The Daily News

LFCA Latest Issue: Friday, September 25, 2009.

Latest Post on BlogHer: Parenting after Infertility.

My Status: Fed Josh's almonds to the squirrels. They needed them very badly.

Monday, June 02, 2008

Happy Birthday to Me

I am aware that I don't necessarily look old. It helps that I am smaller than the average ten-year-old and still have long hair. Still, I don't fool the carnies at the guess-your-age booth. I'm now 34.

34 is such a loaded age for a woman. It's the first year of your mid-thirties, the last year before the sharp fertility decline. On one hand, when you have already passed into a sharp fertility decline at 27, it doesn't quite phase you the same way to think about the fertility nose-dive you'll be taking in a year. On the other hand, it is impossible to be a woman and not see "35" in red, flashing numbers. Ad la*--life has to keep happening.

If you were looking for a reason to eat a large chunk of cake this afternoon, you can always say that you're doing it in honour of my birthday. And it was simply an obligation that you had to fulfill in order to be polite. And since I am a birthday month rather than just a birthday day sort of person, feel free to use this excuse for the entire month of June. I know I will.

I still have more people to add to Show and Tell, but Blogger is being wonky for a moment so it may need to wait for an hour or two--it took a long time to get it up and running this morning. And feel free to keep coming up in front of the class and showing your item. I am deeply in love with Show and Tell. Even when I post something new after the Show and Tell post, it's still open though Tuesday-ish or beyond. It's just that once it gets to Tuesday, you may want to hold over your post for the Show and Tell the next weekend.

* "Oh well" in Hebrew

132 comments:

bleu said...

Happy Birthday to You
Happy Birthday to You
Happy Birthday Dear Dear Dear Mel
Happy Birthday to You!!!!!!

Erin said...

Happy Birthday! Thank you for everything you do!

Samantha said...

Happy birthday!

I will try to eat some cake later this month in your honor.

HereWeGoAJen said...

Happy birthday, birthday buddy! I shall eat three times the cake tonight, for you, me, and Meghan. Should your piece be chocolate or vanilla?

Pamela T. said...

Hey cool! Now I know what you look like...will be much easier to find you in San Francisco. And 34, ah, yes, to be 34 again. Might feel old to you, but you have yet to read my next post...

A big ole: Happy Birthday (cha, cha, cha -- as my niece would gleefully add).

JJ said...

Happy birthday toooooo yoooooou! I love singing happy birthday off key, so there is my special gift to you!

Celebrating the day of your birth, down here in NC--what a gift you are to all who know you.

Lauren said...

Happy Birthday! thanks for the cake excuse... I plan to celebrate your birthday asap!

andrea_jennine said...

Happy birthday!

annacyclopedia said...

May this year bring you joy, adventure, and peace beyond measure. Happy birthday!

Sam said...

Happy Birthday to you!! Good excuse for some cake!!

I should also give thanks that I came across your blog - thanks for NaComLeavMo and for Show and Tell!!

Mrs. Shoes said...

Happy, Happy Birthday to you! (and thanks for the excuse to eat cake) May this next year bring you and your family much joy and blessing!

luna said...

one more time (you can never wish a happy birthday too many times)! HBAPPY BIRTHDAY MEL!

hooray for you! and many thanks for all you do. you are indeed a treasured gift in this world. be sure to thank your mom for birthing you today (from us), and your dad too, cause I know he did his part.

since you've already hit one of the hardest things about your mid-30s, this ought to be a pieve of cake. speaking of which, what's your favorite kind? and yes, you get all month to celebrate!

luna said...

hBappy makes it extra special you know.

also I meant to say I love the pic!

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday! Have a most magical day!

Anonymous said...

Happy Happy Birthday!!

Shelli said...

Happy Birthday you young thing! lol.

Meghan said...

I thought I was cool getting to share a birthday with Jen...but with you and Jen. Wow...that ups my cool quotient quite a bit! Hope you have a great birthday. And I am a birthday month type of person too...we'll have to have a little party for ourselves on the 30th also ;)

Phoebe said...

34 old? Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahaaaaaaahaa!! I almost split a gut on that one! You are a spring chick compared to me! Enjoy your birthday! You deserve it!

chicklet said...

Happy birthday my friend. I hope you have an absolutely fabulous one!

Caro said...

Happy Birthday and welcome to 34. (I'm still getting used to it - it's been a week and a half).

Io said...

Happy Birthday Month!

Anonymous said...

Happy happy birthday - gosh, your hair is pretty, by the way.

I have solemnly eaten a bowl of chocolate ice-cream in your honour.

Stephanie said...

Happy Birthday Mel!!!

loribeth said...

Happy birthday!! And yes, you are still a spring chicken!

littleangelkisses said...

Mel, Happy Birthday!!!

Oh I know how the passing of time is. 35 wasn't so bad, but 36 was pretty hard for me.

Sue said...

Happy Birthday! The world is certainly a brighter place because you are in it.

[And that whole "birthday month" thing? right there with you. I wouldn't want to offend you by not having cake or ice cream as often as possible. Just for you. ;-) ]

CLC said...

