Tired and happy

It's been ten years since I pushed my round-headed, broad-shouldered, silky-haired girl into the midwive's hands and let out a loud gasp of relief and joy.

My son's birth had been a bit of a drama. Without warning I'd gone into labor almost two months early and delivered a baby that immediately had to leave my arms and go to intensive care.  This made the quiet aftermath of my daughter's birth even more satisfying.

We locked eyes immediately, and she knew I belonged to her and she belonged to me. We held that gaze for the longest time. When I put her to my breast, her little rosebud mouth did a perfect latch and we were on our way to 18 months of nursing.  Unlike her brother, there was no pumping, no feeding tubes, no brain scans, no worries. Unfortunately, there were lots of stitches--it took me a really long time to recover physically from her birth.

Today she's one of the biggest kids in her fourth grade class. Fair-haired and blue-eyed, her delicate coloring denies that she has a drop of Italian blood in her. She's built exactly like her father, but oh my, when she opens her mouth and talks, she's entirely her mother's daughter. Animated, funny, and with a quick wit, she's also a thinker, planner, and academic all star with a tender heart. We look at her and think she got the best our DNA has to offer.

The last week has been a whirlwind for me, getting ready for her birthday, cleaning the house, and handling all the usual school and extracurricular activities solo. E arrived in from the States early this morning after nine days of traveling, and this afternoon I led a group of bubbly girls in a scapbooking workshop before serving up ice cream and home made cake. When the last kid was picked up and the party was officially over, I took a long walk and then flopped on the sofa.

Ten years after working hard to bring my girl into the world, I'm once again exhausted, happy, and blessed by her presence. A day to celebrate that some things about being a mother never change.  

September 30, 2007

Comments

[Nance]

I'm glad to hear you continue to enjoy your daughter. I've never longed for a child of my sex; I've been thrilled to have boys--relieved, in fact, to have been spared Barbies and pink and snottiness and periods and all the other female stuff that we haul along with us. (Not that my boys have been totally immune to the snarkfest here and there.)

Did anyone, perhaps, give her a pair of tartan pumps for her birthday? LOL. Maybe in a few years...

[Shirley]

She sounds like a delight. I can identify with the feelings of relief and satisfaction after a successful birthday party. Bet they all loved the scrapbooking workshop and your daughter thinks you rock for leading it!

[Char]

We spent the day doing the same thing. Miss M turned 9 last week and we had her party at the house yesterday. 15 girls, make your own pizzas and sundaes, run around the yard and play games, perfect weather, all around great day kind of fun.

[Expat-CIT]

Isn't it amazing to watch a daughter grow? Your darling girl sounds like she brings you so much joy. Although mine is only 3, it seems she comes more and more into her own every day. I love watching the nuances of her personality develop. Here's to many more years of "girl time".

[wendy]

ok, now you are freaking me out....I too, had a Stamping party for Rach...but I think she was 11!

Happy bithday! To the both of you.

[Tera]

Happy Birthday E-Grrl! And Congratulations Mom!

[Amber]

A scrapbooking party?! Oh, how FUN!! I will have to remember that.

How lucky she is to have you.

Happy Birthday to her!

:)

[furiousBall]

I won't be with my daughter for the first time in her four years on this planet and I am extremely jealous of your time you have with your little angel. I am very happy that you know how lucky you are to see your kids every day.

[V-Grrrl]

fB,

My heart's aching for you. So sorry, V-Man.

[TB]

A belated happy birthday to E. What a gift that she'll be able to read this some day.