My Baby is Growing Up

Twenty-four years ago today, I was in the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton Alberta giving birth to Tamara. Time flies!

I was huge with her ... this picture was taken at about 7 months along. Turns out she wasn't all that big though - only 9lbs 6oz (my nephew was 11lbs 11oz - so Tamara lost her status as a big 'un when he was born)

She was a miracle baby - the cord between her and the placenta was extremely malformed - a condition which usually results in early miscarriage. My own doctor had a feeling that something was wrong; kept referring me to the high-risk guy who kept sending me back with an 'everything is fine; why do you keep sending her to me?'  He was some pissed when he missed the 'opportunity' to be present for the birth.

Because of the cord - and it being wrapped around her neck to boot - the birth was more complicated than expected, and I came very close to being given blood. Fortunately, that was avoided - 84 was a good year for babies... not so good for blood!  This picture is another example of my mother's talent. She made both the shawl, and the hand smocked christening gown.

Tamara with Bubba - my ex's mother. God, that visit was HORRIBLE. Bubba did not speak English, nor did she approve of me AT ALL. She also did not approve of babies being allowed to suck their thumbs.... wanted put hot sauce on her hands, or, when I SO unreasonably refused to allow that, tie her arms to her sides.

She was a relatively obnoxious baby. Gorgeous! Look at the eyes. But she did not much care for sleeping. Nor did she do things the normal way. Ever. She was born sucking her thumb, and knowing how to push herself forward. Got into a big fight with the nurses because they kept finding her with her head smooshed up against the top of the bassinet. They thought I was putting her there ... until they caught her doing it herself.

She drank from a straw by about 8 months, and walked before she hit 10 months old.

By the time she was a year old, she had had a busy and chaotic life - surgery, a stay in a shelter - during which she was cared for by staff because I was hospitalized, a move across country, and then another to a new city, where we lived with Grandma.

She never was very fond of clothes - my guess would be that the dress was in the process of being taken off, not put on.

Yummy dress. If you can't beat it, eat it.

Jess was born when Tamara was 14 months old. They were such a cute pair :)

 Still with the eyes!

Grade 8 graduation:

By this point, in high school, she was actually managing not to break her glasses every other week.

This picture is one of my favourites - it is SO Tamara! She was definitely my reader - although now they both read.

My mom took her for glamour shots. They were gorgeous.

Her high school grad photo:

Looks thrilled with her catch, doesn't she?

There are all sorts of stories about Tamara ...the french fries incident, the home alone one that I haven't yet written for Gather, the biting one I just wrote about, jess' black eye.... I could write a whole bunch more....   Truth is, she never was an easy kid :)

But there is SO much about her that is special.  She may not be the best at cleaning up after herself (I don't know where she gets that from!) ... but when Ross & needed help with Doris, it wasn't any of his sisters that would go out of their way to come and help. It was my kid.

It wasn't even her grandma ...and yet Tamara fed, changed, bathed and entertained. She was awesome.

And when Ross needs bodies to help with the dock or we need someone at the store or I need help getting stuff organized for the wedding or Jess needs someone to talk for her ..... whatever....  it is Tamara that we can always count on.

Her next graduation picture - from college - will be coming soon ....she's just finishing up her final placement.

I am very proud of my almost all growed up baby :)

Happy Birthday, Kid.