Saturday, June 4, 2011

Forty

Happy Birthday Mom!
I don't know exactly how it happened, but today I woke up another year older, and another decade older.  Today I turned 40 years old.  I really loved my 30s - my thirtieth birthday was a rough one, but then I loved the decade.  But...remember when 40 seemed ancient?  It's easy to start thinking about what's next, and how quickly the next 10 years will pass, and that I'm about 20 years from college graduation - and just about 20 years from retirement.  Thinking about being 40 is frightening just because it feels like it's the beginning of the end.

But then I realized that I'm looking at things in completely the wrong way.  When I look back on my life over just the past 10 years, it's amazing how full and vibrant it has been.  It didn't go the way I anticipated, but in some respects it's been better than I ever thought possible; I can honestly say I have really lived my life. And this year, for the first time, I'm having a birthday as a mom - the best birthday present I could have ever received.

When I think about all the excitement and joy (and challenges and stress) to come in the next 10 years, I'm pretty sure that I'm going to find myself continuing to experience a life well lived.  I might be older than I'd like to be, but that doesn't necessarily mean the end is near.  How can it be, when the best part of my life is just starting?

(And it'll probably get even better, as soon as I figure out what it is that I'm eating that's giving Finn so much gas.)
Posted by Shannon at 2:56 PM

32 comments:

  1. The Baby Chase ProjectJune 4, 2011 at 3:14 PM

    Happy Birthday, Shannon!!! Enjoy the next decade and beyond.

    Jot down all your food intake everyday for the next few days and see if the gas decrease/increase so you can pinpoint the culprit. Maybe the milk you are drinking. Maybe chocolate...

    Also after you burp him, you can rub his tummy a bit. If he's having wet burp (milk coming out of his mouth), keep him upright after burping.

    Finn is adorable.

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  2. Navigating The RapidsJune 4, 2011 at 3:18 PM

    Happy Birthday. Okay, your kid is awesome.

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  3. wottadollJune 4, 2011 at 3:19 PM

    Happy birthday! LOVE the pic of Finn, what a cutie!

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  4. EvelynJune 4, 2011 at 3:41 PM

    Happy B-Day.

    When I turned 40 I tried to figure out what it means and how I got there. Then I realized I couldn't fathom all those years and that it's just a number to mark the passing of time, but it really didn't make a difference to who I was.

    Finn is adorable.

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  5. AnonymousJune 4, 2011 at 4:14 PM

    Happy Birthday!

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  6. SurlyMamaJune 4, 2011 at 4:18 PM

    Happy Birthday!

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  7. AnonymousJune 4, 2011 at 4:50 PM

    Happy, Happy Birthday, Shannon! Great post - enjoy this wonderful start to the greatest part of your life!

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  8. HeidiJune 4, 2011 at 5:34 PM

    Happy happy birthday! And how cute is that baby?

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  9. JennyJune 4, 2011 at 6:13 PM

    Happy birthday, Shannon!

    (The picture of Finn is precious.)

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  10. bluejJune 4, 2011 at 6:53 PM

    What a great way to spend your birthday (with a beautiful baby boy. Have a happy one!

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  11. AnonymousJune 4, 2011 at 6:54 PM

    Very Happy 40th to you, Shannon!

    What a treat to enter your new decade as a mom. I'm about 3 weeks from my 41st b-day, and 4 weeks from my EDD, so just a bit ahead and behind you.

    Finn looks amazing!

    Tara

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  12. AnonymousJune 4, 2011 at 7:09 PM

    Happy Birthday!!

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  13. DeborahJune 4, 2011 at 7:18 PM

    Happy Birthday! I think you have a lot to look forward to in this next decade of your life! I'm only 32, but looking back on it so far, 29 was my worst year. I spent so much time stressing about turning 30. And once I actually got there, I stopped worrying about it. I'm going to try to keep that attitude for 39, too. sounds like you already have the positive attitude, though.

