Happy Birthday, Handsome Boy!

Twenty-one years ago...

... the Boy followed his sister into the world!

From the start, he was a sweet, easy-going baby.

A good sleeper, a good eater, and a good cuddler,

he explored the world around him and thoughtfully took note.

He was a funny-looking little manny; my ob/gyn said,

"He looks just like Mister Magoo!"

But he grew into a handsome boy and young man.

(Nope.  No trace of Mister Magoo here.)

While other mothers complained about their uncontrollable crazy-boys...

...I just replied, "I don't have one of those."

Oh, he liked his Legos and toy swords and wrestling with his buds,

but from an early age he loved to read, read, read.

We spent many happy afternoons at the bookstore,

reading and browsing and bringing home bags and bags of books.

(A boy in his natural habitat, on the couch with a dog and a book.)

His transition through puberty seemed to last about ten minutes,

because he went from being an thoughtful, kind, mature kid

to a thoughtful, kind, mature young adult

without making a stop at the exasperating out-of-control teen stage.

(Nope. Nothing familiar about this.)

He has a great sense of humor (which means we find the same things funny)

and he loves to find a video or story or turn of phrase to make the rest of the family laugh.

Although it's in his nature to be the designated driver,

on August eighth I plan to share a (legal) fruit-infused alcoholic drink

with my smoothie-lovin' boy.

Happy Birthday, Sweet Boy!

You are a delight.

Happy Birthday, Baby Girl!

Twenty-one years ago...

...the Girl (and her twin brother) arrived on the scene!

She was feisty and determined from the beginning.

Once she learned to crawl, she was heading down the hall to roust me from the bathroom.

"Mooooommmy?"

When she began to talk, she decided I wasn't playing "Where's Your Nose?" to her abilities,

so she took it upon herself to expand her vocabulary.

"Nose?  Eyes?  Mouff?"

She was tiny and big-eyed, and reminded people of Little Cindy Lou Who
(who was no more than two.)

(This Cindy Lou, not the one from the awful live-action movie.)

She's been an animal lover from the beginning,

and has added greatly to the menagerie that is our house
by bringing in rats, birds, dogs and cats.

(The crazy thing?  We actually have more animals than this.)

She was whip-smart from the beginning at school,

at bobbed at the top of her class from kindergarten through twelfth.

She balances her brains with craftiness,

and taught herself sewing, knitting, spinning, and any other handcraft she set her mind to.

(Yeah, this is a pretty accurate representation of her room.)

She has a great science-math mind,

but doesn't fit the socially-inept stereotype of the proud geek; 

instead, she interacts quietly but well with adults, her peers,

and the kids she leads at summer camp.

"Hey, kids, after some s'mores, let's make lanyards!"

She's a great kid who grew into a terrific young woman

and I'll be a proud mama on August the eighth when I hoist a (legal) drink with my girl.

Happy Birthday, Sweet Girl!

You grew up good.