Thirteen years ago tonight, until about 10PM, I played cards with my mother and Jon, we finished off the Halloween candy, and I was in a notably foul mood. I think they got tired of me, and we all went to bed, only to be jolted awake at midnight when I demanded to be driven to the hospital. We took the red '66 Mustang through blowing snow to Wellesley, Mass, where Audrey was born a little after 2am.
I was the first person ever to touch her, and it was all so wonderful to me. And I was forgiven for my crabbiness over the card game.
Jon and I sneaked out of the hospital with her at 6am. In the elevator on the way down, a lady asked me how old she was and I announced "3 and a half hours!" and everyone sort of jumped back in surprise. We stopped at Starbucks for a couple of lattes, and made it home in time for Mom's pancake breakfast where Audrey (in her carseat) was the centerpiece. 18 month old David was completely dazzled by her.
And then, two years ago tonight, I got up from a late dinner with the family at 8:15, feeling a bit "off".
I asked to be excused from kitchen cleanup, and trundled myself off for a warm tub. 45 minutes later, Maggie was born.
Again, I got to touch her first.
Jon was the attending medical expert that night, the midwife being busy pushing her car out of a snowbank in the Duffus's yard across the street.
Jon was my favorite delivery assistant ever, as he mostly just left me alone. As soon as he noticed she was born, he said "well, lets flip her over and see if we got that girl you were hoping for..."
Again, we thought it was pretty wonderful and another perfect day! Another perfect girl.
So this is our double anniversary of tiny but awesome gifts.
They continue to be blessings to us, and I'm so thankful for the lovely ladies they are becoming.
Happy Birthday Girls!!!
Audrey and Helen, and.....
..... Maggie, this must have been November.
Here's is Maggie a long time ago. One of my favorite shots of her. (Note the Mohawk.)
Audrey, when she was six and enroute to a ballet class, stopped to ham around with a dead rattlesnake. This is one of my favorite pictures of her, but it's not exactly HER favorite.This is the infamous snake that Michael stepped over in the backyard in Cherry Valley.....a day to remember.
4 comments:
Wow! Today I really must leave a post. I have been loving your blog, but usually need to dash away just when my fingers are about to touch the keyboard to leave a comment. Happy birthday to a couple of fantastic girls! The story of their births just wonderful.
I am wondering if there is a story behind you choosing to read Howards End. Since we are going to read it together (soon?) it has been on my mind and I was thinking that perhaps it may be because it is a story of two sisters, Helen and Margaret.
Anyway, between you running in the blistering cold and inspiring your entire household to be enthusiastic readers, I still think you are pretty amazing.
Holly
Haha....
You have been to my house, you know what it's really like here....it doesn't LOOK amazing, unless you find clutter amazing.
I am excited to be reminded about the sisters Helen and Margaret. I had forgotten that part.
Another fun literary link to the Ween girls is this: Dr. Seuss was married twice, and the first wife was named Helen, and the second was Audrey.
Tell me the snake was dead when he stepped over it?
No, alive.
It was dead soon after being shot through the head.
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