Happy Birthday!
I'd be glad to indulge in some cake in your honor!

Jess said...

Oooh, Mel, look FAB! Seriously!!

If I had cake, I'd eat it. If I had milk, even, I'd MAKE it and eat it. Stupid vacation leaving my fridge bare!!

I, too, am TOTALLY a birthday month person! Enjoy it!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

AwkwardMoments said...

HappyBirthday to you , Happy birthday to you, Happybirthday , happy birthday , happy birthday to you!

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday and you do look pretty young! I wouldn't have guessed 34!

SarahSews said...

Happy Birthday MEL! Thirty four looks good on you! I'm 34 too and I must say, having this baby before 35 hits feels like a major accomplishment given how long it took us to get here. I hope you have a fabulous day and an even better year.

Kir said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MEL!!!!

you look amazing!!! enjoy 34 and your birthday month( a girl after my own heart, I celebrate for the whole month too!!)

I would proud/lucky/happy to eat cake for you all month! Thanks for the reason to enjoy it!

Mindy said...

Happy Happy Birthday to You!!! Oh you are sooo 34 years YOUNG. Trust me in just 4 1/2 short years when you reach the age I'm at now, 34 will seem absolutely teenish! And thanks for giving me a good excuse to eat some cake! Have a great day!!!!!

Waiting Amy said...

Hap, Hap, Happy Day to YOU!

Both sides of 35 feel a bit weird. I crossed over to the other side this past year. It's an unusual journey.

Hope you enjoy LOTS of yummy cake! I will definitely have some in your honor!

Anonymous said...

Happy birthday, Mel! You are an amazing woman and I'm sure you'll only get better with age. And my I just say... you're freakin' gorgeous!

Denise said...

Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you...(singing you a little song).

niobe said...

Happy Birthday!

I've also found the being-smaller-than-the-average-ten-year-old thing to be a huge advantage.

Kathy V said...

Happy Happy Happy Birthday.

I am not really feeling cake but I will have some ice cream for you.

Deb said...

Happy Birthday!!!

Anonymous said...

Happy birthday, Mel!

Jendeis said...

Happy birthday, dahlink! May you live to be 120! No points available for cake, but I will eat my fat-free, sugar-free pudding in honor of you!

Anonymous said...

Happy, happy birthday!

I don't think of birthdays as a sign of getting older. To me, they are the anniversary of the day you came to the planet. Of all the anniversaries we celebrate, I think this one is the best. Hope you have a great one.

admin said...

Happy Birthday!!! And by the way - you rock!
Meredith

Anonymous said...

Happy birthday! What a cute picture!!!

Sully said...

Happy Birthday Mel! Thanks for all you do. Here's to a fabulous Birthday Month!

K @ ourboxofrain said...

Happy birthday!!! Now I have to figure out where I can find some cake...

Jill said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Hmmmm I wonder how many Weight watchers points a huge chunk of cake is.....

Anonymous said...

here from nacomleavmo.
wait, I mean I am here because It's your birthday. WOOO HOOO!!!

can't believe you didn't get your ex boyfriend to make you a cake...maybe next year.

xoxo
sending you virtual spankings!

Somewhat Ordinary said...

Happy Birthday!!!!

Deathstar said...

I hope you have a very happy birthday ALL MONTH LONG! From a fellow Gemini. If I ate as much cake as I would like to, I'd be in a different pant size by Wednesday.

BigP's Heather said...

Happy Birthday! (I like you too much to sing to you, consider it your gift.)

Hope you have a super one - you look FAB!

Lee said...

I'm new here, via http://dirtandrocks.blogspot.com/ but couldn't resist the opportunity to eat cake for the rest of the month!

Happy Birthday!!!!

Soupy said...

"Go Shorty, it's your birfday, we're gonna party like i'ts your birfday,
gonna sip Bacardi like it's your birday, ya know we dont' give a F cuz it's your birfday!"

Happy Birthday, Mel, you make 34 look amazing! So far, having only been 34 for a few weeks myself, I can say it's a good place to be!

many hugs from MN
C.

DC said...

Happy birthday Mel!!! Hope you enjoyed your cake. Yuuuuummmmyyy. :)

Lori Lavender Luz said...

You know, before I clicked over, I thought that the chocolate chip cookie I at in your honor was my treat for the day.

But now I see that this adorable photo is my real treat.

Mwah, my beautiful and wise friend!

Yom Huledet Same'ach!

MsPrufrock said...

Happy birthday Mel!

I bought you $240 worth of pudding, I just haven't sent it yet.

Jen said...

Happy birthday! You are an amazing person!!!

And thanks much for an excuse for some cake :)

Unknown said...

Happy Birthday! I consider 34 early 30's (especially if you skip the mid 30's all together). You can be in your early 30's, and once you hit 36 you can consider yourself just in your 30's.
Laura

Tash said...

Happy Birthday, Mel!

Barb said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Pam said...

Happy Birthday Mel. You're just a spring chicken compared to me. :) Hope it was a good one and that the ChickieNob and Wolvog help you celebrate in style!

