Birthday Wishes

Eighteen years ago today I gave birth to our second child, a son. I was not a very good pregnant woman, all of those stories about glowing women who never get sick, umm not me! Think Medivac rides in a helicopter, and seriously high blood pressure! But with my second pregnancy I did a bit better and made it a little bit closer to my due date! It was an exciting time, wondering if he would be born on my father's birthday which was yesterday, or on my mother's birthday which is today! We've always said that on the east coast he was born on Mom's birthday and on the west coast it made it in time for Dad's birthday!

Because I was considered high risk from the get go, I had lots of sonograms and other tests. I remember Mr. Tide was out of town for one of the early sonograms and the radiologist asked me if I wanted to know the sex of the baby. Now you have to understand that Mr. Tide and I didn't find out the sex with our daughter and we agreed that we'd wait to find out again with our second child. But here's a little secret about me...I'm not very good at waiting for surprises. I was the kid that tore apart the whole house before Christmas looking for my presents and that trait has never really gone away with age!

So since Mr. Tide wasn't there, what would it hurt to find out if we were having a boy or a girl right? No harm, no foul, I would find out but then swear myself to secrecy I thought! The doctor assured me that it was a boy, and even though I doubted him, since we've all heard stories about the whole nursery being decorated in blue and along comes a baby girl instead of a boy, I did sort of believe it was true. I came out from my test and promptly blabbed "it's a boy!" to my father and then phoned Mr. Tide and said I know but I'll keep it a secret if you want me to. Of course he said no way, he wanted to know too so I told him!

I actually looked at the Dr. when he said it would be a son and said "A boy?! I can't be having a boy?!!!" He looked a little shocked and said "Why can't you have a boy?" to which I explained that I already knew about girls, heck I am a girl, and that I had lots of beautiful hand-me-down clothing for a girl! The Dr. smiled and said "Don't you know that little boys love their mothers way more than little girls do?!" I told him that I must have missed that chapter in the parenting book, but that I would hold him to his statement!

Now, 18 years later, I can't say that the doc's words were 100% true as both of my kids are loving and kind. But he was right that I would be fine raising a boy.

I was never really a girlie girl, but through my son I learned to love dinosaurs, trains, trucks and anything big or loud! I learned how to eat at a lunch table full of boys who do the most disgusting things with their food! I learned that it's ok for me to say I love you on the phone, and he'll say "you too" which is the same thing only much cooler when in the company of his friends. I learned that I can play online computer games filled with tanks, guns, and lightsabers and sometimes even kick his butt and not get mine kicked instead!

But what I learned most of all was that being a mom is what I was meant to be. It wasn't something I ever knew I could be, or even thought I would be good at, but I've loved every minute of it! The good times, the bad times, the happy times, the sad times, even the mad times! I wouldn't trade it for the world!

So today I want to wish my very special "Bugs" a very Happy Birthday! I know that the sweet boy I once cuddled and sang to, is now a man I am proud to call my son! I love you and wish only the best for you as you head out into the world where I know without a doubt that you will make a difference! Just remember what I've always told you...that you will always have a soft place to land and that whoever you choose to marry has to LOVE your momma! xoxo

Be sure to turn the volume up on your speakers before you watch the video!