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Photo Credit: Children's Museum of Pittsburgh (my daughter's first advertisement)
May you always be wise
May you never be sad
May each year be the best you've
ever had
May you have abundant love
May you never know sorrow
May you lay down each night hoping
for tomorrow
May you always feel young
May you appreciate your age
And at the end of your life
may you wish to do it the same
again.
Chatón Timmel ©2005
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From the Moment I Met Her, I Have Been in Love
Today is my daughter's eighth birthday. Of course, the day
that she was born is forever etched on my brain. I remember calling the
hospital believing that it was "time". I remember the physician
telling me to wait until my water had broker to come in and feeling like a
failure. I thought, "I must not be saying the right words because I know
that this baby is coming!". A couple of hours later my water broke and I
was allowed to go to the hospital. I endured eight hours of unmedicated
labor at the hospital and remember thinking, why was I in a rush to get here
again?!
Then came time for the pushing. I failed again. I was
supposed to hold my own legs open and never really figured out how to do that.
So, my husband held them open for me. My sister, in her supportive,
effervescent fashion decided to chant cheers from our GCHS days because she
mistook the physician’s instruction to “be my cheerleader” quite literally.
And then, after 20-30 minutes of pushing, confusion and
cheering, out came the most beautiful baby to ever grace this
earth. And it confirmed what I always knew, I had been carrying a
girl! I’ll never forget how I felt when I first saw her. It was a combination
of relief and joy!
Being Her Mother Is a Daunting Task That I am
Ready For
Since that day, I have taken my charge to be her mother
seriously. I have loved her, protected her, cared for her, and prayed for her.
I have tried to take all of the goodness that lies in me and to pour it into
her. I have tried to help her discover her own talents while directing her
through learning the mundane yet mandatory things that make up this life. I
have admired her strength, wit and spunk. And this past year, I have watched
her become more of herself.
This past year, she had a few highlights. She performed in
her first ballet performance, learned how to ride a bike, and became a big
sister for the second time. And what a good big sister she is! Of course, she
teases the middle child. It’s kind of her job. Still, the patience
and caring she bestows on the baby belies her years.
I am so impressed by who she is and who she is becoming. And I cannot wait to experience what is in store. Here's to 8!!!
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