Today you turn seventeen.
My baby. My first born.
Seventeen.
That little blonde girl is now practically a woman.
I see glimpses of that girl in your smile, when you are concentrating, or when you are sleeping.
I see glimpses of me at your age, a world full of possibilities and excitement.
Today, on your birthday, you are not here. You are rockin’ it with your girls in the city. A band chick. A band chick with black and green hair, dark eyeliner rimming your grey-blue eyes and a bright pink Birthday Girl badge clipped to your hip.
You will spend your special day doing something you love. The way it should be. No birthday cake. No special birthday dinner. You are a grown up now.
When the hell did that happen?
I still remember when you were born. Thirty eight hours of labour, every intervention known to man before a caesarian. I was laying on the table, Dad at my side. We were both terrified. We just wanted you to be OK. Then all of a sudden there was a cry and you were bundled up and brought to us.
And we cried.
You were finally here. All banged up with your two tiered head from the vacuum extraction that went wrong, a cut on your face from the failed forceps delivery, but you were the most beautiful thing on earth. Staring at us with wary eyes, which is not surprising after all you went through.
And now, all of a sudden, you are seventeen.
We have grown up together. You have taught me so much. About patience and tolerance and how to let go. And I am trying. As you approach your final year of highschool, I am trying to let you go into the world. Cut those damn apron strings.
I can still see that little girl looking up at me. That little girl. My first born. I miss you needing me.
But I love the amazing person you have become.
Happy Birthday my angel,
Mummy
xx
{ 34 comments }
Oh, dude. AWWWW, dude!
Happy birthday to you, seventeen. I hope it’s GOLDEN.
Happy Birthday!
Oh Happy Birthday!! Seventeen was a great year for me…Enjoy your day, and great job mummy!
happy birthday my little Aussie daughter-in-law.
Kel – Damn. you. I finally got over last week and you have to do this to me?!?
17 was a great year for me, I hope it is for your daughter, too! <3
17 is such a great age…on the cusp of just about everything!
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday! I hope it’s a great one. (and try to you spend at least a little time with your mum.)
Tears, I have tears damn you!
Just you wait until she leaves Kelley—then you’ll feel it. Lilacspecs is 27 and I remember the day she was born like it was just an hour ago. It has been almost a year since she moved to Belgium and I ACHE for her…to see her, to touch her curly hair, to give her a mummy hug.
I feel your pain and want you to know that you can’t stop it, as much as you’ll want to…you can’t…so, ENJOY every single blessed second.
Seventeen IS a fantastic time and there is more to come. Happy Birthday kiddo!
Beautiful letter.
Happy birthday!
Awww … this blog should make me feel sad that those 17 years have flown by for you guys and how the same will probably happen for me & my kids….
I simultaneously wonder what my kids will be like as they become adults but then not actually wanting them to grow any older than the sweet-faced babes that they are.
… but then you write something so grown-up and warm-fuzzy-making “But I love the amazing person you have become” and I think about just how wonderful that feeling must be.
My baby girls are 33 and 34 years old now, but they call me almost every day, where ever I am, to tell me their joys and their heartaches. I will be their Mom forever, and I love it that way.
Awwww….that was sweet!
Happy Birthday, little girl. I hope you become half as amazing as your Mum.
Happy Birthday Moo!
Happy birthday!
*snort* That makes you olllllllllld, Kelley
It’s not nice to make me blubber before I’ve had my coffee…
Happy birthday Moo, knock ‘em dead kiddo.
Wow,seventeen years in the blink of an eye.
Happy Birthday Moo.
Happy birthday Moo!!
Aww Happy Birthday Moo!
Awwww!!! That shit was soooo sappy and sweet, you made me want to go grab my OWN little girl and squish her & kiss her and never EVER let her grow up!!!
Off to work on that making – time – stand – still machine! I’ll let you know where you can purchase one just as soon as I get the patent!
Happy birthday Oscar! Don’t forget to still visit your Mom!
hee hee hee…if you only knew what she was up to as you wrote this…
;-P
Dammit Kelley! What a beautiful letter. You made me cry. Grrr!
I’m going to have to ask that you WARN us at the very start of a post ***may cause excessive watering of the eyes***
What a beautiful letter.. please tell me that is doesn’t go by that fast Kelley. Happy birthday to your first born.
Beautiful.
I always figure the momma deserves a little something on the anniversary of the day their babies – especially their FIRST babies – were born. I don’t know how we should word that greeting or anything, but I think something ought to exist. Till we come up with something better, happy birthday to you both.
Thanks for sharing such beautiful thoughts.
Aw, happy birthday!
Just this evening, I had a vision of my not yet five year old as a teenager. It struck terror into my heart.
I’m a day late with the happy birthday greetings, but want to say this is a lovely tribute. Happy birthday to the both of you!
Happy Birthday!
Yeah, seriously, why do you have to be such a tearjerker???
Happy Birthday Moo!
That was beautiful.
Happy Birthday, Moo!
This was such a lovely post, it’s made me cry. My daughter will be 2 in January and it’s already going to fast, I don’t want her to grow up but I know she has too. I just wish it could be slower. I hate the thought that she may not need me. Anyway, I hope Moo had a lovely 17th Birthday.
Feeling old yet, Kelley? (snigger)
Happy Birthday Moo!
Again with the late, but Happy Belated Birthday to Moo!
Happy Birthday Moo! I can’t believe one day my boy will be 17…
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