My Lucky #13

Today is my baby girl's 9th birthday. Born on Friday the 13th and she is my luckiest #13.

My due date was December 24th, but I had a feeling my child would be born earlier, simply because of the Friday the 13th in that same month. For me, there is significance in the where, when, and why my daughter was born that day.

I remember this morning, those 9 years ago. We didn't know how my appointment was going to go, though I had an appointment at 11:45 with my doctor and I just knew something was going to happen that day. I'd been dilated 3 centimeters since November 26th. I had already visited my doctor twice since December started, appointments just days apart because my doctor thought for sure I would go into labor around the 6th, but I didn't, so 3rd time had to be a charm.

The appointment revealed I was at 5 centimeters, so the doc sent me on over to L&D to get prepped. By 1, my water was broken, by 2 I headed into active labor.

By 3:21 PM, after about only an hour and a half of active labor, I had my daughter. I remember laughing and smiling down into her red, squalling face and telling my husband that she looked just like her older brother, my stepson, who had just turned 4 two days before.

My daughter's entrance into the world has set the stage for her personality. She was in a hurry, came into the world on a countdown (3:21= 3, 2, 1 Blast off!) and she hasn't slowed down yet. She runs headlong at anything she wants to do and she has a strong stubborn streak, but she's smart as a tack, too and I'm so proud of her for recently being admitted into the gifted pool at school.

She's my blessing and has given Friday the 13th even more meaning in my life. There's no way it could be unlucky- not for me.

My grandfather was released from the Army, Friday December 13th, 1946, after World War II. He always said it was his lucky day. Sadly, my grandfather never got to see his great-granddaughter, but she has a connection to him, as far as I'm concerned and it will always be MY lucky day, too.

It's not on a Friday this year, but it still feels lucky to me.

Happy Birthday Baby Girl!