Fifteen years ago today I gave birth to the ugliest baby on the planet. Thank goodness he got cute real quick, because there for a while, I feared that he would look goofy for the rest of his life.
John loves it when I tell this story. And at 15, he still asks me to tell him about how ugly he was when he was born. In fact, he takes great pride in being the ugliest baby on the planet. And the funny thing is, he believes this to be the gospel truth, because I allowed not one photo to be taken of him until he was three days old. And even then, I only took four pictures. It's not a stretch to say he was ugly. But I loved him just the same - probably more, because I felt so sorry for him. He was big, and red, and bald, and perfect in every way - except he was ugly. And the moment he was placed in my arms, I fell in love with him. That love has continued to grow in leaps and bounds every day for the past fifteen years, and I often wonder how I got so lucky to be given a child who is so bright and witty and charming. And he's cute too! For all that he was ugly then, he is that and more in cuteness now.
There is just something about the relationship of mothers and sons that is unique and different and special. And I am blessed to be John's mother. He has been a gift from God. And in spite of all the curve balls this kid throws me, I welcome the challenges that come with raising him because without the challenges, John would not be John, and I can't imagine him being anything other than what he is.
Because it is John's birthday week, Alyssa decided that we needed a trip to the mall to shop for the boy. Shopping with Alyssa is always an adventure, and our most recent excursion was another afternoon filled with excitement and fun. The girl loves to shop. That's all there is to it. When we got home, she sat down on the coffee table (a good place to sit in my house because it is huge and made of marble), and as she sat down, she let out a great big sigh and proclaimed in a voice filled with awe, "I just love to shop. I love it more than anything else in the world." Lord help me. She is just now figuring this out? I've known that she loves to shop since she was old enough to say the word mall and shoes. And shoes seem to be her weakness. In fact, it is relatively safe to say that Alyssa has a shoe fetish. She's like my sister in that regard. They both own hundreds of pairs of shoes. Maybe it is a family trait. I own a lot of shoes, but hundreds would be a stretch when it comes to my closet.
As we shopped, we talked about why buying shoes makes women so happy. We concluded that the reason is: shoes always fit. Trying on shoes is simple. We don't have to look at our naked selves in the mirror when we try on shoes. We don't have to mess up our hair when we slip our foot inside a soft leather sole. We don't worry about getting make up on clothes that we may or may not buy because shoes are less personal than apparel. And best of all, someone literally waits on you hand and foot when trying on shoes - and that someone is usually a man. Really, when a person stops and thinks about it, there is nothing not to like about shoe shopping. And so we shopped for shoes. Lots and lots of shoes. She even talked me into trying on a pair. When we got home, I grabbed the new Coach sneakers that we bought and snapped a picture of them. One pair is for me, and one pair is for Alyssa. I'm sure it is obvious who chose which style (take note of the pink accent on the pair that tie - that was a big selling feature).
After our shopping adventure, Alyssa and I got in the car and we both burst out laughing. We didn't buy anything for John. Not even a card. We were so wrapped up in shoe shopping and trying on bottoms (our term for the painful experience of shopping for jeans), that we forgot to shop for John. I was glad that I had made him a digi card on the computer (shown above). And I was really glad that I had taken him shopping earlier in the week to purchase art supplies, because after I tuck some money in the card, and after he receives new guitar equipment from his dad, he's good to go for another year. He may even discover a hidden talent along the way because all of a sudden he has decided that he wants to paint. He is now the proud owner of an easel, a painter's palette, some canvas, a big pad of paper and a whole lot of paint tubes. I can't wait to see what his inner self creates.
Fifteen is shaping up to be a fun year. And if someone would have told me fifteen years ago that my son would play the guitar, write poetry, paint wild pictures, and have long, blond, curly hair... well, I would have thought they were joking. This child of mine is truly one of a kind. Truth be told - I wouldn't have it any other way.
Happy birthday John. You rock!
Happy (late) birthday to the ugliest (yeah right!) baby ever born! Hoping the day was great. Paints huh? Thinking this is a new way to work on surprising you like the photos from 1/27? {grin}
I have to ROFL about the mall/shopping comment. Allie and Alaina were having the conversation last week about shopping. Allie said "When you're a teenager, you're supposed to love shopping. I don't know about that." Alaina strongly supported that shopping thing . . . you know, the one that walked around all the racks at Gymboree and picked out what she just *had* to have. @@ . . . I don't think she's going to have to be a teenager to love the shopping thing.
Posted by: heather | March 30, 2007 at 11:03 PM
Happy Birthday to John!!!!!
Posted by: Adrienne | March 29, 2007 at 05:14 PM
i remember being told that you had a 10lb boy. All we could think at the time was what a big baby for Kelly. She is so tiny. I didn't relize that John shares his birthday with my neighbor Jon (24yrs)and my older sister Willi (52). Hope his birthday is as memberable as theirs. Love to you.
Posted by: Randi | March 29, 2007 at 03:07 PM
love love those shoes! both pairs :)
and happy day john!!
Posted by: monica gonzalez | March 29, 2007 at 12:42 PM
Gotta luv the shoe shoppping! Cute pairs :)
Posted by: Alexis | March 29, 2007 at 10:21 AM
Happy birthday, John!!!! I think that your mom is lying personally about your being the ugliest baby cause I've seen some SCARY ones but if that's the story she wants to stick with.... Love the new shoes! LMAO that you guys didn't buy anything for him at the mall though but not surprised. I can't wait to see what he creates either! Talented family.....
Posted by: slammie | March 29, 2007 at 08:40 AM