#birthdayfun

#yoshawtyitsmybirthday

That's right.  Today is the day of my birth.  I like to celebrate my birthdays.  I expect some fun and excitement to celebrate me!  Here's some fun ways I've celebrated my birthday throughout the years.  As Kool and the Gang sang: #celebrategoodtimescomeon

I had a roller skating party at Baytown Roller Rink.  #kidsinthe70s

Just quietly, all those people who spend lots and lots and LOTS of money on kids' parties, they aren't going to remember them.  The only birthday party I can remember having as a child is the roller skating party.  Or maybe my parents were cruel and didn't throw me parties.  #saveyourmoney

I was born on Father's Day.  Whenever Father's Day and my birthday land on the same day, it's extra special to me.  #daddysgirl

I've had several "traditions" for birthday cakes throughout the years - a mint chocolate chip Baskin Robbins ice cream cake, a big cookie from the Great American Cookie Company, and cheesecake.  #ilikecake

My college boyfriend organized a surprise birthday party at a favorite bar.  #ripbarracudabar

I had an adult sleepover.  We played games and ate gummy bears drenched in Vodka.  It was awesome.  #thosegummybearswereamazing

I saw Cher one year for my birthday.  I'm a 70s kid.  I loved The Sonny & Cher show.  #gypsiestrampsandthieves

One year, I spent the day in Portofino, Italy for my birthday. #nottooshabby

Another year, I went to visit one of my best friends who was living in Paris at the time.  My cousin came with me.  We were in Paris drinking wine for my birthday.  #prettytoughtobeat

Not the greatest picture, but it's the only one I have of the three of us from my birthday night!

For my 21st, the Rockets were in the NBA playoffs.  A group of friends gathered at my house to watch the game, have some drinks, then go out (to Hurricane Harry's).  The game was interrupted by an idiot threatening to kill himself while speeding down a California highway in a white bronco.  #ojdidit

For my 30th, I was living in California.  My mom, aunt, cousin, and three of her friends came to visit for my birthday. #californiaknowshowtoparty

For my 40th, I had two parties.  One in Australia; one in Texas.  In Texas, my favorite friend organized a Cowtown Cycle Party.  In Australia, we danced the night away at Club Retro.  Oh yea.  That friend grabbing my butt in the picture below.  She fell off the dance podium and broke her leg! #drinkinganddancingmaybehazardoustoyourhealth

One birthday, not so long ago, my guy and I ordered pizza, drank wine, and watched one of my all time favorite movies, The Outsiders.  It was pretty perfect. #staygold

It's my 42nd birthday.  Goodness gracious - twenty years ago, forty-two sounded ancient.  I feel like I'm only about thirty-two.  Numbers, schmumbers.  Who cares?  Let's celebrate another year of ME! #tellithoneybooboo #happybirthdaytome

Linking up for #hashtaghumpday and what a special hump day it is!

Early childhood

In honor of my birthday week, I'll share some moments from my early childhood.

If you missed my post about the day of my birth, read it; it's a good one.  My dad claimed I looked like the Gerber baby.  I'd say this is code for chubby; he'd say it's code for perfect.

I have an older brother. My mom liked to dress us in awesome clothes and get our pictures taken. On the back of this particular photo, my mom has written "My favorite".  That's pretty sweet, ain't it?

I liked to eat cake and ice cream. Who doesn't?  Notice the portions were rather large for a child my size.  I've always liked to eat.

Sometimes, life was overwhelming.  Like when your mom insists on taking pictures on a bright and sunny Easter morning and the sun keeps getting in your eyes.

My grandmothers liked to sew for me. Picture days required wearing one of those outfits.  I always felt pretty darn special wearing one of their outfits.  Does anybody wear handmade clothes anymore?

I'm from Texas. Every year we'd get all dressed up and go to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.  I was even in the Little Miss Rodeo pageants a couple of years.  I look thrilled to be there.

My dancing career began at age four.  I still love a night of dancing.

I had a pony. I got him for my birthday. His name was Bingo.

I had a short-lived softball career. My aunt was my first coach.  There are some funny stories about my aunt having to tell my mom (her sister) to sit down, shut up, let her coach, and let me play.

This first grader had no idea that her life would be filled with the experiences to come.  We all live with a few could have, should have, would have moments in our life.  It's good to stop, reflect, take notice, and appreciate the fullness of my life in the 42 years I've been fortunate enough to be here.

The day of my birth

It's my birthday week.  I used to really get excited about birthdays.  I hate to sound cliché, but as I've gotten older, I don't get as excited.  This week, I turn 42.  (gasp!)  That sounds so frickin' old. Let's go back to the beginning, shall we?

Let me tell you a little story................the day of my birth.

Obviously, I don't remember that day.  But, this story has been told throughout the years, so I'm pretty confident that I can relay it fairly accurately.

1973...Baytown, Texas...my parents lived in a duplex right next door to my dad's sister, my aunt Mary Kay, who happened to be a nurse.  In the middle of the night, my mom's water broke (or whatever happens to tell you a baby is coming.)  I've had no babies of my own, so when it comes to birthin' babies, I'm pretty ignorant.  Anyway.  My mom knew it was time to have me.  Mom & Dad went next door and got Mary Kay to ride to the hospital with them to help with Mom.  My dad had to concentrate on driving because it was heavily raining, or it had rained heavily, because I know flooding is a part of this story.  They had to go a longer route to the hospital.

They get to the hospital.  Mary Kay goes inside to say "my sister-in-law is here ready to have a baby".  As beaureaucratic organizations (like hospitals) go, questions started getting asked, time was a-tickin'.  Mary Kay tried to tell them "We don't have a lot of time.  She's ready to have this baby!".  Somehow my mom gets inside (I'm envisioning Dad with a wheelchair, but I don't know if that's exactly what happened).  The nurse asking questions tells Mary Kay to look under my mom's gown and tell her what she sees.  Why?  I don't know.  Mary Kay was a nurse, but not a baby-delivering nurse, so I don't know why she was the one to first see this...but Mary Kay reluctantly agreed to take a look at the region that her sister-in-law was about to birth a baby.  My foot was out.

Like I said, I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to childbirth, but I do know this: a foot is not the first thing you're supposed to see when a baby is to be born.

My mother claims that all she remembers from this point is throwing up on herself and passing out.  She had Mexican food for dinner the night before.  I'm sure this was a rather unpleasant scene.

Mom gets taken quickly (finally!) to the delivery room.  The cord was supposedly wrapped around my neck, and there was a scary moment or two, but that got resolved.  I have a birthmark on my forehead that is supposedly from the time I was stuck against the cervix with the cord around my neck.  Lovely.  I'm sure my mom was feeling wonderful around this time.

My birth certificate says that I was born with red hair and blue eyes, born at 4:04am on Sunday, June 17th.  It was Father's Day.  My dad likes to say I was the most beautiful baby he's ever seen.  You could say that I was a Daddy's Girl from the start.

My mother just groans and grumbles a lot when this story is told.  I don't blame her.  You could say I was trouble for my mother from the start.

My brother was 3 1/2 years old.  I've never once heard where my brother was during all of this.  One would presume he was asleep since it was the middle of the night when they went to the hospital.  I hope they didn't leave him home alone at the duplex.  Who knows?  Who cares?  This story was supposed to be about me!