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  14. Ebony Choice MomJune 4, 2011 at 9:18 PM

    Happy Birthday! What a precious birthday gift!!!

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  15. bunintheovenplease!June 4, 2011 at 9:27 PM

    Happy Happy Birthday - I feel sure that this new decade will only continue to bring you wonderful things.

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  16. KanisJune 4, 2011 at 9:53 PM

    Happy birthday to you, Shannon. My birthday gift to you is my gratitude. I am so grateful to have found your blog. It's given me hope that one day, I, too, will become a mother.

    Finn is freaking adorable! I just want to eat those cheeks!

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  17. NellJune 4, 2011 at 10:46 PM

    Happy birthday, Shannon! I know that 40 is going to be a good year for you. :-)

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  18. AnonymousJune 5, 2011 at 12:54 AM

    That picture of Finn is soooo cute! He looks older than he is, probably b/c he's so big. Happy Birthday! I'm right behind you, my 40th is in August. Whenever I start to dwell on my age I think of it this way - I'm younger today than I'm ever going to be again, so might as well be happy and enjoy it!

    -Claire (not sure why having trouble signing in!)

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  19. TiaraJune 5, 2011 at 10:27 AM

    Happy Birthday!!!

    What an absolutely adorable photo of Finn!!! You should submit it to the Gerber baby contest!!!

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  20. OakJune 5, 2011 at 10:49 AM

    Happy Birthday Shannon! And that photo of Finn is AWESOME. :)

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  21. ElphabaJune 5, 2011 at 1:54 PM

    Happy birthday! And that IS an awesome photo.

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  22. AbbyJune 5, 2011 at 5:39 PM

    happy birthday!!!

    and what a precious photo!

    did you take it? or was that from your baby photo shoot? can't wait to see those, btw!

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  23. BBJune 5, 2011 at 7:58 PM

    Happy Birthday Shannon!! I can't think of a better way to bring in a new decade than with the new love of your life (although he could do mommy a favor and sleep normal hours)!!!

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  24. jjiraffeJune 5, 2011 at 10:59 PM

    Happy Birthday! Your son is so adorable! Yay :)

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  25. MegJune 5, 2011 at 11:28 PM

    Happy Birthday! Welcome to the 40 club!

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  26. IsisJune 6, 2011 at 2:19 AM

    Happy Birthday Shannon!! What a darling picture!

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  27. MookiePieJune 6, 2011 at 11:02 AM

    Happy Birthday Mom! And you're right, best way to spend a birthday, getting to finally be a mom that you have dreamed about :)

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  28. LoreleiJune 6, 2011 at 11:58 AM

    Happy Birthday!!

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  29. Chasing InspriationJune 6, 2011 at 2:17 PM

    Welcome to 40! I love your reflection on this new decade and I have a feeling your 40s will be even more blessing filled than your 30s.

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  30. AnonymousJune 6, 2011 at 4:25 PM

    Happy Birthday Shannon! I hope you had a truly wonderful day with lots of baby kisses and cuddling.

    Gabby

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  31. ElastagirlJune 6, 2011 at 9:06 PM

    Happy Birthday!!! I hated turning 30 as well, but now I've been thoroughly enjoying my 30's too. I hope your 40's will be even more amazing with your adventures just starting with Finn! He is seriously the cutest!!! That picture made me smile :)

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  32. BillyJune 24, 2011 at 8:42 AM

    Happy Happy (o.k very belated) Birthday!!
    How fantastic to celbrate a first birthday as a mum :-) [I had my first birthday as a mum just a few days before your.. yes, another gemini]

    And I love very much your end note (I might be older than I'd like to be, but that doesn't necessarily mean the end is near. How can it be, when the best part of my life is just starting?) because I'm thinking all the time how old I'm becoming and about Butterfly having an old mother.. and yes, thinking a lot about me dying one day soon.. so change the tune! how can the end be near when the best part of my life is just begining? :-)

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