Tuesday, March 3, 2009

happy birthday, jamie jim

monday's child is fair of face, tuesday's child is full of grace, wednesday's child is full of woe, thursday's child has far to go. friday's child is loving and giving, saturday's child works hard for a living. but the child that's born on the Sabbath day is blithe and winsome, and bonny and gay.

my son charged into the world a few minutes before 8 on a sunday evening. i was exactly two weeks past my due date, and more than happy to get the pregnancy over. he, having made up his mind to finally show up, took a mere four hours to barrel his way into the world, a tiny torpedo that got stuck right at the eyes.

i remember screaming "get it out, get it out," and the midwives yelling back, "you have to push," and me screaming louder, "i can't, it fucking hurts too much."

jamie arrived screaming, too.

our relationship has been periodically punctuated with a few screams since.

but jamie, if he is one of my more willful children, is also at many times one of my sweetest. he had a twinkle in his eye and a lilt in his laugh that was hard to resist. even our pediatrician, who was not the sort of man given to any kind of hyperbole once remarked, "he is a most attractive child, isn't he?"

and jamie was. he was lucky, really... being as cute as he was helped keep him alive.

one morning, when jamie was not quite three, shortly after we had moved jamie into his big boy bed and meg, then three or four months, into what had been jamie's old crib, i went into the bedroom they were sharing to discover jamie's bed empty.

i glanced into the crib - meg was sound asleep.

i spun on my heel, dashed into my oldest daughter's room to see if jamie had climbed in with her. no jamie. heart pounding, i checked the kitchen, the basement, the front yard, the backyard. no jamie. i was just about to call my husband at work, when i heard meg stirring.

i dashed upstairs, trying to imagine where in the world he could've gone, how he could've gotten out - both doors were locked - when i got to the crib. there, cuddled up together, were meg and jamie. she was cooing in his arms, he was smiling down at her beatifically, his little blond cherub's face beaming. "she know me special, mommy," he said, "she know me special."

indeed, we all do. happy birthday, jamie-jim, from the mommy whose hair you turned white.

and furthermore, the war will end. blessed be.

14 comments:

Divaeva said...

Happy Happy birthday Jamie Jim!!

Laura Rose said...

awww, happy birthday jamie...well we know he's attractive to be on the front of the calendar of the men of all seasons!!!

Allison said...

What a sweet story! Happy B day to Jamie Jim.

Unknown said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog this morning!:)

Dina said...

what a great story..happy birthday jamie

April said...

Happy Happy Birthday to Jamie Jim...hope it was the best ever!

Midlife, menopause, mistakes and random stuff... said...

Happy Birthday Jamie!!!!
Ahhh.....I too remember the "get it out, get it out scream!!

Annie, do you get anykind of aura from me when we speak? I mean, I know it's over the internet. Just wondering?

Steady On
Reggie Girl

Amy said...

Happy Birthday to your son. I love how he got into the crib with his sister. I was also yelling when I gave birth. I knew it was a girl so I yelled...."OH God get her out get her out.!!!"

Mindy said...

I LOVE the crib story. It is so sweet. Happy belated birthday to Jamie!!

Martha@A Sense of Humor is Essential said...

Happy Birthday Jamie!

Anonymous said...

Great story! I kinda thought you might find him there.

My Laurie came out, not yelling, but with such a vexed expression on her face!

(And what's this about a calendar? Your little son is posing for calendars?)

imbeingheldhostage said...

What a wonderful bday post!! Happy bday Jamie Jim :-)

We're on the same theme this week,,,

lynette355 said...

I hope he has a wonderful B-day!
My CG is also a sunday's child.
I mailed your box out today. Hope it is ok?

Dawn Parsons Smith said...

Sending belated Birthday wishes! (I'm really behind in my stalking duties!) I just love the crib story! (I also screamed "get it out" repeatedly with Cat!