Welcome to Pleasantville!

Hello, everyone.  I'm going to start blogging for Crofton Patch and, well, I feel like I should introduce myself. But, where to start? 

Perhaps I should take my lead from James Lipton from the Actor's Studio and say, "Let's start at the beginning..." Coincidentally, the anniversary of my "beginning" is being celebrated on the very day I am writing this. 

It's my birthday. :) 

My excitement over my own birthday has not mellowed with age at all.  I love my birthday and have always felt that this was my special day.  Yes, my inner-child is alive and well. I generally take the day off from work and treat myself and do only the things I want. Well, that is the goal, at least. 

But, a little over eight years ago I became a mom and, as many of you moms out there know, it is a RARE day when a mom is able to focus solely on herself.  Then I got pregnant for the second time and when the OB figured out the approximate birth date, we realized that my second child might be born on my birthday.  

"How did you feel about that?" was the oft-heard question. Honestly, my initial reaction was, "NO, dang it!" 

You see, my brother was born three years and two days before me.  Since our birthdays were only two days apart, we shared our celebrations for most of our early childhood.  I can tell you, that got old real fast!  Big brothers have a way of taking over.  And, this would mean that instead of being the "Birthday Girl" on my special little day, I'd have to be the Birthday Boy's mom, making the treats, wrapping the presents, eating at kid-friendly restaurants and making someone else's day special. 

I'll be honest, this did not sound like a dream come true for me.  Yeah, I was being a real Pouty McPouterson. Then, the most miraculous thing happened.  My son was indeed born on my birthday, six years ago today, and my entire outlook changed in an instant.  

I held that little boy in my arms and I couldn't think of his birth as anything other than the greatest birthday present I could ever receive.  It was such a pure and overwhelming feeling that it just eradicated the selfish feelings that preceded it. 

Endorphins are great, aren't they?!  

The fact that his arrival was quick, easy (well, as "easy" as birthing can be) and without any complication didn't hurt the lovefest, either. Don't get me wrong, I didn't turn into June Cleaver that day.  There are many days I can't WAIT for my husband to get home to I can "tap out."  And, I was just a tad grumpy last night while I was doing some birthday prep for the boy, instead of putting my feet up and starting my own birthday celebration early. But, it was temporary and today I am once again filled with that warm birthday sense of fulfillment watching him run to school and making sure he tells EVERYONE that it is his birthday. 

I don't know where he gets that from. But, what does this have to do with Crofton?  Well, on this very happy birthday, I am thinking about how fortunate I am.  I live in a WONDERFUL community —our own little Pleasantville —where my kids love going to their school and saying hello to neighbors along the way. 

Today, I will enjoy the beauty of the parkway, the warmth and camaraderie of my neighbor-friends and the excited faces of my son's Kindergarten class when I bring in birthday treats at lunch.    

Happy Birthday to me!