And Now, You Are One
Dear Amelia,
The first thing that I thought when I saw you in the spotlight that had been aimed at my vagina was “holy shit, I gave birth to a statue!” But you have to remember that I was in extreme pain and had just found out that there was potentially something wrong with you.
And, well, you were covered in white goo.
My second thought was, “holy shit, that baby is PISSED the fuck OFF!” It sounds indelicate, saying that about a brand new baby, but I assure you, my girl, you have the lung capacity and vocal control of someone who is going to either be an Olympic swimmer (providing you’re not physically gimpy like me) or an opera singer (providing your not singerly gimpy like me).
It was a good thing they’d put us in the back corner of the L and D unit, or you’d have probably scared all of those women OUT of labor. THAT is how loud you were. Which, had I been forcibly ejected from my comfy home, I’d have been mad too.
Your temper is legendary in our house, but so is your sweetness. While both of your brothers had first years on the planet that made my hair go grey and my hand trembly, you were sweetness and love. And thunder of doom.
I think that combination will serve you well, actually. It’s always served me well.
I know as a mother, I’m supposed to be terrified of having a daughter. My own mother and I have a relationship that can at best be described as “complicated,” but with you, well, it’s just not. It will be maybe when you’re a surly teenager, but now it’s not.
I’ve never stopped proud when I say “I have a daughter” because to me, I always figured I would have a mess of sons. To me, having a daughter was the holy grail. The pink light in a sea of sausages. I am so privileged, so unbelievably honored to have you as my own, that I can’t imagine a day that I wouldn’t gnaw off my arm to give it to you.
(I’d do the same, of course, for your brothers)
The ways that you’ve changed me over the past year, I can’t even begin to put into words. If I could go back to those weeks when you were a wee embryo and have your neural tube fuse properly, I don’t think I would. Because through you, I’ve become a better person.
The world is a good place, Amelia, and you don’t know it, but you have made yourself quite a lot of friends already. People in all kinds of places have been praying for you since you were a wee thing and they’ve been watching you grow, cheering you on as you reach each milestone, and celebrating each victory.
You are so, so blessed.
As you grow, there are going to be times and places where people tell you that you can’t do something. Now, I’m not talking about spray painting your room silver or something stupid (the FUMES! GAH!), I’m talking about your dreams, your hopes, your aspirations.
Listen to me, my girl: DON’T LISTEN TO THEM.
Absorb every single bit of negativity into your soul and let it strengthen you. Let it fortify your resolve to do it. Let it feed you. Only you know what you need to do. Only you know the path you must take. And you do anything in your power to get there. Stop at nothing.
Live a life of no regrets, my love. Don’t say yes when you mean no. Say no when you mean no and don’t feel even slightly bad about it.
And remember that when you’ve taken over the world, call your mother. She loves you with all of her heart.
So today, my darling girl, on your first birthday, we shall eat pink cupcakes with hearts and pink sprinkles and we will play trucks and cars and trains because that is what you love.
Happy Birthday, big girl. I love you with all that I am.
I am so, so honored to be your mother.
Love,
Mamamamama
Happy Birthday, Amelia! And do what your mama says. She knows some stuff about stuff.
I’d write more, but I’ve got something in my eye.
What a little princess! Happy Birthday Amelia.
Happy Birthday beautiful girl!!
Happy Birthday, little girl.
sweet girl! happy 1.
As a mom with only a son, I can only say… Man shes adorable 🙂 Got no jokes today. I can just feel the love.
Glad we connected if only to have read that post.
Rock on, you and your baby girl. Lovely….really lovely
Tracy
I’m actually a teensy tiny bit choked up. Happy, happy birthday,little one.
When she rules the universe she’s probably going to ban headbands with ginormous flowers on them. Even if they are adorable.
what a lucky girl to have such beautiful birthday words written for her! and mom is lucky to have such a beautiful girl!
verklempt…talk amonst yourselves…oh, and happy birthday kid.
I love all the rolls! How precious!
Love it, happy birthday to your baby girl!
DAMN YOU FOR MAKING ME CRY AT WORK. AGAIN!
