An historic occasion

Happy Birthday, Alipurr

I can remember the exact minute I went into labor with you, daughter. It was 7:00 p.m. on June 4th, 1970-something. The reason I remember the exact time was because I was lying in bed and decided to call my mother. During our 20+ minute phone conversation I casually noted that I began to have regular contractions. They weren't very strong, but they were regular. While we talked, I began timing them and I realized that I was in labor. Your dad and grandmother were very excited while for some strange reason I remained calm and collected. I told my mother to pack her bag and get down to Kentucky because this was "it" -- your birthday.

Because I was still comfortable, we went to bed to get some sleep. Around 1:00 a.m. on June 5th, I awoke and realized it was time to go to the hospital. It took us around two hours to get our stuff together, take your baby brother to a friend's house, and then proceed to get to the hospital all the while remaining very calm. In fact, my entire labor was calm.

You were born around 3:00 p.m. on June 5th. In those days ultrasounds were not routinely done (the dark ages) so we didn't know whether we were having a boy or a girl. When you were delivered and I was told "IT'S A GIRL," that's when I became really excited. Your dad was in seventh heaven and I couldn't have been happier. We now had a boy and a girl -- a perfect family.

I will always remember your knobby little knees. It seemed as if the skin around your knees was way too big for your little legs and just hung in folds. You can see what I mean when you look at your newborn baby picture. Your eyes were dark and your hair (what little you had of it) seemed dark. We would not know exactly how dark it was until you were at least two years old.

We were very happy with our beautiful little girl. This little girl would grow up to be an intelligent, beautiful, and talented woman. This woman later in her life became a mother thus completing the circle.

Our daughter gave us many opportunities to be proud of her and to love her as she was growing up. She is a good daughter for which we are very thankful.

On this occasion of her birthday, we send her our very best wishes for a happy celebration. As her mother, I love her more each day and appreciate her kindness, good sense, sense of humor, mothering skills, beauty, quick wit, and crocheting skills. She is learning to be a gardener, not only of her plants, but also of those she loves.

Happy Birthday, daughter, on June 5th. May you have many more in your lifetime. Our gift to you is our love. As your mother, the memories of your birth and your growing up have been a gift to your father and I all these years. Thank you for the joy you have given us.