Happy Birthday

"Because time itself is like a spiral

something special happens on your birthday each year;

the same energy that God invested in you at birth

is present once again."

Menachem Mendel Schneerson

It's hard to believe that a whole year has passed since

we welcomed two little babies into the world.

But it's true.

Elliot and Alice Wichansky turned ONE today.

What seems like it was only last month to ME probably feels like 100 years to E and A's mom and dad. A baby's first year is full of the wonderment of new life - experiencing all sorts of things for the first time. It is also fraught with sleepless nights, diapers too numerous to count, breast pumps and bottles, projectile vomiting, tears, vaccinations, runny noses, and if you live in the NW countless putting ons and taking offs of many-zippered snow suits. Now double that for twins. Whoowee! I get tired just thinking about it!.

Most of you already know I am

a true believer in birthday celebrations. I think everyone, be they one or 101 should enjoy b

eing King or Queen for a day. Everyone needs to have the feeling, if not every day, then at least once a year, that they are God's special creation and worthy of cake and ice cream and balloons and presents. On that note, I hereby declare today Elliot and Alice Day in the land of Merry ME.

To Elliot and Alice:

Bless You
When the first light of sun
Bless you
When the long day is done
Bless you
In your smiles and your tears
Bless you
Through each day of your years
Bless you

I also want to say to their mom, Molly Jo, their dad, Gary and big sister, Ivy Jane, I salute you. Hard as it's been you've given every challenge of the last year your best effort. If you had just climbed Mt. Everest you'd get to plant a flag on the top of the mountain. If you'd swum (swum?) the English Channel, you'd have a bottle of champagne waiting on the beach next to your towel. If you'd placed first in the Olympics you'd get a gold medal to wear around your neck. Alas, I don't think they hand out awards for surviving the first year of twin baby hood.

So what to do? Hmmmm?

I've got it.....

Molly Jo, for dedicated Mommying in the face of all odds,

Gary, for all round support whether near or far away,

Ivy Jane, for sharing your mom and dad and the

royal throne of the first born child

and

Your village of friends and helpers

by the authority vested in ME,

I hereby present you with the official

Merry ME You Rock! Award

Congratulations on a job well done.

Wishing I was there to share in the celebrations,

Merry ME, aka Grammy Mary