It's happening whether I like it or not. My 40th birthday, that is. And I'm feeling half-brave and half-crazy for even posting that fact on my blog. Tomorrow's the day. (Well, it'll be "today" by the time most of you read this.)
I really wanted to post some big thoughtful essay on what it means to turn 40, but you know what? I don't feel like it. I've been feeling more than a little melancholic about it as it is. Mostly about how I was supposed to be done having kids by 40. Isn't ironic that I hit another little milestone earlier this week? Yep, nine months "pregnant". We're now overdue. Where's the baby? Oh yeah, nowhere to be seen.
OK, that's seriously all the whining I'm going to do. I realized that other day that 40 is really only one day past 39. Nothing is any different tomorrow than it is today. It's just a number. And honestly, the last 40 years have been filled with great things, and I'm sure the next 40 will be too. I'm sure there are plenty of surprises around the corner, both good and bad, happy and sad.
Now the really scary part--pictures! I would much rather post pictures of my kids than myself, but I've been feeling like I needed to do a picture post, something along the lines of "Lisa's life, flashing before her eyes--and yours too." It'll be fun... I think.
These are in backwards order, because that's how they uploaded, and I can't figure out how to change it!
This is me at almost-40, well actually, barely-39. Wow, my hair is dark compared to 10 years ago! (And the picture hides it, but I'm not exactly so skinny anymore either. The joys of aging and slowing metabolism.) What's my 40th-year milestone? Well, duh, it's turning 40, of course!
All kidding aside, my 30's were the decade of motherhood. My late 30's brought success in music and other personal endeavors after years of slumping.
Me, age 30, with James, who doesn't need his age mentioned since this post isn't about him. What were we doing when I was 30? Getting our first adoption papers in! That's what this picture was taken for. Who knew we'd have a two-year wait ahead of us, but finally, that day would come.
Here I am at about age 21. Probably early 21. A mission wasn't even in my wildest dreams when this oh-so-innocent picture was taken. But less than a year later, I found myself in the flatlands of Kansas. My 20's were filled with goals, growth, and dreams. I served a mission, I got a bachelor's degree, I got married, I got a master's, and I tried to have babies.
Not a great picture of me at about age 14 or 15, but it's the best one I've got. This is me at a stake dance, the Blue and Gold Banquet (anybody remember those?), wearing the dress I made myself. That's the only way I would get a new dress for a dance. I was most likely a brand new highschooler. My high school memories revolve around choir and drama. Now in case you're wondering how on earth I could have been the theater type? Well, I wasn't. But I suffered through it because singing parts only came with acting parts in our high school productions. And yeah, since my acting wasn't exactly uninhibited, I didn't get many big singing parts either... but I did make the all-state choir and was alto section leader in our region honor choir (which meant I scored the highest points of anyone on my vocal audition).
This is me at age 5. The milestone? Starting kindergarten, of course.
And finally, my first birthday, March 7, 1971. You've come a long way, baby! (Is it bad to quote an old cigarette ad?)
I really wanted to post some big thoughtful essay on what it means to turn 40, but you know what? I don't feel like it. I've been feeling more than a little melancholic about it as it is. Mostly about how I was supposed to be done having kids by 40. Isn't ironic that I hit another little milestone earlier this week? Yep, nine months "pregnant". We're now overdue. Where's the baby? Oh yeah, nowhere to be seen.
OK, that's seriously all the whining I'm going to do. I realized that other day that 40 is really only one day past 39. Nothing is any different tomorrow than it is today. It's just a number. And honestly, the last 40 years have been filled with great things, and I'm sure the next 40 will be too. I'm sure there are plenty of surprises around the corner, both good and bad, happy and sad.
Now the really scary part--pictures! I would much rather post pictures of my kids than myself, but I've been feeling like I needed to do a picture post, something along the lines of "Lisa's life, flashing before her eyes--and yours too." It'll be fun... I think.
These are in backwards order, because that's how they uploaded, and I can't figure out how to change it!
This is me at almost-40, well actually, barely-39. Wow, my hair is dark compared to 10 years ago! (And the picture hides it, but I'm not exactly so skinny anymore either. The joys of aging and slowing metabolism.) What's my 40th-year milestone? Well, duh, it's turning 40, of course!All kidding aside, my 30's were the decade of motherhood. My late 30's brought success in music and other personal endeavors after years of slumping.
Me, age 30, with James, who doesn't need his age mentioned since this post isn't about him. What were we doing when I was 30? Getting our first adoption papers in! That's what this picture was taken for. Who knew we'd have a two-year wait ahead of us, but finally, that day would come.
Here I am at about age 21. Probably early 21. A mission wasn't even in my wildest dreams when this oh-so-innocent picture was taken. But less than a year later, I found myself in the flatlands of Kansas. My 20's were filled with goals, growth, and dreams. I served a mission, I got a bachelor's degree, I got married, I got a master's, and I tried to have babies.
Not a great picture of me at about age 14 or 15, but it's the best one I've got. This is me at a stake dance, the Blue and Gold Banquet (anybody remember those?), wearing the dress I made myself. That's the only way I would get a new dress for a dance. I was most likely a brand new highschooler. My high school memories revolve around choir and drama. Now in case you're wondering how on earth I could have been the theater type? Well, I wasn't. But I suffered through it because singing parts only came with acting parts in our high school productions. And yeah, since my acting wasn't exactly uninhibited, I didn't get many big singing parts either... but I did make the all-state choir and was alto section leader in our region honor choir (which meant I scored the highest points of anyone on my vocal audition).
This is me at age 5. The milestone? Starting kindergarten, of course.
And finally, my first birthday, March 7, 1971. You've come a long way, baby! (Is it bad to quote an old cigarette ad?)
Comments
I love the pictures- so fun to see. Especially the baby picture, and of course, the awkward high school pic, because I think we all have those.
Here's hoping your baby makes his or her way to you soon!