Counting My Blessings

Birthday breakfast with my best girl

Thursday was my birthday.

Normally I wouldn't do anything for it, but Nastya had asked for a personal day sometime soon to take care of some errands, so we arranged to do that on my birthday.

It was a perfect day.

Calliope and I walked to breakfast at a local cafe. Then we came home and she took a too-short nap while I worked out. But she was never cranky, despite the short nap.

In the afternoon, while Calliope "rested" in her crib, I worked on a photobook I'm creating which will be the Story of Calliope, all about Calliope's conception.

Then we played with Eleanor for a little bit at her house -- Calliope pushed Eleanor around on her push toy/bike -- and then Eleanor and Amy (her mother) took Calliope and me out to dinner.

Having two 13 month olds at a restaurant turned out to be kind of a shit show.

Calliope dropped a plate on the floor, dropping it. I think this happened the last time we were there, also.

Eleanor kept dropping her ear of corn on the floor. Also, she only wanted to suck on the ends of the ear, which is not very productive in terms of eating. But she screamed whenever the corn landed on the floor, again, or when Amy tried to dust it off. She eventually permitted Amy to cut the corn off the cob for her.

Calliope lost all interest in her yogurt once she saw Eleanor eating corn on the cob. Luckily, Amy planned ahead and brought extra corn.

Eleanor kept shrieking these ear-piercing shrieks. Calliope didn't want to stay in her high chair and I had to let her crawl around the entire restaurant for a few minutes. Luckily it wasn't too crowded at that point, but I was worried that the staff might be sending baleful looks my way. ?Luckily she was entranced by the french fries once they came, and from that point on, happily sat in her high chair.

The floor under the two high chairs was disgusting.

We left a nice tip.

The whole experience was slightly hilarious, if also a little exhausting.

But I walked around the whole day feeling, and am still feeling, like the luckiest girl in the world.

I have my girl. Who is about as perfect as a one year old can be (apart from throwing food, and this could certainly be a lot worse). I have a beautiful new-to-me apartment, where I no longer have to share my bedroom or even my bathroom! I have a wonderful job that is enjoyable and interesting and rewarding yet respects my family commitments. Even my body seems to be improving after a long and terrifying period of constant hunger and weight gain. I feel strong and healthy and energetic.

Even the fact that I am single... I'm so happy about it! So grateful I don't have to expend any energy on another adult. I don't miss sex or companionship. It would be lovely to have another adult as invested in Calliope as I am but... I can't even imagine it, so I don't spend time thinking about it. I have a wonderful community of friends who keep me feeling loved and supported.

I'm everlastingly grateful. What a wonderful birthday and a wonderful life.