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Monday, May 18, 2009

Bun-Buns

I am a walking testament to how time flies! It was a bit over....well....30 years ago that I was having my first child on this day.

It was a rough labor. I was in labor about 22 hours, give or take an hour. They had 32 women in labor that night, so they didn't have a room for me, as I was going so slow. So, they put me in the hall. Yep, you heard it. In the hall.

And to make matters worse, since I was 20 and pretty naive, the doctors decided to use me for every one's training example, and proceeded to bring every intern in the hospital, or so it seemed, to put their hand......well......you know where.....to check to see how far I had dilated.

"Oh, I think that she is about a six"
"Are you sure? Let me check again."
"Dr., would you like to check?"
"Yes.......hmmmm.....I think she might be at a seven."

And on and on.

After that long day and the pain and "the audience"........little Hailey finally came out and then I promptly fell asleep.

Yes, I was that exhausted.

Hailey was a wonderful baby. She was my little "Bun-Buns". She slept through the night by the time she was four weeks old. She was happy and cried little---ate every 4 hours, and was a joy. When she was about two, we had a mattress on the floor for her to sleep on, and she would get up in the morning, and then take some books and toys to play with on the floor by my bed. I can still remember her whispering softly as she played by the side of my bed, so she didn't wake me.

Then, when she was in preschool at the age of four, we would set her little alarm at night, lay out her clothes, and she would get up to her alarm in the morning, turn it off, get dressed, make her bed and then come and get me up to get breakfast for her, before school. (You do remember that I am NOT a morning person, right-----well, she is)

You think that I am exaggerating! I'm not.

She remained a joy as she was growing up. She was always so curious about the world and had an agenda----so she didn't have much time for hugging and such. In fact, she made the sound of the hug, (Ugh) as she would touch you on the arm or somewhere, because she just wasn't interested in taking the time to snuggle!

She was also very helpful with her little sister, then her brother. She started babysitting at the age of nine, because she could handle it. Now, don't send me nasty comments about letting such a youngster babysit----it was only for short times, and she was more attentive than I was. In fact, most of my friends would always ask me, "Ok, who's the Mom and who's the child?"

Yes, as I was a bit wild----singing in rock bands and doing modeling, she would lecture me on my choice of clothing sometimes. She was always a bit more conservative than I was.

She did well in school. Are you surprised? She was so anal about getting her school work done. She was hard on herself, freaking out if she didn't get straight "A"s----and she cared so much what her teachers thought of her. She was tested and put into Gifted classes, and still made straight "A"s.

She also has a huge amount of talent using her right brain. She sang her first solo in church when she was four years old, acted in musicals, sang with her sister, worked in a recording studio singing for recordings for schools and sang with the family. She loved to be on stage and she just sparkles when on stage!

What can I say? Hailey is a very social person, and loves people. She was always so concerned that everyone liked her and that she fit in. She really lucked out as she had great friends, and STILL has great friends!

She ended up getting an academic scholarship to Brigham Young University, and graduated in...............well,.........you guessed it.........theatre! She maintained her GPA throughout her college years, even as she met and married her husband, Ben.

She got pregnant several years later and had a child, Mila, 5 months after I had my little guy. (Yes, we were pregnant at the same time! Awww, isn't that sweet, you are thinking---its like Mother of the Bride, part two)

She now has four children. Mila, Ethan, and the twins, Lucy and Lane. She is a terrific Mom and only gets pushed over the edge every so often----well, what do you expect----she gets that from me----and she needs to use her loud voice once in a while---she's an actress!

Yes, she is a brilliant actress and singer. She usually does at least one play or musical a year, and now is doing "As You Like It" at the Hale Center Theatre in Orem. She does Improv., too, and after being in Comedy Sportz for several years, joined with several other actors to form their own Improv. company, The Thrillionaires. So, if you live in the Provo, SLC area, go SEE THEM----at the Covey Center for the Arts on Saturday nights---hint, hint. (And don't stalk them---they are all card carrying black belts!)

They are mah-velous----and I promise that you will laugh your guts out.

Yes, I guess that you have surmised that she is one funny gal, also. You can check out her blog HERE. She tells of her experiences raising her kids and about her juggling her life choices and its really funny. (She gets that from her Mum, you know----right?----you were thinking that, right?)

All in all, Hailey will always be one of my best friends. When she was growing up, and I was going through a lot in my marriage and life in general, she was always the one that came and comforted me and made sure that I was all right.

My friends were right about their observation. I didn't raise her.


She raised me.


Hailey, at 3 months---wow! Look at that mouth----singing already.

My little girls, Brinna and Hailey---they were beautiful, huh?

This photo makes me smile---well, chuckle---every time. I told you she was perfect about
getting her clothes right----even her glasses match!

When she was in "Bye, Bye Birdie"....

....and in "Music Man".

A beautiful picture of her Senior Year in high school.

And her engagement picture to Ben----don't they look like the model couple?

Acting at Sundance doing a Thrillionaires show.

This is her movie star picture....

...and her real look, when she came to visit us here in New England----with me, Brinna, Clayton and his girlfriend, Meg.

All her kids----this past February----each doing what they like to do---running around,
climbing trees and just enjoying the weather. (Don't you adore those little twins and their small
leg warmers?)

