Two years ago today, in the midst of a raging snowstorm, Caroline was born. Kath goes into detail on it over in her blog, so if you want the details of what it was like for her, I suggest you check it out on the sidebar. As for me, watching Caroline be born was almost like time traveling in my own body as I sat there, stunned, feeling exactly the way I had twenty three years ago, and nineteen years ago, and twelve years ago. That bizarre combination of roiling emotion and numbness.
I don't say the morning Jewish prayers in which men thank God for not making us women. But if I did, it would have nothing to do with any sort of innate feeling of superiority and everything to do with being grateful for--among other biological tortures inflicted on females-- never having to push something the size of a cantalope out a hole the size of an orange while my idiot spouse's major contribution to the proceedings is to say "Breathe!"
I'll never forget the drive home at night in the snow, skidding four times and nearly colliding with cars twice. And when I got home, the first word's out of Ariel's mouth were, "Can we drive back to the hospital to see Kathleen and the baby!" I said, "I really don't think Kath would want us to die in an auto accident on your baby sister's birthday."
So today we had a small gathering with my folks, my sister and her youngest, and some folks from the neighborhood. Of course Caroline didn't comprehend the whole "birthday" thing, but she knew people were making a fuss about her and giving her presents and cake, so really, what more did she need to understand?
PAD
Posted by Peter David at December 5, 2004 10:42 PM | TrackBack | Other blogs commentingPAD,
As the father of two girls, I understand your sentiments exactly. Hey, congratulations to Caroline on her birthday and you can look forward to many more happy days in the future.
Regards,
Dennis
Dunno if I'm necessarily qualified to comment on MY three daughters, as they're all of the four-legged variety--but let me still offer my congratulations to the MiniMunchkin on her birthday.
From personal experience, what she also needs to understand is that if you're in front of an uncut birthday cake and told it's your cake, that doesn't mean you should do an immediate full face dive into the cake...even if it does guarantee you get all of it eventually.
You'd think my parents would've picked up on that after the first time it happened instead of the second.
Happy birthday Caroline! And condolences to the parentals on the upcoming Terrible Twos. :-)
Happy birthday to Caroline and best wishes to the entire family.
A little late, but happy Birthday to Caroline from me, too! :)
Our Jennifer became two in September. She loved the presents and the Scoobi Doo "doggie" picture on the cake.
Her birth was certainly not an easy thing but it was worth everything I went through. We very rarely have to think of "terrible two" with her. :)
Dude... SO glad to be a guy, here. Life for us is so much simpler.
Of course Caroline didn't comprehend the whole "birthday" thing, but she knew people were making a fuss about her and giving her presents and cake, so really, what more did she need to understand?
Aside from complaining about being older when we realize what it means, aren't birthdays all pretty much that same feeling described above for the rest of your life anyway?
And, I can think of one total 100% better thing about being a guy, and I thought of this last night after leaving the bar: the ability to pee wherever and whenever we want standing up. Seriously. This I *do* claim is one advantage we'll always have above women.
PAD,
Congratulations on your daughter's second birthday. As a father of two beautiful girls, I can honestly that they are the greatest gift I've ever been blessed with.
Happy birthday to your daughter. I can join in the sentiment easily about the miracle of life.
But in regards to your comment on the prayer in which men thank God for not being a woman, it isn't anything to do with superiority. According to various Jewish thoughts, Men thank God for not being a woman due to the opportunities that not being exempt from the commandments women are create to improve and change the world. And Women thank God for the higher spiritual level they possess.
Tanti Auguri A Te.
Tanti Auguri A Te.
Tanti Auguri Caroline.
Tanti Auguri A Te.
That's the Happy Birthday song in Italian.
Buon Compleanno, Caroline.
JHL
Well, Happy Birthday to Caroline.
Also congrats the Kath, and to you as well, Father of Daughters.
Peter David: ...never having to push something the size of a cantalope out a hole the size of an orange while my idiot spouse's major contribution to the proceedings is to say "Breathe!"
Luigi Novi: Not to mention the brilliant instruction, "PUSH!" As if the women needs to be told that. What else is she gonna do, try and such the damn thing further up into her body? :-)
Happy Birthday to the little gal. :-)
I disagree with the poster who mentioned "the terrible twos". I love the twos. It's always "I love you" this and "You're the bestest daddy" that.
Now the threes....
I disagree with the poster who mentioned "the terrible twos". I love the twos. It's always "I love you" this and "You're the bestest daddy" that.
Now the threes....
Oh yeah - I can testify to that...
And speaking of having to push something the size of a cantalope out a hole the size of an orange, I always think of Elain Boozler's line: "Take your bottom lip, and pull it over your head"
And speaking of having to push something the size of a cantalope out a hole the size of an orange, I always think of Elain Boozler's line: "Take your bottom lip, and pull it over your head"
If Elain Boozler said that, I think she got it from Carol Burnett. Bill Cosby used it in his Stand Up/Movie, Bill Cosby, Himself in the very early 80s and attributed the line to her (Burnett).
Birthday congratulations to Caroline. Two is definitely an interesting age. Sometimes “terrible”, sometimes “terrific.” My 2-year-old nephew is mercurial in that way. One moment, he’ll be offering hugs and kisses left and right. The next, he's saying his mantra: “Don’t like (insert your name here)!”
As to the line about pulling your bottom lip over your head, Bill Cosby, way back when, attributed that quote to Carol Burnett.
Rick
Speaking of Bill Cosby, his "Baby" routine on his "Why Is There Air?" album is great fun.
Rick
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAROLINE=)!!!
I get what your daughter, Ariel, felt like that first day. As the oldest sibling in my family( and the only boy). I was also excited when my third sister was born...Jackie. Instead of going to see my stepmom and new sister that night, my father made me smoke a big ol green cigar that said it's a girl! I was 17 then and will never smoke another cigar again, so you tell Ariel she got off lucky, that or you to dispise cigars...