Birthday Girl~

I remember it like it was last night. And I'm absolutely stunned it's already one year later. How did we already cram one year of life into these last few blinks of an eye? It's been so amazing, such a gift to be part of her world for not only her first year, but her first 21 months as I got to be lucky enough to experience the cycle from the moment The X's knew they'd be a mom and dad to #3! And I suspect the year has crept up on me like it did because of the tremendous way it started.

It was a cold dark February 27th and I was done with work for the day. It had been a crappy day and I was feeling cranky and irritated. As I packed up and headed to my car I did a very uncharacteristic thing. I turned off my cell phone--okay to silent, baby steps--and drove. And drove. I was in a mood and didn't want to speak with anybody about anything. Me being me, the phone was only absent from my aura for about an hour before I had to check in with reality.

5 missed calls! 5 missed calls from (a 9-months prego) Mrs X. I called her back as fast as humanly possible the whole time my mind racing with it'stimeit'stimeit'stime.... It was not time. It was a carmergency, hers being deaddeaddead in the parking lot of Costco with two little kids in their car-seats scared because it was cold and dark, and they knew mom couldn't fix this and make it better. At least not on her own. Oh and they were hungry. Figures. So I zipped over to Costco as fast as I could...(of course tonight had to be the night I was driving aimlessly taking me further from my own hood than I routinely go.) And in my maniac attempt to get there faster I take a short cut. Go on universe, laugh away.

RIIINNNNGGGG. As I'm recklessly driving my cell phone rings again and it's the man who's delivering my new $50 couch--hello buddy, today is Tuesday, Tuesday!! Remember when we set up the couch delivery for Wednesday! That's right, I do. Today is not that day, and what do you mean you are sitting in the parking lot of my apartment right now? Shit. Shit. I'll be there as soon as I can.

Costco. Check. Black Denali. Check. Swap car-seats into my car. Check. Grab kids. Check. Drive to apartment fast fast fast. Check. Hello delivery man--what do you mean, help you haul this couch up to my third floor apartment with these two kids in tow?!? Are you crazy, there was supposed to be two of you doing this, thus half of the appeal of the $50 couch with free delivery. Fuck this is heavy. Why did I choose the third floor? And no there is no room to really put this thing once I get it up here as that's what I was planning to do tonight, the night before you were supposed to be here. Fuck. Just set it anywhere I've got kids to feed man.

Rotisserie Chicken. Check. Greenbeans. Check. Jello. Check. Quite a dinner, but I was impressed on such short notice I had anything to feed anyone, let alone these kids. Fed kids. Check. RIIINNNGGGGG. Mom got a ride home. Car's future unknown. Kids can come home now. Pack up, head out. Driving again....wait, what's that. Is that a truck off the side of the road? This doesn't look like some highschoolers getting lucky or hot-boxin. This doesn't look like the truck went there on purpose. Shit. Shit. Shit.

9-1-1. Hello, yeah, I think I've just driven by an accident. No I didn't stop. Well, because I've already had a hell of a day, I've got these two kids here, and oh yeah, I pass out at the sight of blood/carnage. Can you just send someone to check it out? Okay. Well you don't know that street...Between Argonne and Market, right off market under the train bridge, stop at headlights in the woods.

Drop kids off. Drive home. What is that ambulance, firetrucks, cops.... Yes, it was an accident. Crazy. Get home. Sit on new couch. Breathe. Realize you only got off work 3 hours ago, and hell it's been quite a day. Breathe. Time for bed.

RIIIINNGGGG. Check clock. 1:27 am. IT'STIMEIT'STIMEIT'STIME. Think. Answer phone. Water broke. It'stimeit'stimeit'stime. Get clothes. Get in car. Shit, it's snowing!! The drive to Mrs. X's was insane and I remember nothing except feeling butterflies and knowing today was the day we'd be welcoming a new life. And that holy crap it's snowing and I'm driving way faster than I normally do in this kind of weather. Mr. X isn't even home, he's still working and wait, he's going to miss this. Mrs. X doesn't even have a car....she can't possibly be driving herself in my car...is she driving herself? I begin to panic....

Mrs X is very calm and had actually been on the treadmill at 1 am just doing a little walking when oh did I just pee my pants all over this treadmill or is it time to have a baby? She is never calm in real life and now before she's about to push a child out of her body it's rhythmic breathing and happy thoughts. Go figure. Her ride is on the way.

I couldn't sleep I was so excited. So excited I got to be the one to tell a sleepy J and N when they woke that "It was time! Mommy is at the hospital and she's going to have the baby" and get to see their faces when it clicked in for them. And I got to do all those really special things like clean house in preparation of baby, bake muffins to have on hand, shovel all the damn snow that fell last night in preparation of all the guests that will be arriving.

RRRRIIIINNNGGGG. At 11:37 am I received a text message. A pix message. With a screaming baby girl looking at me. My heart just melted. And it's never been the same.

Laurynn and I are BFF for sure. In those first early months I got to hold her and change her tiny little diapers and just love on her. And now that's she so grown up we've brough our friendship to a whole new level. Aside from her mother, and occasionally her father, she loves me. When I walk in the door each morning she comes scooting over to me, stands up and pulls at my hands until I pick her up. Everytime she comes down to the office she makes a beeline to see me and crawl all over me and occastionally give me one of her little incredible hugs.

That heart melting thing...oh it's still going on strong :)