Awww she’s so beautiful!! Happy Birthday to your baby girl! And she too, is blessed to have such a good mommy!
Happy Birthday to The Pink Light in a sea of sausages!
And rock on, just like your mama says.
I’d wish your darling girl a happy birthday, but I’m too busy weeping into my keyboard after that post. *wibbles*
Happy birthday, amazing girl. xoxo
So, so beautiful! What a year sweet Amelia has had. I can’t believe it’s been a year since she was born! Happy birthday to your sweet girl!
Happy Happy Birthday Amelia!
What a sweet, sweet girl! Happy Birthday, Amelia!
Wait… pink cupcakes?… No microwaved blue mini-cakes?
There is NO WAY she is 1 already!!! It’s gone by so fast!! Happy birthday Amelia!!!
Happy Birthday beautiful girl!
Happy Birthday! The chub in that first picture, so sweet!
So sweet 🙂 Happy Birthday Amelia! I cannot believe another year has passed. Wow.
Made me cry! My son will be one in a few weeks…I can’t believe how time flies. She is a beauty and so lucky to have a mom like you. Happy Birthday, sweet little girl!
Ohhh that was sweet! Happy Birthday to you too Mommy!
Enjoy your cupcakes.
Happy Birthday Amelia!
Aunt Becky…you bought the cupcakes right?
Happy birthday, kiddo.
One is a really big step, and I’m proud of you.
Way to go, Aunt Becky! Your little girl is getting to be awesome like you- even rockin’ that fabulous flower headband!
STOP IT RIGHT NOW WITH THAT FLOWER HEADBAND! SOOOO CUTE
what a sweet tribute to a wonderful little girl. She is lucky to have you. And you, her. 🙂
Happy birthday beautiful girl!
My daughter is 11…and I still can’t believe I have a daughter. The novelty of it has not worn off.
Happy Birthday Miss Ameilia. Miss Leigha is singing you Rock a By Baby as we scroll through the pictures and then said “Hap Birsdays” as well. Here’s to 100 more!!
Oh Gosh Aunt Becky now I have tears in my eyes. This sort of snuck up on me. I knew she’d be a year old soon, but couldn’t quite remember the date. What a beautiful post and promise me that you will keep it for her to read over and over again every year because it’s a pretty powerful piece.
Happy Birthday Amelia!!!
Happy birthday baby!! What a pretty girl.
Happy Birthday Amelia!
I hope your daughter has a very wonderful 1st birthday!
*found on via mommyblogs.com*
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMELIA!
Now I have to go clean because it’s awfully dusty in here (that’s why I’m tearing up, right?)
Happy Birthday to a very special little girl and Congrats to her very lucky Mom!!
Aunt Becky, you have a amazing gift to make me laugh so hard I nearly pee my pants one day and make me tear up and hug my babies close the next.
I can hardly believe it has been a year already! Happy Birthday to the little lady.
Sweet, beautiful little one. Happy Birthday!
This is the second time today I’ve cried; the first was at the end of a Yes, Dear re-run. So, uh. Yeah. This time feels much more right.
Happy Birthday Amelia! The internet loves you too!
Bex, you must do some seriously good baby-growing, judging by the fat rolls on her newborn picture! All the pictures are adorable.
I love her and she is a fierce diva.
Happy Birthday, baby sweet cakes.
Much of this could have been written by me. After having 2 boys, I didn’t think a girl was in the cards for us. Until she came out screaming her head off, and hasn’t stopped screaming 18 months later.
Happy Birthday, Amelia!
Darn you Becky-you’ve made me cry!!!
Happy Birthday sweet Cinnamon girl! You will rule the world!
Oh, I love her too!!! What a special, special day for a beautiful little girl. And her mom 🙂 So happy for you all.
Happy Birthday Amelia!
Happy Birthday, beautiful Mimi!!
Happy Birthday sweet little girl! 🙂 🙂
I love the daisy bow!
Awwww….isn’t that cute. But it is wrong. Seriously, why pink. Alas, the stereotype is set. Cute fucking kid though. Happy birthday.
