Tuesday, February 05, 2008

Seeds of love

Today, February 5th, is my best friend's 30 1/2 birthday.

1/2 birthday? Yup, her half birthday. In the world of five year olds, half birthdays are equally as important as actually birthdays. Jay turned 5 and a half last week and his teacher made a production out of it. "I am 5 1/2 now!" He screams outloud.

The husband and I got married on Natka's birthday. August 5th. We made a t-shirt for her, "It's my birthday and all I got was this T-shirt" a picture of the husband and I plastered across her petunias. She eagerly tossed it over her maid of honor dress and promptly spilled a Cosmo on it.

I met Natka twenty plus years ago at sleep away camp. It was my first year at the camp and her second. She wore real Umbros and real Keds. She WAS cool.

She is cool.

I have one friend. One real, she will do anything for me, girl friend. The godmother to Jay. A member of our family. My children call her Cocia Natka, or Aunt Natka, and just recently realized she isn't blood related.

"Cocia Natka is married, right Mama?" Lola asked me yesterday as we were driving back from gymnastics.

"Yes."

"Then how come she doesn't have any kiddos?" She asks.

"Well. Because. Because she needs some seeds in her tummy. God will make the seeds grow bigger with love. And this love will make a baby." I answered. Dammit, I really need to remember to have music on at all times in the car.

"Mama. Where do you get baby seeds from?" Jay enters the conversation.

"Great question. Where do you think the seeds come from?" I save the conversation by turning the tables. (Note to moms: this never fails)

"I know! I know! You can buy baby seeds from Babies-R-Us." Lola is grinning knowing she just said something brilliant.

"I never saw seeds at THAT store." Jay informs.

"YES!!! That is where you buy baby seeds and all things for baby." Lola lashes back.

"No. There are no seeds THERE! You can buy seeds at the Wal-mart! I saw them there!" Jay, very seriously, educates us. Geez, where is the music? I always have music on in the car.

"Maaaa-maaaa-maaaaa!" Sweet baby Fifi joins the conversation. Her SECOND word ever. First word was "This?" I turn around to face Fifi as she is clearly looking into my eyes and saying MAMA for the very first time. I pull the car over, in the nearest parking lot, and for the one hundreth time that day, smoother all three of them with kisses. I laughed out loud and then I cried. This is the LAST time I will hear "Mama" for the first time out of my child.

The first time you hear the words, "Maaaaa-maaaaa" you will cry with happiness. For days, you will cry. With the second child you will laugh out loud and do a little dance. When you hear "Mama" from your third (or last) child, you will savor the moment and do both: cry and laugh.

56classy comments:

krissy said...

Hi Ohmomma!

I have a friend like yours. The friend that is a soul sister and meant to be a part of your life! Actually, I have a lot of friends like that but one of them is very special to my heart!!!

Your kids are very witty! LOL! And congrats on the baby saying "mama"! It's bittersweet, I know!

Kash said...

Yes friendships like that are God's blessings. Thank God for girlfriends.

Kash said...

And I am so happy little Fifi said your name, Gosh, that must be so special!!!

Anonymous said...

Funny! If only it were really that simple... Just think, you could select the traits that you would want in your kids and bingo... Thre you have it!

Jenni said...

My uterus is convulsing! And I really don't need a number 5...yet.

Now excuse me while I go call my best friend.

Anonymous said...

What a great post! And the two of you look fantastic in that picture. I will pray for Walmart to send her some seeds! :)

Mr Lady said...

You? Great mama. Great BFF. Hearts.

Amy said...

You are an amazing friend to know that it is her half birthday.

Amazing.

You see I didn't even realize until I read your post that due to my lovely West Coast location, it is still February 4th were I sit. And February 4th, my dear, is MY HALF BIRTHDAY. I have exactly 59 minutes to celebrate!

I can't believe everyone forgot, including me!

Putting the FUN in DysFUNctional said...

I remember those days so well. I tried so hard to get my kids to say Mama! They just wanted to say Dada. blah!
I love your blog! =)

carrie said...

Great friends like this are the best! And I find it funny that Katie asked me, right before bed, "but mommy, HOW do the babies get in there?" I am not having this discussion with a 4-year-old! I am not!

I just told her, "they get there when they're ready." How lame is that? :)

carrie said...

I just HAVE to add you to my blogroll . . . hope you don't mind?

Anonymous said...

Happy 1/2 birthday, Natka! We will celebrate with an apple martini on 3/8, no? That is, if you haven't hit WalMart or wherever for those seeds yet...

Ohmommy, great post...girlfriends are the best, and I send hugs to you for this one.

Irene said...

