Birthdays...

mean so much more now than ever.  My family and I have always celebrated birthdays, they are sort of a big deal where I come from. No matter your age you get cake, ice cream, a card, gifts and maybe a balloon or 2.  I love birthdays because it's celebrating the end of one year and the beginning of another.  It's like starting over again. Each year the Lord blesses you to age another year you get a new start, it's just up to you on how the year will turn out.

When I was pregnant I wasn't sure how long Mylah was going to be mine. During about my 7-8th month I made the decision that as long as she was on this earth, we would celebrate the milestones of her life. 1 week, 1 month, 2 months, etc. & a HUGE party for her 1st birthday! Yes I'm already planning!

I know that as some people get older they start to remain the same age for years. Celebrating 35th birthdays for about 10 years.  I remember being so scared to turn 30. I thought "life" was over. Maybe because I hadn't accomplished the things I had set to accomplish and probably because I wasn't really where I "wanted to be" at 30.  Society puts a stigma on 30 and many women do dread leaving behind their 20's. Turning 30 wasn't bad at all, I actually felt more mature and refined at 30.  Although I didn't have the restaurant I wanted, the number of children I expected to have, and I wasn't at a place in my current job where I thought I should have been, I had to remind myself that I have so much more than many my age and older don't have.  I have a house, a wonderful job, a great circle of friends, a beautiful family, and most of all a loving husband and that's good enough for me.  I still have time to accomplish and obtain all the things that I wish to have. I shouldn't stop "Living" just because I'm getting older.

With that said, there is no need to start to deny what age I am, to remain 31 for about 4 more years, or to live in the past.

The birth of my daughter has shown me that every minute of life should be cherished and that you must live in the moment. Learn to appreciate every milestone & every achievement.  To turn 32 in October will be a great accomplishment and a blessing because many won't make it to that age.

For Mylah each minute is a accomplishment.

She defied odds to get to where she is today; 17 days old.
She wasn't supposed to make it out of my womb;  remember her "fate was sealed".
She was supposed to come early; I had her at 41 weeks and 2 days.
She wasn't supposed to survive labor; She was bagged 2 times and then took her first breath and has been breathing on her own since.
She wasn't supposed to leave the hospital; She was discharged home on March 25, 2012.
She wasn't supposed to make it past the first week of life; She turned 1 week on March 31, 2012 at 5:11 am and we were up to celebrate her LIFE.

Mylah has shown me and I hope will show others that you shouldn't stop living too soon. 

She is now 17 days old. We will continue to celebrate her LIFE each month that HE allows her to remain with us.  April 24, 2012 is a date I am looking forward to; her 1 month birthday.
Mylah is a strong little girl and she still has a race to run, but I know she won't mind stopping the race to celebrate her Birth Day(s) along the way.

Celebrate your birthday no matter what age you are turning.  Be thankful for the age you are celebrating because there is someone who would love to blow out the candles on that cake.