Friday, September 16, 2011

ON FUN ~ Birthday Stretch...


I woke up this morning looking much like my little Sammy up there - scrunched and squirmy, looking to stretch out and pry one eye open at a time to grudgingly meet the day. Of course, the reason I was so grumpy was because it was far too early for this Bumble to be getting up but right on time for baby Bumble. But my waking up process was made better by the fact that Andy greeted me with birthday wishes, reminding me that today wasn't just another day.

Today I turn 41. Some days it feels like old lady territory. Other days it feels no different than my 20's. For me, age is truly just a number because age is relative. Old to me may be young to you. Or vice versa. Ask any kid to describe their twenty-something teacher and they'll say that they are super old. I might think that little old lady at the grocery store is nearing the end of the line but she considers herself a spring chicken compared to her poor old fogey friends she visits stuck in the nursing home.

I don't have time to feel out my age. I have to blog standing up for God's sake because it is impossible to sit down with a baby strapped to your chest in a carrier. Are those sore joints and back pains I feel stabbing at me because of toting sweet Sammy around all day in my arms or because that's just what happens in your 40's? Like I said, I don't have time to figure that out. He keeps me busy and active and that keeps me young.

I may not feel young when I bend over to hoist him onto my shoulder for a burp or a snuggle, but how old I am is the last thing I'm thinking about at that moment. I'm thinking about how little he is and how he's growing up too fast. Doesn't he know to take it slow and savor everything? That another day in the world is a blessing to be appreciated? That he shouldn't rush things? Before you know it, he'll be old like me.

I'm going to celebrate another year of my life by cracking open a cold one tonight and most likely promptly falling asleep on the couch before 9:00. But that lack of energy isn't because I'm old. It's because newborns suck the life out of you. The best gift will be Andy getting up in the middle of the night to feed Sammy. But then of course I'd miss looking into that baby's sweet face and being enveloped in love. Guess I'll scrunch up my face, pry open my eyes, stretch and drag these old bones out of bed after all.

15 comments:

rhapsodyinbooks said...

Have a wonderful birthday - and what a great present you got for yourself this year! (one that lasts a lifetime) :--)

Janet said...

Happy Birthday, Molly :-)

I {heart} Rhody said...

Happy birthday, and happy first birthday as a mom!

Julie said...

Happy birthday!!!!

soleil said...

happy happy birthday, lady!!!

Margot said...

Happy birthday a day late. I hope it was a good one. I agree with Jill - you (and Andy) gave yourself the most wonderful gift this year. I love his look in the picture above. He will be a gift the rest of your life - except for a few of those days when he's fourteen - but I won't talk about that now.

The Gal Herself said...

Happy birthday! I suspect you're very right about babies "sucking the life out of you." If you were 26, I bet motherhood would be just as exhausting. And I love little Sammy's long, long legs!

Lin said...

Happy Birthday, Molly! I hope that little guy cooperates with your birthday and doesn't wake you up all night or anything crazy like that.

We used to have the 1 AM Rule. Anything before 1 AM was Joe's duty to take care of. Anything after was mine. You should have seen how fast we'd jump up to look at the clock at the first peep. Oh, those were long days. Don't worry--they go fast. Too fast.

Kaye said...

A belated happy birthday. I love the photo of Sammy stretching. That is one precious pic!

Now I feel old realizing you are several years younger than my kids. * groan* :)

Unknown said...

I'm late to the party but my Birthday wishes are sincere! I wish you an Happy Belated Birthday and a Terrific 41st Year!

As your elderly friend (43) the 40 are great...of course you know that since you had Sammy at 40, one a great idea!

I hope you had fun on Friday and enjoyed yourself no matter what you did!
Great photo, too!

Kathleen said...

Happy Birthday Molly and glad you are enjoying that precious little boy of yours so much! They do grow up much too fast so hold tight and enjoy every moment with him.

Anonymous said...

I totally suck that I'm just getting here. I hope you had a great birthday. Newborns do suck the life out of you and my back has never ached like it does now. I've never carried Gage in a carrier, so my shoulders and elbows ache too :)
He is absolutely gorgeous, but you don't need anyone to tell you that. I don't have time to feel old either, but I do have time to realize that I will never accomplish everything that needs done. And, well, I guess that makes me feel a little old ;)
Seriously bummed that I missed your BD.

Tami said...

Happy Birthday! Sorry I'm a little late, but my blogging life has been a little scarce lately. And I don't even have a beautiful baby to excuse me. And on that subject - Congratulations. Hadn't gotten around to telling you that either. I was so surprised and excited to hear your announcement. As a couple who dealt with infertility and the possibility of not having children, we were thrilled for you and proud of your positive attitude towards the maybe/maybe not of having children.

Blessings to the three of you - and hope 41 is a wonderful year!

Jenny Girl said...

Happy Belated birthday!!!
I like to think age is a state of mind. Yes the body gets hurty as it spend more time on this earth, but it's your mind and state of being or attitude that are most important. Now you have Sammy to keep you on your toes :) Hope your day was special.

Sandy Nawrot said...

I was just looking through older posts and saw that I had missed this one when I was in Charleston! And your birthday post to boot! Shame on me. I hope you had a wonderful birthday. And just remember, you will always be younger than me!