Birth Days

I turned a whopping 3 decades old a few Sundays ago and it's got me reflecting for sure. Birthdays tend to get me thinking about the year gone by and any sort of growth I have managed. This year has been no exception.

I haven't been able to measure much in the way of physical growth for a few birthdays now. With the exception of my 26th birthday, because hello maybe I'm starting menopause hormones and ensuing weight gain. Since that milestone birthday (which ironically was my "golden birthday", 26 on the 26th) I have been more girthy for sure. Also since then I have not been able to eat chocolate all the things quite like I used to...(Well, this birthday reflection is also somewhat of an exception to measuring physical growth as the past 374 days have seen substantial El Bees. 40 of them in fact)

This past year my whole life has changed, and the birthday reflection has been very sweet. For starters, every single hormone in my body has been on high alert for most of the past 365 days. I have spent more time with health professionals this year than all past years combined. I have had one of the very worst days of my life in the past 12 months, and I also experienced one of the very best days of my life. I got a raise and a new certification at work. I ran a few more races. I did hard things. I had a lot of fun being pregnant with my sisters. I missed my mom. I built stronger relationships and loved more than I ever thought possible. I learned that I am strong enough to handle a lot more than I thought I could. I opened up. But every experience of my 29th year was trumped by the moment I became a mom.

When I met Michael for the first time, I saw perfection. With JR looking over my shoulder I had my whole world within a three-foot radius. I remember JR saying something about how we had a "real" family now. Well husband, let me tell you, I love our real family. I love the moments when I'm exhausted trying to get a crying baby to not be that for more than five minutes and you calmly take over and get him to sleep in less than three. I love team diaper changes, and trying all the tricks to get Michael to crack a smile. I love getting so excited when Michael tries something new, and late night talks when we have to smother our giggles because, sleeping baby. I love "real" family prayers and singing Tuck Tuck every night. Cause really, who could have imagined 30 would be so good?