Happy Birthday to Me

Today I turn thirty-three. I have wrinkles. I have two stretch marks (those stupid scars from my kidney surgeries just would not stretch). But I have a lovely husband and two little nuggets of sweet child flesh that I love so much. Molly woke me early to nurse. She got her first tooth yesterday and lets just say she has put it to good use already. She takes that you-know-what and clamps down on my you-know-which-tender-part and then does a twist, stretch and turn move that I like to call "Gummy Nipple." If that won't wake you up feeling refreshed and give you a spring in your step, I don't know what will! Frankie and Dean made me a card and Frankie dictated what she wanted to say. Primarily, she enumerated the reasons for her love for me and it pretty much was limited to the multiple variations of treats I give her.
Here is a picture of me on my thirtieth birthday. This was, and I kid you not, the last time I was photographed alone. You can't see it very well, except for the puffy face, but I am greatly swollen with child. Frankie popped out three days later. As you can see, though, nachos have long been a mainstay of my happiness.
Notice also that my hairdo is remarkably similar to Sarah Palin's. This is unfortunate.



Even though I am never photographed alone, and rarely photographed period, this is all made up for by the presence of the two tiny presents that keep on giving, day after day. A cheesy gummy grin from the crib in the morning from Molly and a "Mommy, I'm all done sleeping!" yell from Frankie are the best birthday gifts ever.