Now, I normally would not be happy about the sappy blog. You normally rock my socks. However, you made up for it with this jewel hidden in the text:
The pink light in a sea of sausages
Classic
So sweet and precious! Happy birthday Amelia!
OMG you made me cry, and I don’t even *like* babies! But I’d be yours. LOL. Goodness. I’m impressed that you embrace your baby girl’s God-given right to be pissed off when the situation calls for it. Go Mom.
Happy BDay little girl!
*tears* That was beautiful! Happy Birthday, Amelia! (Good wishes to the Mama that saw her through all this, too)!
Awwww, happy, happy birthday Amelia!!!
Happy Birthday Miss Amelia. I’m so glad I’ve gotten to know you and your mommy.
Man, my daughter is beautiful.
Happy Mimilicious Birthday!
Beautiful post, Becky. Makes me want to go home and hug my “surly teens.”
Happy Birthday, Amelia. God bless you.
Beautiful.
Oh my good Lord. 1 year. Really?
Happy Birthday, dear sweet Amelia.
I am just verklempt at this. As you will be when this one turns 20, as my youngest did a couple weeks ago. Beautiful.
Happy Birthday to Mimi, I hope that the cuppy cakes are super yummy, and that Mommy lets you make a giant mess with them!
Dang it you made me all weepy.. she is SO BEAUTIFUL! Happy Birthday to your sweet daughter, sounds like she has a good mommy.
I can’t believe she is ONE! So beautiful, she is.
Happy Birthday sweet princess Amelia!
You made these water-like things come out of my eyes and down my cheeks. I think some call them… tears? Beautiful post. The love you have for your daughter (and all of your chillins) is apparent. My eyes were just, uh, watering though. Yeah.
Happy birthday to the little beauty and happy birth day to her beautiful mama.
Happy Birthday Sweet Girl! Love and hugs and kisses from us!
Hello. I just discovered your blog today.
This post made me cry. In a completely totally good way. I hope someday she reads this and knows what a lucky young girl she is (even when she is a surly teen).
Thank you.
Happy birthday Mimi!
*sniffs* – Happy Birthday Little Beauty, and Master of the Universe.
(p.s. – I KNEW your mom knew how to make cupcakes, umm, I think)
I can’t believe she is ONE! How amazing is she? I love her to pieces and I love you and I am SO GLAD that you have your daughter. She is one lucky little girl. xoxo
Damn you Aunt Becky, got me again. Actually shed a tear. Of course, I was just thinking some of the same thoughts right before I read this as I played with my daughter ( just turned 10 months). Mimi- when you read this back, realize how much your mommy kicks ass and that she got a whole Internet to love the crap outta you. 🙂 Happy Birthday Amelia!!!
Happy Birthday, Sweet, Beautiful, Amelia!
I have never, never wanted a girl child. I am so thankful for my boys.. but, WOWZA! You just made me want a little pink bundle of temper. (Yes, I just heard my husband scream from 25 miles away.)
And I hope you print that out and save it for the future. So you can show her when she throws that pre-period temer tantrum, and when she gets her heart broken the fist time and when she goes off to college and when she gets married.. crap, I can’t cry in front of the class. Thanks Aunt Becky.
Beautifully written. Why the hell did you want to be a nurse, anyway?? You write too well.
She’s perfect. Happy birthday, baby girl! And happy anniversary of having your first daughter, Aunt Becky!
That was beautiful, and so is she! happy, happy birthday!!
Happy Birthday sweet Amelia. I love your advice, “Don’t say yes when you mean no. Say no when you mean no and don’t feel slightly bad about it.” As women, it is our downfall. We’re trained to make nice. I regret that in myself. Kudos to you for teaching her strength and empowerment in not just pleasing others, but pleasing herself, most importantly.
Hearts and pink sprinkles-What a lovely way to usher in the rest of her sweet life.
Holy shit, its been a year already!?!
Happy Birfday baby girl!
Wow, what a tribute! Happy Birthday, Mimi!
