Nope. No Different.

No, 31 does not feel a bit different than 30. Except when my dad asked me if I felt any different today than I did yesterday, I was able to respond with an emphatic "yes!" because yesterday I had my worst migraine in almost 5 years. Enough to send me to the chiropractor today. But thankfully, today for my birthday, I got a migraine free day.

31 years ago today, I was born at home. Er, I mean, at my parents' landlords' home. My mom didn't know she was in labor and did not have a phone so she went over there. I can not imagine what they thought. I would love for her to write a guest post telling that story one day. Had my first (only) ambulance ride when I was only minutes old.

19.5 years later, I watched this inspirational woman give birth to my little sister. Her first birth attended by an actual OB (because the nurse "caught" my other sis, the one who is almost 14 months younger than me, while the doc was washing his hands. . .) and the first birth my father made it in time for.

We drop 'em fast in this family. Watching Vickie's birth that day made me sure I could do that and 10 years later, that one day is part of what made me sure I could trust my body and the process that God set up for birth enough to have a home birth.

And all of this began coming into works before I even made my arrival into this world. 31 years ago, on a couch in Mulrennan, FL. Who would have thought.

Oh, and what a happy birthday it was. The most difficult decision that I had to make all day was if I wanted to get my free birthday meal at Mojo Burrito or Provino's and if I wanted to have a free birthday Cold Stone Creamery creation or a free birthday Blizzard. (Mmmmm. Midnight Truffle Blizzard. Guess what I chose.) And we were the only stupid ones sitting in Dairy Queen eating ice cream in 28 degree weather. My 16 month old son, being the smartest one of the three of us today, took one bite of the ice cream and clammed up, refusing another bite. Well, at least one of us had a brain. I, on the other hand, had midnight truffle;-)

One

***This post was delayed because we jet setted to Cheeseland the day after the party. Posts about that visit to come in the next few days.***

One year ago, I posted our birth story here. I still think back quite fondly on our home birth, and can NOT believe that a year has slipped by so quickly.

A fun time was had by all at the birthday party, except for maybe not by the Fagans who spent most of the party searching the park for Jenn's glasses (which they found at the end of the party at the rec's lost and found).

We were blessed by my dear, long time friend Emily with this great cake.















Another blessing was that Jude's grandparents and great-grandparents drove all the way up from Florida! Between my parents' 31 years of marriage, Jeff's parents' 40 years of marriage, and my grandparents' 50 years of marriage, there was over 120 collective years of marriage experience present.

Here's Jude having fun with his great grandma.















And here he is, not really getting that we wanted him to do something with this cake, despite all of Aunt Vickie's best coaching!















O.k. Maybe he is getting it now?















And here's Jude's favorite part. Playing with the gift bags, that is!