Friday, December 07, 2007

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY TWO GIRLS!

I would like to thank all of you, my dear friends, for your encouraging comments on my last post. I always cheer DC on in his exploits of adventure. I just wish I felt more apt to join in. But we will definitely have a great time, no matter what.

I'm re-publishing this post I did a year ago to celebrate the birthdays of my daughter, Kristen, and my daughter-in-law, who goes by Sema in blogland. I think it's so amazing that they have the same birth date, four years apart, continents apart. I have many new friends who weren't around last year at this time, so I hope you enjoy it. I could not figure out how to delete last year's comments, so you might find yourself down there, but feel free to comment again - and to go to their sites to wish them a great day - we're leaving them to fend for themselves on their birthdays, much to Kristen's dismay - the second time in 33 years!

We're heading out at 3:30 a.m. for a 6:00 flight to Kona by way of San Francisco. We'll return early Sunday morning, the 16th.



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It was Saturday, December 7, 1974. I was pregnant with my first child, and I was tired. We had moved into our first little house on November 1. It had been a lot of work getting everything in order with an extra 25 pounds (that was all we were allowed to gain at that time).

I had finally finished the robe I needed to take to the hospital with me. I had picked up a crewel embroidery picture for the baby's room that had been framed. We went out for ice cream (yes, ice cream in December!). I was too tired to shower that night, so I went to bed and crashed.

You remember how it is with the first baby - you have all the classes, they tell you what to expect, but you still don't really have a clue what that first twinge of true labor is going to feel like. I started being suspicious around midnight, so went out to time the contractions on the couch so I wouldn't bother the daddy-to-be. Around 5:00 I let him know it was really time to go - greasy hair and all. All the way to the hospital, 11 miles north, he kept saying, "Are you sure, are you sure?" No, I wasn't sure! I'd never done this before. But I certainly didn't want to have the baby at home - better safe than sorry! He didn't want to get there and be sent home. About halfway there he said, "I don't know if I can do this or not." Do what, I say? It's too late to back out now! "Watch the delivery," he admits. We'd been through all the classes - he'd suffered through the delivery film. I thought he was ready.

He was by my side through all of the preliminaries. He got very involved watching the mountains and valleys of the contractions on the monitor. The time came to head into the delivery room. The doctor said, "Are you coming, D?" He said, "I sure am!" I was one relieved momma-to-be!

At 2:17 p.m. on Sunday, December 8, the best early Christmas gift possible, Kristen, arrived. She was beautiful and smart from the beginning. We were instantly in love. We took dozens of pictures, of course. It was hard to narrow them down to a "few," but here goes. (I tried to do a fancy slide show, but it just didn't work out).




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Age 3 months
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17 months
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Two Years
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Two and Three-Fourths
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I made this outfit
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First Boyfriend
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Kristen as Mary, Matthew as "Jopheph"
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Four and Two-Thirds
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Fifth Birthday - I "used to" be creative
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Christmas Program Sunday - Age 5
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Mom and Me Outfits - Age 6
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Fast Forward to Grade 8 - The Brace Age
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Christmas Eve Fun - Scavenger Hunt for Gifts
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Age 16, 10th Grade - the "Too Much Make-Up" Stage
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Lounging in the Back Yard on a Summer Day



The day we were celebrating Kristen's 4th birthday . . .

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. . . on the other side of the world, our future Daughter-in-Love was being born in Mombasa, Kenya. Who would believe that someday both of our daughters would celebrate their birthdays on the same day. Here are some pictures of her when she was little, though I don't know the ages. Wasn't she adorable?


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Age Six

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Age Six - Love the Boots!
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She grew up to be a beautiful, smart, industrious, loyal young woman. You can read her blog at Twenty Eight Celsius.
Please go and wish each of them a Happy Birthday!
Well, I also wanted to do the ornament parade today, but I will have to do it another day. I couldn't do both, and really wanted to honor the girls on their special day.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

30 comments:

Barb said...

How amazing they share birthdays, Dawn. I imagine that's a lot of fun for your family. And yes, they're both beautiful. I love these photos.

Anonymous said...

I never realized how much her two cuties like her, my word! Angie was so adorable (still is).

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday to your two girls, Dawn! We share birthdays in my family, woo.

Good job, especially getting all those pictures uploaded to Demon Blogger!

Merry Christmas!

xo

Diane Viere said...

Dawn,

How could you have EVER been ready for such JOY! What a beautiful tribute to two very beautiful young women!

What fun! I hope your day of celebration is perfect! You certainly started it in the most amazing way! Great photos.

Diane

Kristen said...

Thank you, Mommy!! And you got all those pics on there without my help! :-) Great job and what a great birthday surprise! (although, did you have to put the one with my butt sticking up in the air on there?!) ;-)

someone else said...

What wonderful pictures! It's cool they have the same birthday.

kpjara said...

