The Real Bean: Added Sweetness

Monday, January 10

Added Sweetness

There aren’t that many birthdays to which we tend to attach special meaning—sweet sixteen, perhaps 21 (drinks, anyone?), 30, 40, etc. And the first. It seems like the first birthday is imbued with added meaning in any family, but I think particularly when someone has struggled to conceive or has experienced the death of a child—there’s an added sweetness in that first birthday celebration. When the event is marked as one you’ve waited for, longed for, sacrificed and cried for over a period of years (for us, 7!) a first birthday holds remarkable sweetness.

I’m feeling immeasurably blessed today, recalling our trip to the hospital one year ago. I also can’t help be recall the trip to the same hospital in 2008 when our first sons, Joseph, Adam and Paul, were born—too tiny and too soon to stay with us.

But today is about celebration: the life-changing entry of Tatum into our world one year ago is an event I’ll celebrate for the rest of my days.

Happy first birthday, beautiful boy.

8 comments:

SUSI said...: Happy 1st Birthday Sweet Tatum! So happy for you Mommy and Daddy that you are here with them. What a special little boy you are.

I will never forget your birthday since today is also my 5 year anniversary.

Many birthday wishes,
Susi; 9:42 AM
Noelle said...: I am so happy for you and your family. I have been following you for a long time now...almost 2 years! You have grown so much and I am so proud of you. Your boy is precious.; 11:41 AM
'Murgdan' said...: Happy Birthday Little One!; 1:18 PM
Erika said...: happy birthday, sweet tatum! i can't believe it's been a year, but in other ways it feels like you have always been here. i am so glad for the happiness you have brought your mommy and daddy this past year. they miss your brothers so much, and you bring quite a lot of happiness into their lives. you are a beautiful soul and a gift to all who know you!!!; 7:03 AM
jill said...: Happy 1st Birthday Tatum! :); 2:21 PM
CeCe said...: Happy First Birthday, Tatum!!! Congrats, you guys.; 8:31 PM
Lost in Space said...: Aww, happy first birthday to your sweet little guy. I sure wish his big brothers were here to help him celbrate.; 4:48 AM
Gabby said...: Happy Happy Birthday, to you, mama! so so happy for you. Enjoy!; 8:17 AM

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Why "The Real Bean"?

When I was a little girl, my parents called me Brenna Bean. And Bean Bean. And Beanie. And Beaner. The name stuck throughout childhood; in fact, here's a message my dad left on my answering machine at some point during my first year of college (to get the full effect, you have to imagine the following in a deep, Southern baritone--i.e., Hi=Hah and Byron=Barn): "Hah? Hello? This is Barn, callin' to talk to mah daughter, Beeean Beeeeean. Beanie? You thare?" That was played back to me about 47 times by my delighted roomate.

"Bean" is passed down through generations, because our first dog became known as Sierra Bean when she was a puppy. I often refer to her as the bean dog, the bean or beaner.

I called the boys the beans when they were growing inside.

On this blog, I occasionally spill the beans.

A message board I used to visit for women trying to conceive propagated the phrase "sticky bean," which refers to a baby. As in, "I hope you get your sticky bean soon!," which means, "I hope you get pregnant and the baby sticks around." (I'm not making that up. And as much as "sticky bean" makes me think of an asian dessert or a mexican side dish, I wouldn't mind having another one of the small human variety some day.)

Anyway, the reasons for "The Real Bean" are many. Because after all, who doesn't like beans? Well, my dad actually. He hates them. But don't read too much into that.

Monday, January 10

Added Sweetness

8 comments:

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Why "The Real Bean"?

Thanks for following this Bean's story ...

Bean There

Always with us

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