Oh, man, that? was beautiful! And as far as having girls goes, we wanted two, we got two and have never once regretted it. They are awesome, and she is absolutely beautiful!
awwww . . . LOVING her cute little toes.
And “sea of sausage”? Loved it! May have to use that one around my house.
And Happy “Birth” Day to you to Becky. Enjoy the pink cupcakes (hope you bought them instead of baking them – we’ve all seen the Master Cake Baker debacle *wink*)
How freaking cute is that picture of Mimi and Ben????
Love it:)
Happy birthday Amelia! May you always know what a great mommy (and daddy) you have!
Happy birthday, baby.
Crap, that’s awesome.
Happy Bday MIMI!
happy birthday!
Happy, Happy Birthday Precious Amelia!
She’s so beautiful and this was so sweet…I’m bawling over here. Happy birthday, Amelia!!
*sniff* I loved this.
Happy Birthday to your beautiful girl!!
Aww… tears! What a sweet, beautiful little girl. With an equally sweet Mom! Happy Birthday Mimi!
I hope you both have enjoyed a beautiful and amazing day. What a miraculous little girl. 🙂
??Happy Birthday Mimi??
Now…go dump the dog food & splash in the water for us internet’s & tell Mom it’s for making my face leak. Mmk? Thanks =0)
Happy Birthday Mimi!!
Now…go dump the dog food & splash in the water for us internet’s & tell Mom it’s for making my face leak. Mmk? Thanks =0)
Happy birthday, A.
You’ve made your momma very happy. And we all like her a lot better when she’s happy.
Happy happy birthday to that sweet girl you have.
Happy Birthday sweet Amelia! I love that hat in the last picture.
Good for you for telling her to take on the world and that she is allowed to say no. It’s about time our girls are raised to be happy individual people instead of pleasers.
Great blog Becky!
how gorgeous – I hope she has a wonderful birthday. I love the progressional photos.
Happy birthday to your adorable daughter!
I LOVE this line: Live a life of no regrets, my love. Don’t say yes when you mean no. Say no when you mean no and don’t feel even slightly bad about it.
You made me ache a little, knowing I’m forever in a house of boys and no cute pinkness thrown in.
Happy Birthday little girlie!
Happy birthday Amelia, the world is yours!! 🙂
Happy birthday to Amelia and to you as a mom!
This is my favorite line….and it’s quite amazing…and great advice!
“Live a life of no regrets, my love. Don’t say yes when you mean no. Say no when you mean no and don’t feel even slightly bad about it.”
Happy Birthday Amelia! You and your mom are going to rule the world. And it will be a better place for it because I know your mom will make my favorite vitamin V an OTC commodity:0)
So happy you are here and so very happy you are healthy!
xxoo
Great post! And fuck, you made me cry, Auntie B.
What a beautiful way to celebrate your dear daughter’s birthday! Your a good Mom, Aunt Beck.
Becky,
I am Nikki’s sister. I just wanted to thank you and you’re absolutely beautiful baby girl (Happy Birthday Amelia!) so much for being a light in a very dark tunnel for us these past few days. Your words are such an inspiration to us all, especially my sister and brother-in-law.
Miss Amelia,
Listen to your mother, and stay strong, because you made it ONE WHOLE YEAR through such a crazy messy time. You ARE strong, and amazing and you bring hope to those of us who need it!
Happy Happy Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!
A year already??! Wow, that went fast!
She is soooo cute! : )
Happy birthday, Amelia!
Becky, she’s just so nom-able.
Amelia, dear, you will be nothing short of awesome. How do I know? Just look at your mommy. 🙂
My little neice is one today too! Holy shit Batman! What are the odds!?!
Happy Birthday Mimi!
Yay mom for awesome advice.
I think I have something in my eye… But seriously, HAPPY BIRTHDAY MIMI! Well done you for kicking life right in the balls- and well done to your mum for doing exactly the same.
PS. Sincerely hoping for ALL of your general health that Becky did not make today’s birthday cupcakes… ;P
Oh Aunt B, you made me tear up a little. What a great letter to your daughter..She’s so beautiful and such a special little girl. Happy Birthday Amelia!!!
