Category Archives: Birthdays

March 23

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I remember my pregnancy with Mark so well. I walked around in a constant state of ecstasy mixed with anxiety – I was so happy to be pregnant, but also so worried that something was going to go wrong or that I would do something wrong. That feeling was not helped out by the many scary pregnancy books on the market, all of which I read. If I could have had one of those Doppler heartbeat monitors hooked up to me all the time, I probably would have. I was so happy to feel his first movements, and I was happy he was such an active little fetus. I remember he was especially active when a heavy metal or hard rock song came on the radio, and funnily enough, those are the musical genres he prefers to this day. “I love Welcome to the Jungle!” he informed the kindly and startled children’s minister at our church when asked about his favourite song.

Mostly, though, I just felt joyful, and expectant, and thrilled. And hungry. I ate enormous amounts of food, and constantly craved hamburgers. After an astounding weight gain, a pre-eclampsia diagnosis, and a subsequent three-week bedrest (after I had already finished work and started my official maternity leave) I waddled into my doctor’s office on March 23. She poked me in the puffy cheek in an illustrative way, and informed me and her young intern that I was going to be induced, TODAY. And that is how I ended up spending my second wedding anniversary in the delivery room.

I was only in labour for four hours, screaming such hilariously obvious things like “THIS REALLY HURTS!”. “I THINK I NEED THE DRUGS” I shrieked to Shannon, my young and sweet delivery nurse, who replied that I was nine and a half centimeters, and there was no way they were going to administer drugs at that point. Oh.

At 11:55, Mark was born, trumping our anniversary and forever changing my life, starting me on the long road that is motherhood. That was five years ago, and I can’t imagine life without him, my brave, sensitive, vehicle-obsessed, stubborn, happy, and funny little man.

Party Week

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With all my romantic mushiness leading up to my seven year itch, I neglected to report on the status of the superhero party. I had a few misgivings the night before the party – I was a little concerned since we had a few, how shall I put this, different personality types attending – but it was a great success. There were no tears, all the kids were excited about the games, the crafts were a hit, and there were no birthday boy meltdowns! So all was grand. The secret to success for a boy’s party seems to be physical activity. Keep the kids running or dancing around, and everyone is happy. My husband set up an obstacle course in our basement which kept six boys under the age of five happy for thirty minutes, which I think must be some kind of record.

The only thing left to do now is enter into a cupcake making frenzy. The March birthday celebration at the preschool is on Friday, and we are having a family party on Sunday. Mark’s actual birthday is not until Monday, at which time I think we will be all birthday-ed out.

How many birthday celebrations are too many? I overheard one of the boys’ friends saying “Mark’s bringing cupcakes on Friday! It’s his birthday again! I guess he is going to be six!” With that logic, I suppose he will be eight by Monday. Talk about growing up fast!