Tuesday, February 19, 2013

My Sonny Boy Turns Forty-Seven Today


Top: 7 months
Middle: 18 months
Bottom: 11 years


I cannot believe that my sweet, chubby baby boy has been on the planet for that long. I remember the night of his birth like it was yesterday. My due date was early March, but like most pregnant women, I was desperately hoping he would make an early appearance. On the 18th, I felt better than I had in nine months. I cleaned the whole house, I scrubbed floors, I ironed. At midnight, as I sat on the couch watching Johnny Carson's Tonight Show, my water broke. All. Over. Everything. Mr. kenju was already asleep (as usual) and after I woke him to explain what was happening, he put on his robe and proceeded to turn on every light in the house. Every
light.

I called the doctor, who told us to get to the hospital pronto, so we packed my bag, turned off all the lights and got in the car for the 20 minute trip to the hospital. Mr. kenju was so excited that he ran a red light. I told him that wasn't necessary; all we needed was to be stopped by a policeman. I had visions of my baby being born in the rear seat of our old Plymouth sedan, which was not the way I planned it. We arrived about 1 am, and after checking in, we were escorted to the delivery suite by a chatty woman who babbled incessantly about cats. I think she thought I was nervous and that would help to get my mind off the impending birth. She was right. I had NO idea what to expect, though I had been admonished by a doctor I worked with at the time, to read everything I could about the process of labor and childbirth. Fear leads to tense muscles, which prolongs labor. Knowledge alleviates that to some extent. My boy arrived 4 hours later, at 4:50 am.

I am not sure why they taught me about fear and then knocked me unconscious with anesthesia. I was completely out when my boy was born, and to this day, I hate that it happened that way. Even so, the doctor said I was just like the women in Pearl Buck's "The Good Earth"; they dropped the babies out in the fields and went right back to hoeing.

My handsome boy is still built just like he was at eleven; all long bones, sinew and muscle - but no fat whatsoever. He now has a lovely wife and two beautiful daughters of his own. I am so proud of them all.

Have VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Sonny Boy!





(reposted)







(Reposted from six years ago.)
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50 comments:

Anonymous said...

I guess you never stop being proud of your baby... Mine are 3 and 6... lot's of proud moments to come..

Anonymous said...

LOL! I bet he'll love seeing those pictures!
Congrats to your son, and to you as well! I always congratulate the moms on their kid's birthdays. After all, theydid all the work to bring 'em up!

y'all sound very blessed indeed. :)

btw, Judy, re: my previous comment... I can now see your pictures again,and picts on other web pages as well. I had accidentally checked the wrong security button on Firefox, so it began to block all the pictures from various blogs as a result.

ye gawds, it was maddening, just trying to get that straightened out! LOl.
Anyway, have a good time this weekend. :)

Lisa said...

happy birthday to your son! You sound like one proud Mama! (I turned 40 in december, and my poor mom is still saying, "But I'm not old enough to have a daughter who is 40!!!"

heh heh . Poor mom.

kontan said...

Happy Birthday to son kenju!!! Adorable pics!

here from micheles tonight

srp said...

Happy Birthday to the Sonny Boy!
I kinda remember being 40. :)
It's a haze, but seems like a few things from the 40's remain in my old brain. Instead of saying I'm not old enough to have a child who is 40, I'm saying "I'm too old to have a teenager still."
Have a great day tomorrow.

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday to your son!
I love to hear birth stories from all ages of life. The proud mama still. I love that.

Malinda777 said...

Awwww!! Kenju, I think when it comes to our children we are much alike. My oldest is 22. I'm taking a wild guess here, but tell the truth...if you are like me, you had to grab a tissue somewhere in the middle of writing that as your "eye leaked" with a moist venting of proud joy.

OldLady Of The Hills said...

I love these photgraphs of your Birthday Boy Judy! He is soooo beautiful and at 11, very very handsome! Would love to see a picture of him now, at 40! Hope you have a lovely time at the Birhday Celebration.

Star said...

Nice post. I bet he's thrilled you posted that picture of him by the pool. Does it feel odd to you that you have a child in their 40's? My oldest is 32 and I find it somewhat surreal. Mostly because I think I am only inmy 30's.

sage said...

A nice tribute to your son. An upside down pineapple cake--haven't had one of those in years!

Tracy S said...

I have always heard that a woman will start cleaning like crazy right before she goes into labor...

What was with the turning on of EVERY light?..lol A little nervous was he?..lol

Beautiful tribute to your son.Sounds like you are both very blessed :)

Eddie said...

I just read the words of a proud mom. I wish your son a happy birthday and his mom a happy birthing day.

Merle said...

Judy ~~ Some nice photos of your
son at various ages. A recent one would be nice.
My eldest son is 51, early 52, so
we are all getting on. Time flys.
Have a lovely celebration, and wish him a Hapy Birthday.

Tracy S said...

Yeah!! i got to come see you again :)
I like it here ...It always feels so homey:)

I hope your son has a great birthday!!!

ribbiticus said...

happy birthday to your son! he is so lucky to have you for his mom. :)

Daisy said...

