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Monday, March 10, 2008

Could It Be 15 Years AlreadY?

Today is my eldest daughter’s fifteenth birthday. Time flies! I remember before she was born I had the strangest feeling I was having a boy. You know how we Moms hone in on that intuition at the end of a pregnancy and mine was beeping boy.

At that time in the world of babies, you didn’t have a lot of sonograms and knowing the baby’s sex wasn’t the norm. Having already had a son, I thought it would be nice they’d have each other. Yet, having no sisters of my own, I longed for a girl.

When she was born, the doctor informed us she was male and my husband and I hugged. I thought to myself the baby’s healthy, yes, I’m outnumbered but it will be just fine. I was thankful.

The morning before my Mom had come over and we were discussing the baby’s sex. She thought for sure she’d have a granddaughter. She brought over a gold baby bracelet that was mine and she said, “Wouldn’t it be nice if we had someone to wear this?” I expressed my thoughts and she smiled, “We’ll see!”

The delivery nurse brought our newborn over to the warming table just as I was warming up to the idea of two sons.

“Oh, Mom and Dad!” ,she shrieked, “I’m so sorry-we’ve made a mistake, it’s not a boy, it’s a girl!” I could not believe my ears; it was so surreal. My husband, the toughie Crime Scene Investigator, just started crying and said he was so happy for me. I couldn’t speak. She was the first granddaughter on both sides of our families.

“I guess we didn’t check thoroughly enough”, the delivery nurse chuckled as she gave me the baby, a replica of her Dad. I was mesmerized by her!

My husband said he was going out into the hall to make the phone calls. “I’ll call your Mom first”, he said.

I told him not to tell her what we had. He was puzzled.

“Just say to her, ‘Tara says bring the bracelet’”. When he came back he said he did exactly what I had asked and you could hear her yelling all through the hospital hallway!



37 comments:

Unknown said...

Oh, tara, this is a fabulous post, reminds me when I gave birth to my first daughter, we were so exited over having her. 2 months after her birth, my husband and I had the shock of our lives, i was pregnant again! and another girl was born 11 months after the 1st, I must say the first few years were anything but bliss having them born so close. My eldest is 11 now, me-dreading the day when they go into the teenager phase, maybe i'll be coming to you then for more tips, have a fabulous week !!

Abbie said...

Good Morning Tara!
What a wonderful story to tell your daughter! I'm terrified at the thought of my daughters being teenagers.. they are hard enough now!! :) Have a fabulous week!
Hugs,
Abbie

Mary said...

Hi Tara,
What a terrific story! Happy birthday to your sweet daughter. Ages 14 and 15 were kind of tough in our house, but sixteen is slightly better, if that is any consolation...

Loved the kitty in the hammock, btw!
xoxo,
Mary

Deb said...

What a lovely story!
Happy Birthday to your daughter!

kelly said...

happy day!

Amongst The Oaks said...

What a sweet story. I have two daughters (14 and 16)and wouldn't trade them for anything! Love them even when they are fighting - like this morning.
Hugs, Laura

Donna said...

What a beautiful story! Happy Birthday to your daughter!
Hugs,
Donna

John-Michael said...

Well, you've done it again! Doggone it, no tissues at hand. Drat!

You, Dear One have a gift for playing my heart strings like a fine tuned cello (I would say bass [size-wise] but prefer the mournfully warm tones of the cello.)

Thank you for including us in your moment of wonder and joyful reflection. You bless!

Mary said...

A beautifully told story. The same thing happened to me with my first. With no ultrsound, three doctors were certain it was a boy. When they said "It's a girl" my first thought was ... Really? Check again. About 15 minutes later I couldn't imagine having anything else. I went on to have 2more girls before my 1 boy.

Can't imagine anything else.

Jennifer said...

Great story, Tara. Think I've told you about a million times how much I love visiting your site, but I'm saying it again! Thanks for a great Monday story.

amanda said...

What a wonderful story! Happy birthday to your daughter and Happy "Birth Day" to you! The day your children were born is such a special day for you as well!

Thanks for sharing!
Amanda:)

Mockingbird Hill said...

Sweet story. When I was pregnant I was sure it was a boy and even had boy clothes in the nirsery closet. I worked in a hospital and had an ultrasound peek about once a week...and they said it was a girl, but I wasn't buyin' it. Anyway...almost 24 years later, my daughter is the sunshine in my life. Things always seem to work out as they should..

Happy Birthday to your baby...

Cassie

Mary Isabella and Kiley too! said...

Happy Birthday to your sweet daughter. Such a precious story...Smiles

A Romantic Porch said...

I lOVE that story. Tell your daughter Happy Birthday. Have a wonderful day celebrating! xoRachel

Carletta said...

Tara, I had tears in my eyes as I read your story. No Mom could read this and not go back to "the day" their own child was born.
Give your daughter a birthday hug and tell her to give you one!
Blessings to you all.

Janet said...

Great story Tara and Happy Birthday to your daughter.