Walmart...that is sweet. Thanks for the table turning advice. My 6 yo is starting to ask lots of questions so I just know the big questions are around the corner.

You are very lucky to have such a friend!

Amy said...

Oh that conversation was hysterical! And her first "mama", ooh melting my heart!
What a fabulous person to have in your life and she is so lucky to have you in hers!!

Stephanie said...

How sweet! You're a good mommy pulling over to give them kisses! That's the thing that memories are made of that make kids remember their childhood fondly! Congrats on "mama" and baby dust to your friend!

AutoSysGene said...

Happy 1/2 Birthday, Natka! And congrats to Fifi for saying that most important word Mama!!

Don Mills Diva said...

Look at you two gorgeous chicks! I have a friend like that too - they're the best...

Janice {Run Far} said...

I love that you so quickly pulled the car over and smothered your kiddos in kisses, that is priceless. I also love that you have that one unique BFF. I still don't seem to have one, I do have a twin and she is my BFF.

Monica said...

So sweet. And while I'm selectively ignoring the fact that you do indeed have ANOTHER best friend ;) I have to say I do too, and they're the best. They're the most special people in the world... best girlfriends. mwa! to you and your BFF (kisses in the Prince's language). P.S. - I love this picture of YOU so much that I'll be staring at it all day too. puffy, squishy hearts to you...

Unknown said...

Great post and gorgeous picture!

If only I'd known I could get my seeds at Wal Mart! So much easier!!

I love hearing mama...usually...some days I do wish they would forget my name is Mommy.

suchsimplepleasures said...

i always have had my kids answer those types of questions. i love hearing how they think!
i have a very, very best girlfriend. i met her about a year after she moved here from russia. we worked together. the first time she met me, she announced in a very heavy russian accent..."you and i are going to be best friends!" and...she was right. from that day on. her children are like my own. and vice versa. she is my heart!! i'm so grateful for her.
great post, honey!!
btw...don't listen to me, about dogs. i'm a cat person. we have a dog because everyone else in the house wanted one!! and...only being the mommy, my pleading and begging to forgo the dog and get another cat...was left unheard. but...small dogs are good. they're like cats!!
xoxo

Maria said...

Aww, that nice. You two look like sisters!
Maria

Wendi said...

Yea for baby saying Mama... What a milestone(for you both!)

I loved the next to the last paragraph and how you described to perfection how moms of three kids feel about hearing the word MaMa. Perfect!

I need friends like you... I don't think any of mine would remember my 1/2 birthdays...that was great! When she counts her friends...she should count you -twice!

Lisa (the girls' moma) said...

What a sweet post and loving tribute for your BFF. It's so good to hear some genuine love still exists out there!

LunaNik said...

Happy 1/2 birthday to your bff!!

BTW, that pic is perfection...you both look so beautiful!

Holly (2 Kids and Tired) said...

Girlfriends make our lives complete in ways our husbands and children can't! And good for Fifi! What a sweet moment.

Anonymous said...

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww! I wish I could hear Mamma for the first time again. Cherish it.

The baby seeds at Wal-Mart? Good one! Way back when I was pregnant with M, B told everyone he knew that babies came from church. I still think that's funny.

Chanin said...

That about made me cry...the feeling you get when your baby says Mama is overwhelming! I can't wait for mine to say it!!!

Lisa said...

There's nothing like a best friend. Nothing. You've read about my girls' Aunt Jen & how she just had her first little man. Having my best friend join the ranks of motherhood with me has been yet another blessing...another thing to share. I hope your sweet friend, Natka, has a lovely day & grows a baby for you to love on very soon!

Lisa said...

PS - Seriously beutiful picture. You're hot!

Lisa said...

PSS - How sweet that Fifi said Mama. Doesn't it make your heart soar with pride and break in half all at the same time?!?!

david mcmahon said...

Yep, I can relate to that issue! I'm a Dad of three. Bin there, done that!!

And thanks for the answers to yesterday's post.

I cannot imagine my life without my children. They enrich my every moment of existence.

Would you mind if I added you to my blogroll? Do let me know - just leave a Yes or No as a comment on my blog ....

girlymom said...

What an exciting moment and yet so bittersweet too!

I'm cheering for the Walmart seeds too! Maybe a half bday present! :)

Karen said...

How wonderful to have such a great best friend. And hearing your own kids call you mama for the first time is better than Disney magic. I'm still waiting to hear it from my baby. Drat him, he says Pigs, Shrek, and all sorts of things but he won't refer to me.

Tara R. said...

Your children are so sweet! Baby seeds at Babies R Us... that's precious!

Anonymous said...

MILF'S LOL!

What's wrong with 30? is there something you forgot to do in your 20's? I think older is better...

