why is it . . .

. . . that some birthdays are seasons while others are blips in time?

Our March birthdays are like that--the blips in time. We pool our moments for a communal event--some years here (Jamie, Christie, and I) and others with Garrett and Kira, the two distant first-week-of-spring grandbabies. Not that I'm complaining, not at all. The year Jamie arrived, my one New Year's resolution was that he would make his appearance before my birthday. He did--the evening before, 7:49pm I think . . . I've never been much of a birthday cake fan so sharing a cake has been a blessing in disguise. Funny, but this year, when my officemate surprised me with a cake at work, I realized that was my first "just for me" birthday cake in recent memory! I still ate only one piece and gave the rest, willingly, away :-)

In contrast, Michelle's mid-July birthday has been, almost from her arrival, a month-long event, usually combined with a family vacation week, often at the beach but sometimes in the mountains. Cassie's arrival, late July instead of early August, almost three years ago has meant sharing the summer limelight, but it hasn't shortened the celebration, not one long July day of it!

Which brings me to April . . . and my shun-the-limelight firstborn child. How could we not celebrate, even from a distance and with cyberspace tributes, her milestone birthday this year? Does she not, too, deserve to linger a while in our reflections of the joy she has brought into each of our lives? We love you, Kimberly :-)

But you've got serious competition for the April spotlight, oh girl of mine. That sweet baby boy of my baby boy will be officially old enough for "big school" tomorrow. Michael will have two parties in his honor this year--one for us adults tonight to savor the gift-opening ritual (hope FedEx has come through by the time I come home today) and one with his preschool friends and other children tomorrow. I will, of course, be there for both.

Oops, one more! Campbell will be 9 next week, with a party of his own for our family since he also shares his birthday with his half-sister. Like his mother, he has no problem with the extended birthday season :-) Mason, who has February all to himself, also celebrates twice.

I'll blog about Kelsey's May sweet sixteen another time . . .

Definitely a milestone birthday year!