Happy Birthday Heidi!

First off, let me just say...she is a tough act to follow....

Happy Birthday, my little Princess!!

Sooooo, the other day I was talking with Heidi as she was finishing up her blog.  I asked if she had the next birthday blog done.  She looked at me and gasped.  You've all seen the look.  She had just remembered something. 

Then the words came out.  All I heard was 'blog', 'birthday', 'please?'  I hesitated, then she added, 'So-and-so's Mother did it for her'.  Nothing like a challenge.  My first thought was, what an honor.  Then it hit me.  This was not just a Mother/Daughter thing.  This was public.  Then came the bite of reality.  Pressure.  Imitation.  Fear.  Judgement.  Pride.  More fear.  Daunt.  What to do??  This pragmatic Mom-O-Four took the challenge head on.  Here goes....(please be gentle, it's my first time).

Love you, Babycakes...

It started 34 years ago, in a galaxy far, far away.  Oooops.  Wrong story.  Here it is.  This is the true story of unending love.  A love only a mother can know.  Get your tissues.  Oh, wait those are for me.....

The first pic of us together that I could find (I know somewhere there is one more, and I believe this covers the embarrassing pic of me).

I labored all night.  Morning arrived and a pink bundle was handed over to me (at 8:36 am, for those keeping track).  Little did I know what lay ahead.  If I had known, I still would have done it.  Again.   And again.  This small child changed my life forever.  She changed EVERYONE'S life.  She has changed everyone who has met her.  She is STILL changing lives!

Her pink little fingers wrapped around my pinkie, then my heart.

I know, sappy.  But, oh so true.

I fell in love immediately.  We learned together.  She, more quickly than I.  She's always been a fast learner. 

Our journey  has had its ups, downs, twists, and turns.  The good, so far out-weighing any bad.  It's a Mother thing.  You only remember the good.  Plus, she was perfect.  Is.

Then one morning I awoke to find almost 34 years had past.  Seriously.  It happened that fast.

Every day she manages to surprise me.  Still.  Really.

See what I mean?  They carved pumpkins when I was at school. :(   But when I picked up my prints, here was this surprise she had for me!  Love it!

Things she got from me:  my eyes, my sense of humor and the snort laugh, the 'look', my thumb and that 'toe' thing, love of her children and photographing them, and I recently found out she can do the maraschino cherry thing, which I might add, must be inherited as I have no recollection of training her.

Sense of humor and snort laugh both going on in this pic...

Things she did NOT get from me:  a savory taste (I mean, seriously, how did she NOT get the baking bug from me???), the Walls' butt, flair and fashion sense, MVG, and her driving skills.

And here we will have a few of the flair and fashion, the early years (okay, only one embarrassing one....)

And, here it is...

I know it's Halloween, but STILL...

There are so few pics of us together.  I was usually behind the camera, and now she is.  Times have changed.  You had to decide if the pic was worth printing, back in the day....but here are a few of us...pretty much the only ones I have (or have permission to use)...

Three gen, before the days of ultrasound.  She was pretty excited about getting a sibling.

Mamaw and Papaw's 50th

Easter, 1980

Christmas 1978, notice fresh chin damage (16 stitches)

Pop and Gram's 50th

One of my favorites...

This one is completely gratuitous.  I just like it 'cause, well, you know...and Heidi IS wearing her pageant bathing suit.

We think this is when the cooking bug bit...

Always did have great gam's!

Grandma Robertson let her cook the whole meal, something she was not allowed to do at home...

Spaghetti!

Early on we should have suspected a career in the auto industry...

I think the boys were fighting over shotgun.

Christopher getting a free estimate, I believe he had a low deductible.

I knew early on she'd be a good mom....

Her first diaper pinning job.  Gotta love it.  She was only 7.   Looking back, I can't believe I let a 7 year old use pins!

Dad and Heidi, how he loves his little girl - and oh so proud of her career.  Sometimes it brings a tear...you should hear him brag.

And now some completely random pics because, 1.  I like them, and 2.  She showed me how to download them (ummmm, hoping that was not a big mistake)

My all time favorite school pic.

The infamous suede jacket...

The day she got up on skis for the first time - July 25, 1990.  How I remember the date?  God only knows, don't ask me what I had for breakfast!

These two are for the girls.....

Halloween, in Concord (yes, that's Mary too)

Heidi and Jackie, hands down the best dog ever.  Ever.  (Sorry Stewart)

Yes, mud. Wonders for her skin.   Way before her time.  No, it did not come completely out in the wash.  But they had fun!

She loved her Baby Beth.  I was not so thrilled she was in the pic, and without her dress.  Gheez.

Isn't she just the cutest?  Don't you see Madeline?

She has always been a good sport at the group photo.

With Christopher.

With Nick.

And Benjamin.

With Gram.  Every girl should be so lucky to have the relationship she has with her grandmother.

At the Calavan's.  Thanks Shannon.

Heidi and Georgia.

Long Beach, 1987  Fancy for Sunday...

She's always loved her brothers...

Let me just say, in closing......when you first have a baby you think there could be nothing better.  That you could not love anything any more, any deeper.  What you do not realize is, it only gets better.  So, this love you have for this baby just continues to grow. Exponentially.  After 34 years it's still growing.  Getting better.  Stronger.  Every day.  I could not love her anymore today.  My heart is full.  Tomorrow is a new day.  I will love her more tomorrow.

I hope you have the best birthday ever.  Hugs and kisses.  Love you bunches and gobbles.    Momare

PS - Even though there are no pics of Jack and Madeline, I love them dearly.  But, they are so perfect in every way they deserve their own page.  Another day.  If I'm allowed back....