My Birthday Girl

And here she is...The one who began the trend of baby girls falling softly from heaven and into my soul.  The one who schooled me on how to be a momma through the toughest fight of my life to birth her from within my swollen body, and then taught me how much I would crave to keep my babies close for the rest of my life.  The one who made me a mother.  And she is beautiful, this one.  From the day she was born, her spirit seemed to contain a quiet wisdom which shone with an inner light that made her different from other children.  She loved to entertain but it wasn't in a showy, look at me sort of way.  It was in a way that drew you out of your own space and your own inner-thoughts and brought you into hers.  It was meant to soothe and create joy.  She empathized with everyone around her and through that empathy she seemed to have the desire to create a magical world for you.  Magical.


She has a voice like an angel, this one.  For many years, she assisted the cantor at our synagogue in singing and chanting liturgy before the congregation at Friday night services and on the High Holy holidays.  Listening to her allowed me to rise above and as close to God as anything I could ever imagine, allowing me to float on the melody of her voice.  She must have been kissed by 10,000 angels before she was born.


She holds a certain grace about her.  She carries herself confidently but without any false pride.  She knows who she is and what she is capable of.  She leaves behind in a room, a wisp of a feeling that she has been there, but somehow the space seems brighter than before.  Maybe it is her beautiful smile.


This is my girl.  My Angel Daughter Number One.  My first child.  When she was little, I used to ask her why, out of all of the mommies in the world, did she choose me.  And her answer was always the same.  "Because you were the only one who was laughing, Momma."  Maybe that is because I knew exactly how much joy having you as my daughter would bring into my life, sweet girl.


Happy 24th birthday, AD1.  May life fold out before you in a way that brings you more laughter than tears, more joy than pain and more love than your heart can contain.  You make your momma proud, so proud.  Thank you for being my child.

A few photos from our Birthday celebration 

AD1 and her lovely college and beyond roommate

AD3 and Jacob(Notice that he is behaving!)

My Angel Daughters