This is one of my favorite shots----a four generation one with my Mom, the twins
and Mila---yep, and Hailey is now a red-head!

Happy Birthday-----I love you so much, my wonderful Hailey. (bun-buns)

30 comments:

Carma Sez said...

I enjoyed reading this lovely tribute to your daughter! Making her bed and getting dressed on her own at 4? She was extremely responsible. One day I'll get my 13 year old to make his bed ;-)

Hope Hailey has a fantastic birthday!
carma

Christy said...

Happy Birthday to your daughter! I am sure is just going to love reading this post. So sweet!

Just SO said...

What a wonderful post about your daughter. I love it. Happy Birthday Hailey!

Karen M. Peterson said...

That is honestly one of the sweetest birthday posts I have read!

Hailey is lucky to have such a great mom!

Suzanne said...

Happy Birthday, Hailey. She sounds like a wonderful, accomplished individual. I love reminiscing. Doing so makes us grateful for where we came from and how much we have accomplished. I love the fact that you appreciated Hailey's varied characteristics -- even though they were somewhat foreign to your own! That's one of the signs of a good mother ... someone who will allow and encourage their children to develop their strengths and talents.

Kristina P. said...

Your daughter is gorgeous! She looks just like you!

Julie said...

You have such amazing, talented and beautiful children -- they must have a wonderful mom!

mCat said...

What a beautiful tribute! She sounds amazing and since I'm in her neck of the woods, will definitley be checking out the Thrillionaires!

Happy B-day Hailey

Rhonda said...

They all get their great looks from you. What a wonderful post. Haily is talented. I especially love her engagement picture. Our last child is also closer in age to all his second cousins.

Beautiful post.

Mrs. O said...

One more reason to check out the Thrillionaires. And what a beautiful birthday post.

WendyB said...

What a lovely post. All the best to the both of you!

zelzee said...

Hailey is beautiful............just like her Mom.

When you look back at those years (I had my first one at 20, also), aren't you in awe that your children survived you?
I know I am!!!!

But, you did a marvelous job with all your children! You should be proud.

Hailey said...

Ha ha I remember now--it's Father of the Bride, as opposed to Mother!

That 80's picture is frightening--I did paint that shirt myself, though. But who did my hair?

Shawn said...

Yeah, Hailey----heh, heh. I did that on PURPOSE! Thought that you would catch that play on words, since I was a mother, not a father of the bride----er----whatever.

I corrected everything else. :)

Thanks everyone for your kind words. She really is an amazing person----I wish you could all know her!

kado! said...

I Loved that birthday post for Hailey! She does sound absolutly amazing! You are such a proud Momma, and you should be!

You're right that pic of her and her husband....looks like it came right out of a magazine! They are a gorgeous couple!!!

Happy Birthday Hailey!

Lynne's Somewhat Invented Life said...

This was very sweet and obviously you had a lot to work with, what a wonderful person she is. The photos where such fun. She looks like she belongs in a 1930 black and white movie, when women were beautiful and wore little white gloves. I don't know why, she just reminds me of a movie star from that era.

Heather said...

aw, what a sweet post! she is lovely. My girl is two...I cant imagine her doing the things your hailey did at that age! 'Quiet' isnt her thing, although I do think she has the actress abilities ;)

Shauna said...

L♥ve the pictures :) ♥ HUGS ♥

tiburon said...

First of all - HOW THE CRAP are you old enough to have a 30 year old!??!

Hailey is STUNNING - just like her mama!

What a sweet tribute :)

Omgirl said...

What an incredibly good looking family! Especially the mom. (hubba bubba, Shawn! that picture of you with your girls on your lap is amazing!!!!)

p.s. I think your daughter and I would get along really well. We have a lot in common.

Anonymous said...

What an amazing family!!! I loved reading this post. I can remember having my first baby. I lost my modesty that day after being prodded and poked like I was a car being inspected.

Carma Sez said...

wasn't sure how to email you so I'll leave a comment- re: facebook in lieu of Twitter - you betcha! Please leave another comment should you decide to do this. Thanks :-)
Oh, and many thanks for the compliment!

Carma Sez said...

re-reading your comment, I think you already did, in which case don't worry about leaving another comment :D (I'm losin' it)

Debbie said...

What a beautiful family you have. And this was such a great love post to your daughter.

Angela said...

This is such a great post- She is lucky to have such a great mom like you!

Anna Whiston-Donaldson said...

What a fabulous daughter and a fabulous woman! I loved reading about her!

Syed said...

Happy happy happy birthday to your daughter. Wow, she sounds so amazing and smart :) I am in awe of how organised she was as a child! And how wonderful to see how everything really did work out for her, and where she is today. Lovely post :)

Kate Coveny Hood said...

You have the most beautiful family! I love it that you had mother/daughter pregnancies. Too bad you weren't in the hospital at the same time (like in Father of the Bride II). As she complained about the contractions and how much they hurt, you could have lectured her on how lucky she was to have a private room (with you of course) and what it was like back in the day when you gave birth to her and had your privates felt up every five minutes by the cast of Grays Anatomy. Or maybe it's just me that thinks this is too bad...

BonBon Rose Girls Kristin said...

What a gorgeous family you have! Thanks for visiting our blog!!

*Akilah Sakai* said...

What a sweet birthday note. That engagement picture looks like it came straight out of a magazine. Love their pose and her expression!

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