When I was pregnant with my second son I was sure he was a girl. When the Dr. said "Congratulations, it's a boy" I turned to my husband and said "we can have the sex change operation done later". I am sure the Dr. is still scratching his head over that one. Good thing it was natural with no drugs, I can only imagine how goofy i would have been with drugs :)

Wouldn't trade him for anything!

Janet

Anonymous said...

What a sweet story...you brought tears to my eyes. When my third child was born I just knew it would be my third boy even though I was secretly longing for a girl. When she was born my Mom asked if she could bring me something. My answer...anything with ruffles on the butt. I finally had my living doll to dress up! :) A very Happy Birthday to your doll!

Elle Jay Bee said...

What a lovely story...and what a wonderful surprise!! Happy Birthday to your sweet girl!

Linda
xoxo

Kissing of the Frogs said...

Tara,
What a beautiful...beautiful story. My baby will be 9 this week too, I can hardly believe it.
Happy Birthday to your sweet girl.
Hugs,
Rose

Kathi said...

What a darling story. I love the part about the bracelet...Soooo awe inspiring. I can just imagine how you all felt. I had a son first and would have gladly, like you accepted another. When the my baby was born, my mother was there, and stated, "It's a boy." Right then the nurst spoke up and said, "No, that was the cord. It's a girl." My heart was over joyed. I was so excited. We now have four sweet children; two of each. I'm truly thankful for each one. Thanks for visiting me.

Have a wonderful week. Kathi

oliver rain said...

That is just a wonderful story. I wanted a girl so badly when I was pregnant. I dreamt about alternately having little blond girls or kittens the whole nine months. When she was born, I was absolutely overjoyed. I kept saying over and over "I wanted a girl, I wanted a girl". The doctor and nurses kept saying back to me, "We know, we know". A boy would have been fun too, but I'm so grateful for my daughter. She's like having my own dress up doll, at least she was when she was younger.

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

What a beautiful, sweet memory!

I had a Caesarean section when my daughter was born and was awake with epidural anesthesia. There were 21 student nurses watching -how could I say "No" when I was a nurse myself?
When the doctor lifted my daughter out, one of the students yelled out "OH BOY!" in excitement, and I thought they were announcing that I had a boy. When the doctor told me a few seconds later "you have a beautiful girl" I was so confused -- I thought I had twins!

Happy Birthday to your daughter!

Hugs, Pat

Susie Q said...

What a beautiful, sweet story. That bracelet will always be a treasure for your sweet daughter.

Happy 15th to her...many, many blessings!

Hugs,
Sue

Rosie's Whimsy said...

What a sweet story. They grow up so fast don't they?

((hugs)) Rosie

Tracy said...

Such a sweet story, Tara! Hope your daughter had a wonderful 15th...Happy Days ((HUGS))

Rhondi said...

Hi Tara Just stopping by to say hello. I love the color of your bedroom walls. What a fun story about your daughter's birth. Glad you got a girl. Every woman deserves a daughter. We have 3 sons and a daughter and I feel so blessed. I hope you enjoy your day Rhondi xo

Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality said...

Hi, Tara, what a sweet story! Happy Birthday to your little girl. Oh, and I had to laugh at your $25 dog poop ordeal....too funny! I hope your days got better after that one.

Rhoda

Jeanie said...

What dear little baby feet! What size are they now?! This is a delightful and lovely post. So glad I stopped in.

Melissa @ The Inspired Room said...

That is an adorable story!!! Both of my daughters predate the ultrasound days so we didn't know what they were until they were born. But for my son, we found out. I must say that I was in shock about having a boy! I wasn't sure I was ready to deal with the boy world. But, it has been a blast so far! All I asked of God is that he be cute and healthy. And he is!

Happy day!
Melissa

Tina Leavy said...

Happy Birthday to your daughter..what a sweet post. I have a daughter that will soon be turning 17..wow! time flies!

Cottage Contessa said...

Oh Tara! Sweetie reading this gave me goose bumps! What a wonderful story, I love the end part! Happy 15th Birthday to your very lovely daughter!
Amanda (aka Cottage Contessa)

Debra said...

I have no motherhood insights, but I feel like I'm 15 if that's relevant. =)

Happy belated birthday to your daughter, and thanks for popping into my page. It would appear yours is a clearinghouse for blogs =) (and your main picture makes me feel good and happy just looking at it.)

Kathleen Grace said...

yes, time flies too fast, my youngest graduated high school this year! What a wonderful story and a big surprise at the birth:>)

Siobhan said...

Hello dear Tara, That was a wonderful story!!! I will have to share my experience one day too...somewhat similar but mine included my son being taken out in a pink blanket and giving my mum a shock as we were told we were expecting a boy!!! My mum nearly fell on the floor, lol.
Please pass on my best wishes to your daughter and I hope she has a fab day! :)

Siobhan xoxo

CIELO said...

Good Morning Tara!
What a lovely post! Happy Birthday to your daughter and a life full of happiness!

Have a fabulous week!

Blessings

Cielo

Anonymous said...

Such a sweet story! Aren't daughtes amazing!?!

Anonymous said...

"Tara says bring the bracelet". I got a lump in my throat after reading that. ~ Lynn