This might be my favorite entry you’ve written since I started following you. Funny, I wrote a pretty syrupy blog myself tonight, but it was about my job – not my child. You have a beautiful little girl, and if her literary voice turns out to be as powerful as her physical one, she will obviously begin to exhibit the talent you clearly will have given her.
Your devotion to your sweet little girl comes off so clearly and concisely – I love the honesty of your posts.
You remind me why it is I hope to one day have one of my own.
Thanks for another terrific entry.
Happy Birthday Mimi. I love your crazy flower hats! You are precious to all of us that have followed your story.
Happy happy birthday Amelia!
Happy 1st Birthday to one of the most special little girls in the world.
And Happy “Crotch Parasite Expulsion Anniversary Day” to you, Becks!
Oh mah Gawd Aunt Becky. I come here expecting to snort and giggle, not snuffle and, OMG there’s something in my eye!
Happy Birthday Amelia!!
Dammit Becky. I’m sending you flowers (virtual of course, but you get the point)
Aunt Becky, I tip my champagne glass to you tonight. Happy, happy birthday Mimi!! Congrats to mama for gritting through the hard parts of the year and sharing it all with us. We love you! Bless you, Amelia, and all of your dear family.
Oh, Happy Day lil Mimi. And cheers to you, too, Mama. The first year is filled with so much joy (and less than joy). So glad she’s healthy and you are doing so well.
Happy, Happy Birthday to your beautiful baby girl! Her story reaffirms my faith in modern medicine and in the power of the online community. Hope you all had a wonderful day!
Happy Birthday baby girl. You are an inspiration to many.
Happy birthday to your lil’ Mimi!
Also, that flower headband?
Is kickass.
This wouldn’t have meant anything to me a year ago but after having my little girl my heart strings are a little easier to tug. Happy tears. I hope to say someone as beautiful to my daughter on her first birthday.
Say “something” as beautiful. See, the tears are getting in the way:)
Dear Mimi –
Happy Birthday, sweet little precious. You have a couple hundred honorary Aunties and Uncles out here who think you’re an amazing piece of work. I forsee great things for you, since you began your life inspiring all of us with the miracles you achieved.
No pressure.
Happy Birthday little princess!
As for YOU Grandpa Becky, you are an asshole. You’ve made me cry. AT WORK.
Ok, so you really aren’t an asshole. But you did make me cry. At work.
I just wanna give your little girl a big ole squishy hug.
She is a lovely little lamb, with the heart of a lion,
The happiest of days to little Amelia! May you all enjoy the celebration of her first year.
Awww crap, you made me cry…
Happy birthday beautiful girl 🙂
My own gorgeous, gorgeous girl joined the Army a week and half ago…I can’t yet decide how I feel…
Love to you & yours Aunt Bec 😀
Happy Birthday Amelia! 🙂
Happy of happiest birthdays dear Amelia, you are loved by so many its true. And no your mommma does not really want Vodka, its a long story ask her. Happy birthday dear cute flower hand band wearing girl! Send cupcakes to Cairo when you can.
Happy Birthday, Sweet Mimi! Listen to your mama – except when she tries to teach you how to bake cakes.
Awwww. VERY sweet. xx
So much accomplished in one short year….Happy 1st Birthday, pretty girl.
Happy birthday to Amelia, you’ve come a long way kiddo.
Beautiful post! I want to copy your advice and give it to my own daughters. Happy birthday Amelia!
Amelia:
You and your mommy are my inspiration. I am getting through this unsure and scary time because of both of you. You have kicked ass since day one, and you will continue to do so for 100 years more. Happy Birthday you precious little girl!
Happy Birthday Amelia. Total sidenote that I know you will find funny….my daughter’s middle name is Amelia. Amelia is defined as the absence of an arm or leg and is something that in my undergraduate studies was a result of certain medications taken while pregnant.
With my pregnant brain, I forgot all about that and got wrapped up in my daughter’s beautifully perfect name. Until I googled for some reason to make sure that her name combo wasn’t that of a serial killer or famous porn star thus subjecting my daughter to a life of being confused (pregnant moms are soooo goofy sometimes!). Then I was reminded.
