Happy Birthday to The Moo

Today is my daughter's birthday.
She is the 4th child, the 3rd daughter, and it is her 5th birthday.
It is so hard for me to say that. Why? Because I pretty much have ignored all her birthdays and told myself it didn't matter how old she was, she was still the baby. She is a big sister now, and she can make herself a (disgusting) sandwich (mayo, pickles, peanut butter, cheese, anyone?) and I guess I have deluded myself for long enough. She is really 5. Shit is getting real as I type.


My pregnancy with her was pretty easy, other than getting fat and miserable ,the hitch was I had a previous c section so my major point of stress was if I would have a normal enough pregnancy that I could have her the Ina May Gaskin way.

Since everything was fine, I had no problem getting the birth that I wanted.. except for the part where I labored for a week, went from a 6 to a 10cm over the course of 3 days, and stayed at a 10 for 3 hours before I suggested putting some pancakes near my cooter and maybe the promise of food would lure her out. Much like they do with salt and tapeworms.

Eventually, she "got born" and soon after I realized she was different than the babies I had previously materialized. For one thing, I had to actually swaddle. I had done this once or twice with the other kids, but never really had to. She was crying enough that the nurses came in and asked if it was my first child. Then the nurse wrapped her like a burrito, and gave me a "duh you dumbshit" look and handed her back to me. I figured maybe she had birth trauma or something and would eventually grow accustomed to my constant love and attention and would not have need or desire to voice such crazy demands as if I were ignoring her or something.Months after her birth I realized that the whole birth trauma excuse was bullshit and she is just how she is (see also:demanding, mood swings, bossy as fuck, and gloriously wonderful) and even now, 5 years later, we are quite aware of her presence, her wants, her needs, her opinions, her dreams, her capabilities and every song she has ever liked because she sings things repeatedly.
She is just one of those people that knows what they want, and everyone else has to either know also what she wants, or stand the hell out of the way. I have no idea where she gets it from. (wink wink)

Happy 5th Birthday to Mina Naomi (a.k.a Moo)

Then...

Now...