it all happen? I can see that she is different than when she was born. I can even see that her children are different than when they were born (even though it's only been a few months --no wait!--yikes-- years?-- oh no! )

But for the record let me say that truly I don't feel any different. I mean yes... I have to take 3 pills daily that I wasn't taking before...and yes there are more pounds between the size I want to be and the size I am than ever before... and yes the thought of sharing my space with pet or person makes me shudder..and yes (pitiably) - I dream and scheme for ways to get blissful sleep rather than bold adventures...but no, NO I, (me, myself and I) am not different.

well sort of... but not really...okay wait, this started out as a birthday wish/entry for my DD.
let's see ...sigh...I can't remember what I wanted to write...sigh ... I guess that's different.