Happy Birthday to you and Sonny!!!

Anonymous said...

I love the white high top hard bottom shoes! Do you know how hard it is to find a descent shoe these days for a child? I am already looking for sources for when this baby boy is ready for walking. I would so completely dress my son like it was the 1960's. It is a look that I think is proper for children.

OldHorsetailSnake said...

Happy birthday, Sonny. Did you know you have some peachy parents?

Anonymous said...

I onced asked my dad, "Isn't it funny to see your kids get old?" He said, "No, I love it that I'm not the only one!"

We do love our boys!

poopie said...

Partay! I just want to pinch those little chubby cheeks :)

Ramona said...

there is nothing like being 40!
here via Michele...

Daydreamer of Oz said...

What a cutie...found you at Michele's

Viamarie said...

Happy Birthday to Sonny Boy! My 32 yr old daughter's birthday is also today (19th).

Congratulations to us both for bringing up wonderful children.

Here via Michele's.

Zee said...

The best cake ever for a birthday!! Congratulations to your Birthday Boy! :)

Unique Designs from Zazzle said...

ah yes, 1966 - was a great year. I turn 40 in August and my mom turns 70 the month before.

carmilevy said...

Thanks, Judy, for sharing this image - and these images - with us. The pictures remind me of those my parents took when I was a kid. Your pride is obvious in your every word.

Enjoy the celebration. Richly deserved for you all.

Anonymous said...

here from Michele's...

How cute..you sound like a GREAT mother!

Anonymous said...

You have a child who is forty?? This boggles my mind. I have to think about this awhile.

Yes- childbirth as evolved since then- although I had mine during the au natural phase with no pain relief (that's because it didn't hurt silly! It was natural! You just had to breathe correctly. la-de-da!) and now they are routinely providing some.

Congrats and Happy Birthday celebration!

dena said...

Great pictures of your son, and a very, very happy birthday to him, and for you, the woman who gave birth!

Anonymous said...

happy birthday to your son!

Jamie Dawn said...

Happy Birthday to Sonny Boy!!!!!!
I'm sure he thoroughly enjoyed that cake and your visit.
I love that picture of him showing his muscles.
I hope your weekend has been fun.

Anonymous said...

Happy birthday to your son! My kid brother turns 46 this very same sunday. Like Prince Andrew!

Joy said...

My son was born 3 days before my birthday, so I got to bring home my best gift ever on my birthday.

Happy Birthday to your son and hope you had a wonderful visit.

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday to your son and no we do not have the same birthday. Mine was the 7th, but we put the party off until the 19th and the three-day weekend.

LL Cool Joe said...

Aww cute!! What a great story. Happy birthday to your son!!

OldLady Of The Hills said...

I remember those pictures from six years ago, my dear Judy....And now your Beautiful Boy is 46?? How time flies....!!
Hope he has a WONDERFUL Day and enjoys his special Birthday cake made by his proud Mama!!!

sage said...

Happy birthday to your oldest child, Judy! And a pineapple upside down cake, that sounds good!

Joy Des Jardins said...

Sweet, sweet face. Happy Birthday to your son Judy...you proud mom. I have three daughters...but only one son; and he is a jokester....he makes us laugh...and we all love him to pieces.

Peter said...

Judy I did a double flip when I read old horsetail snakes comment... seeing he has been gone for nearly 3 years now.

JeanMac said...

Lovely post, Judy.

MaR said...

What a sweet bday post, happy 46th to your sonny boy!! Happy motherhood to you!

joared said...

Delightful post. Reminded me of my birthing experiences from years ago.

Hope your "boy" had a happy birthday this year!

Granny Annie said...

Judy, we are both too young to have children in their 40's. Yikes! Love the precious memories. (I'm with Peter on Old Horsetail Snake...??)

Pat said...

Happy days:)
Thanks for sharing.
I still - only half jokingly - say 'Mummy loves you,' to my boys - both over 50.
And they like it!

Celia said...

Quite a transition from baby to eleven isn't it? Great pictures, and memories of a significant day. I always feel like I have three birthdates, my own and each of of sons' days. Happy birthday to you all.

tiff said...

:)

Anonymous said...

The only people that young in our family are granddaughter and great-grandsons.

Obviously, you produced a quality product. Good on you!
Cop Car

Gilly said...

Wow! Great lad - and he shares a birthday with my daughter! But my experience wasn't so happy as yours, though I cam into labour so quickly, I nearly dropped a chicken I was taking out of the oven!

Happy days! You reminded me of all sorts of lovely things.

And Happy Birthday to your son!

Imaginography said...

Hoping he enjoyed the cake and had a great birthday!

Beverly said...

I love that last photo. I'm glad that by the time I had my children they had stopped knocking women out. Wow, if he's 47, you must be really old...just kidding.

I just want to say that whoever makes those codes (the numbers) for proving one is not a robot, must be a 21-year-old with excellent vision. I can hardly read the numbers.