What a wonderful birthday tribute! I'll go wish them both a Happy Birthday...1 day late...oops! I'll hold out for your Christmas Treasures as well! I'm sure it will be ongoing through Christmas.

I love all these pictures.

Tammy said...

Oh wow! That is amazing that they share birthdays! Both of them were so cute!

I loved your birth story! I'm guessing in 1974, having fathers go into the delivery room was still a little new- not the expected norm it is today!

Kristen was so cute with her blonde hair and adorable little hair cut!

Carole Burant said...

Happy Birthday to the two girls...what a coincidence that they should be born on the same day, at each end of the world:-) There was already a connection right from day one!! I so loved seeing all the pictures, both were just adorable!

Susie said...

Happy Birthday to both your daughters!
I love all the photos you shared and your remembrance of the day she was born!
My children are both born in January and their respective spouses are both born in December!
We party for 5 weeks!
:)

Pamela said...

Happy Happy Birthday to your sweet Daughter-in-law and your lovely Daughter, Kristen! What a nice job posting all the wonderful pictures to share with us! You and Kristen look so pretty in your Mother ~ Daughter dresses. You are a talented seamstress. Kristen could be a model she was so cute as a little girl and has just blossomed as a woman and Mom. You sure did a good job raising her Dawn!

Your Daughter-in-law is so pretty as well! Although I don't know her like I know Kristen, you have always said wonderful things about her and I so admire that she has achieved getting her college degree and being such a sweet daughter and wife to your son. I love the cute table with laced dollie covered chairs and all the pictures are just lovely but especially the one of her in the pretty white dress! :)

Have a great time celebrating!

Grafted Branch said...

That is one precious post! Both girls...same day? Same year? WOW! I love the look on Kristen's face in the "first boyfriend" pic...they're just hard-wired to be demure in such moments, aren't they?

Oh! And the Dorothy Hamill (sp?) hair! Love it, love it, LOVE it! lol.

This post was a real joy to read. Happy birth-day to you, too! ;)

Anonymous said...

wow, i forgot how cute kristen was when she was little, and of course my beautiful wife, its cool to see the same facial expressions on those young faces. however, i hate to steal the show, even at three years old i look incredible in a suit!!!

Tammy said...

Dawn, just wanted to add that I did go wish Kristen a Happy b-day...I'll have to go check out your daughter in law's blog, too! :)
(And loved that your son replied here...!) :)

Ms. Kathleen said...

How awesome! That is so awesome! Gee, I said that but it is! Happy Birthday to them both!

Thank you Dawn for all your prayers! God Bless!

Sema said...

Thanks for taking me down memory lane with this post. Those were some cute pictures!! And thank you for all the birthday wishes from everyone.

Anonymous said...

Wow, those early pictures of Kristen really look a lot like her little girls! I suppose you've probably noticed that before.

Nancy said...

Thanks for sharing this neat story about your 2 daughters born on the same day! Great pictures!

Linda said...

Happy birthday to your two lovely daughters. I think Kristen is a very special young woman, and I'm delighted to get to know your other special girl. Isn't God good? And He even gave them the same birthday. That is so neat!!
I love your story. If you're like me, it seems like only yesterday.

Girl Raised in the South said...

How perfect that they have the same birthdays. Amazing sometimes the "coincidences" God puts in our lives. Happy Birthday to both of them. xoxo

TJ said...

Dawn,
I wanted to come by and congratulate you on your blog award given by Restoring the years...and I want to say happy birthday to Kristen, I had no idea she was your daughter, she is always so sweet when she comments at my place, now I know where she gets it from!!
I will have to check out your daughter~in~loves blog, I bet it is great too!!
:-D

Anonymous said...

That's cool. Thanks for sharing with us. Doesn't God always have surprises we might not even know about for many years, just waiting for us...

Susan said...

What a wonderful tribute to your TWO girls!! Have a wonderful trip :o)
Susan

Nancy said...

Happy birthday to both girls and what a fantastic piture tribute for them. They are so lucky to have you for a mom and mil.

I hope the trip is just marvelous- enjoy every minute of it. No Fear just enjoy and soak up every precious moment!

Kristen said...

Thanks again, Mom! I hope you're having a safe flight and arrive at your destination soon! Have a wonderful time!

Ms. Kathleen said...

Precious daughters! God has surely blessed you and them! Hugs and have a fabulous time!

Linds said...

Happy Birthday to your 2 girls, Dawn! I am sorry I am late. Have the most wonderful holiday!

Tammy said...

What a wonderful post! Happy birthday to Kristen and your lovely daughter in law, too!
I loved Kristen's cute mushroom cut...adorable!

And I saw on a reply that you're in Hawaii right now!!! Hope you're having a wonderful time, Dawn!

Rita Loca said...

happy Birthday to them both! and what fun pics!

Mary said...

A wonderful post. Happy Birthday to both of your daughters.

Blessings,
Mary