ConverseMomma said...

Beautiful! Both your friendship and your love for your children. I have been thinking alot about a third. I don't think I'm ready for Molly to be the baby. I may have to run out to wal-mart, myself.

Kat said...

I hear ya! My little one is turning 1 on Friday, and now I'm thinking I may just need another.
Fabulous post! Again!

karenmeg1 said...

If it were only so easy to get baby seeds at Walmart LOL! When we were trying to get pregnant it was like trying to find a Wii.

So nice that you have a lifelong friend like that. Happy 30.5 to her!

And yeah for Fifi saying Mama... funny first word, though!! My kids both said Dada first.

♥♥♥ A- Licious ♥♥♥ said...

awwwwwwwwwwwwwww that was so sweet!
what a darling blog today! YAY!

love it!

cherish those friends!
cherish those moments!

Love Life!

xoxoxo

Kellan said...

Baby seeds at BAbies-R-Us - that is hysterical and I need to remember that when Alexis asks me again - like she did the other night!! Cute story and Happy 30 1/2 Birthday to your pretty friend - great picture. See you soon. Kellan

Beth from the Funny Farm said...

Happy 1/2 birthday to your friend!

:-) Beth

Kristen said...

I hope I am as creative as you are when my little two start asking questions!!

And CONGRATS on Mama!! Is there a better word?? :-)

Laski said...

Wow--that is awesome that you have someone in your life like that and that she has you!

My BFFs were you and I was your BF---I had no idea what joy having a child would be--they wanted so much for me to feel it. I'm glad I did, of course! And them--they couldn't be happier . . .

Awesome "seed" conversation!

Momo Fali said...

I laughed so hard about "This". My son couldn't pronounce one of his aunt's names (Veronica), so he started calling her, "This". He's five and he still calls her that. Cracks us up!

Anonymous said...

What a very sweet post!

Caroline C. Bingham said...

So sweet. Happy half birthday and happy half anniverary.

And Fifi! ohmygoodness. Didn't you tell her to stay a baby forever?

Amy said...

what a lovely post!

Cecily R said...

I remember the REAL Umbros and REAL Keds days!!

And oh how I love your kids and what they say!

Yay for Fifi and saying your name and yay for a mamma who pulls over the car to acknowledge it.

Grandy said...

Happy belated 1/2 to your friend, and how wonderful that you both have eachother!! ;)

Unknown said...

You just keep getting more pretty in ever pic I see of you...

PS. Strength my sweetness. You are too pretty! You will get wrinkles! Avoid Botox!! STRENGTH.

PPS. That was your first reminder of the day.

Jenera said...

I found you through David McMahon's blog :).

When my little man first said Mama I almost died. I was so ecstatic. He's almost two and has said a few things here and there but my favorite, more than mama, was when he said love you one night. I just started balling.

Anonymous said...

Seriously, I would be lost without my girlfriends..

PS.. You look stunning in this photo!!

Jeni said...

When my oldest was born, I was working tons of overtime to support her, my Mom and myself. My Mom was her caretaker and her first word(s) -"Mum Mum" which was what she called her Grandma for a couple years. When my two other children came along, work, dealing with a husband who had a penchant for beer and other women and I have no recollection of when either of those two kids said my name or Mom or whatever. My first grandchild -I was lucky to see him once every 4-6 weeks, so I missed that with him. When my granddaughter came into the world, I was determined she would say "Grandma" or "Grammie" -after all they (her parents and her) and I were all living together so it stood to reason -to me anyway. She was 2 1/2 years old before she said her first word, which was two, and finally, when she was about three years old, my beautiful little princess said it -"Grammie" and I was in 7th heaven! Her little brother who will be two come April now is still, like his sister before him, very non-verbal but you can bet your bottom dollar I will be pushing him too once he starts to talk to say "Grammie" too cause hearing that is just music to ones ears for sure!

Maggie May said...

I enjoyed this post! The half is very important to little people.By the time you get to my age, you try to think of ways of reducing the years altogether!

Unknown said...

just got back from Mexico...dumped out my luggage for laundry prep, sat at computer to see how little money exists in my checking account post vaca and then went onto your blog to see what i've been missing. I. LOVE. YOU. so much. half birthday??? and posting our best picture together EVER!! you're the best!! am so lucky to have you in my life...we're kindered spirits, soulmates, BFF!! and tell your kiddos that i haven't gone to walmart to buy the seeds just yet...i hear they get marked down at the end of summer (wink, wink)...and you know that i can never say no to a bargain. (this also means that the apple martinis will be flowing on 3/8).

thanks for everyone else for the 1/2 bday wishes, too.

 

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