At that point, I spent the rest of my pregnancy just KNOWING that she was going to be born missing an arm or leg (which she wasn’t).
Anyway, HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMELIA! I hope you (and your two arms and legs) have a GREAT birthday!
And this post made me cry…way to go. I come to you for wit, banter, and sarcasm to start my day off right and I get weepy. Give a warning next time would ya?
[…] Aunt Becky started her own company. And then a friend of mine here, started her own tutoring business this […]
This is so sweet, Becky. She really is just the prettiest little girl. And those flowery hats? Oh my God, I think I just died a little.
She’s so lucky to have you as her mommy.
And P.S. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BEAUTIFUL GIRL!
Oh, happy birthday Amelia, and big hugs to the mama for making it through this year with such grace!
Happy birthday, Amelia! May you become as wonderful as your mom and dad. And if you’re made of only recessive genes from your ancestors, may you inherit at least their sense of humor and their kind hearts. That should take you far enough.
Becky and Dave, happy baby girl day to you! If this day a year ago wouldn’t have been that hard, maybe you would have been less aware of what a true miracle Amelia is. May she be all health and happiness from now on!
you made it! Congratulations! Cheers to many, many more happy birthdays. Big Hugs!
awwwwww….what a great post! I just love everything about it.
Happy Birthday Amelia!
Love you both. Happy birthday! I know it was yesterday, but i assume that you’re still celebrating.
Happy Birthday sweet baby girl…your mom is something very special as I’m sure you’ll discover, then discard when that awful teen monster rears its ugly head.
I know I am a day late and a dollar short but Happy Birthday baby Girl you are too cute and always remeber that you are promised to marry my Xander!
Happy Birthday, Amelia! Be sure to start thinking up things you can so when you turn 12 to drive your mama bonkers!
Bwahahaha! Mimi is going to be the brains behind her brothers, I’m pretty sure of that. I caught the two of them diving off the couch. Onto their heads.
Yeah. Uh. Yeah. Just. Okay.
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Toy With Me, Aunt Becky, Lauren, Michelle Peer, Dina Rozelle Barnett and others. Dina Rozelle Barnett said: RT @toywithme: RT @mommywantsvodka: And now, sweet girl, you are one: http://mommywantsvodka.com/?p=3342 […]
Oh, I’m late! Happy belated birthday, beautiful Amelia!
I’ve just come across your blog and just read this ..
Happy birthday Amelia !!
My little girl is 1 on march 16th and just wanted you to know that you brought a tear to my eye with your words to your beautiful daughter.
I hope she had a great first birthday !
She devoured cupcakes and played with her brothers and she was a very, very happy girl. Thank you so very much. She’s made me so very happy.
Yay Aunt Becky! Happy birthday to dear Amelia and congratulations to you- wonderful, evolving Mom. xoxo CE
Hideously late birthday greetings from across the seas to gorgeous Amelia!
Happy birthday, sweet Amelia. I’m so glad to know you both!
Happy Birthday Amelia!
OMG, you had to go and make me cry. Happy birthday, sweet baby girl. I know exactly how your mom feels because i feel that way about my “gingerbread girl”, Zoe. We have been through a lot with her, and we are still going through it- but it makes us all stronger. Your mom is pretty smart- and she loves you so very much. Enjoy your cupcakes!
oh how happy it makes me that your sweet girl is alive & has just celebrated her birthday. my parents delivered a baby 36 years ago with anencephaly. different of course, but your amelia reminds me of the older sister i never knew.
Happy Belated Birthday Amelia! Your Mama rocks!
The best ones make me cry :p) Congratulations, Becky! I LOVE when you call her Mimi, so perfect, such double meaning when spelled Meme. The daughter thing is just huge.
Did anyone else have to stop and cry for a minute before they could post? I did. And now I’m going to read the next post, and probably end up laughing through these tears. This is a wonderful blog.
Aw, I love you. Thank you.
She is so lovely, and such a lovely post.