Yoka said...

Congratulations, Mel!!! Happy Birthday!!!

Kathy said...

Happy birthday my thirtysomething friend!!! :)

nancy said...

Yay!!! Happy birthday.

It was my 35th that made me rethink about getting old. Yuck. And I'm about to hit 36. I'm not looking forward to it.

Congrats on a wonderful 34 years!!!

sara said...

Happy Birthday Mel!

Alyson and Ford said...

Wow, we are having a virtual landslide of birthdays around here! My sweet Aly just celebrated a milestone birthday but today we want to wish you a HAPPY BIRHTDAY!!! Remember to CELEBRATE!!!
peace
fm

JuliaS said...

Oh happy birthday Mel!

I love love love your long hair. I have long dark hair too - but sadly it is limp and thin and pitiful and not near as lovely as yours . . .

I hope you have a wonderful day and a wondeful month and a wonderful year!

My mid thirties were some of my favorite years (so far! Give me a year or two to test out my 40's!)

m said...

Happy Birthday lovely Mel!!!

How I wish I could roll back a few years to 34!!

x

Julia said...

Happy birthday to you! (shh... don't tell anyone but you only have a few weeks on me in the age department, and yes, the advanced maternal age thing is freaking me already.)

And I am probably going to use the excuse today. I seem to need it. Since I can't have a drink and all.

Happy birthday!

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday Pretty Lady!!!

Thank you for all that you do for us every day of the year.

Anonymous said...

happy birthday and what a fabulous picture!

Yesterday my 11 yr old niece came to visit and she was trying to figure how many days she had been alive. Then she asked me, "how old are you?"

-34.

-34!!!!

-Um, yeah.

-Wow. That's gonna be thousands and thousands of days.

-Yeah, so? Shut up about it. And don't forget leap years in your calculations little miss know-it-all.

Yeah, I can trash-talk pre-teens real good.

All of this to say, Mel, that my days are much happier knowing and reading you. Thanks for everything you do.

Shauna said...

Happiest of birthdays to you Mel!

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday, Mel!

Sam said...

Ditto what Bleu said!

RBandRC said...

Happy Birthday!!! :)

Soapchick said...

Happy Birthday Mel! Hope it's a great year for you!

Rian said...

Happy Birthday Mel. I hope this year is full of wonderful things for you!!!!

deanna said...

Happiest of Birthdays to you!!
Hope you had a lovely day!

Still Standing Strong in A Bloom of Hope. said...

Happy Birthday Mel! and thank you for bringing the INFERTILE WHOREs community together!

And you look great!

I'll bake a virtual cake for you to celebrate!

Anonymous said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!

And I have every intention of using your birthday to have much cake and ice cream this month. And next month I'll use my own birtday as an excuse. I think I may need to start setting up some excuses for August...

And for the record, you look damn good for 34 (or even for younger)!

Geohde said...

Happy birthday to you :)

J

Amy said...

Happy Birthday! I just sent my husband out to get cake in honor of your day. It's chocolate and nummy...but I'm only thinking of you!

Stacie said...

Happy Birthday, Mel! Celebrate and be merry!

Unknown said...

Super Happy Birthay wishes to you!

Thank you for everything you do in our community! You are amazing and this community would be lost without you holding us all together!

jenn said...

Happy Birthday!!

Kim said...

Happy Birthday! I will eat some cake for you! Yum! I made the Hershey's cocoa chocolate cake and icing off of the cocoa container. Best cake ever!

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday, Mel!! Thanks for keeping us all united!

Heidi said...

Happy Birthday Mel!! How grateful I am that your parents brought you to us!c

Joanna said...

Hope yo uhave a wonderful birthday MONTH. Chocolate cake - Here I come!

VA Blondie said...

Happy Birthday to you! You look great.

34 is not so bad. I even get carded every now and again. I had a chasier tell me, "You don't look that old." That was really sweet

Caba said...

Happy 34 Mel! It's not so bad ... I've been doing the "34" thing for about 3 months ... and it's treating me ok ... hope it treats you the same!

CappyPrincess said...

:clears throat:

Happy Happy Birthday, Meeeeel, dear. Happy days will come to you all year. If I had a wish then it would be a Happy Happy Birthday to you from me!

(snagged from the primary song book)

Rebel With.A.Cause said...

Happy Birthday Mel!! You look great!!!

Tina / Anxious Changer said...

Happy, happy birthday, Meeelisssa!!! WooHoo!

People tell you 34 is just a number...but, being that close to 35 is hard, especially when it comes to the doctors ramming down your throat all that could go wrong after you hit that age.

For now, enjoy your day! You deserve it!

SassyCupcakes said...

Happy Birthday! I hope you have an extra special day and enjoy your month long celebration.

Antigone said...

You're so cute! Happy Birthday!!!

Anonymous said...

http://nycphoenix.wordpress.com/2008/06/02/happy-happy/

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday!!
Wishing you many many happy returns of the day!

battynurse said...

Yes happy birthday!!! And you still look freaking fantastic.
Funny, you mentioned 34 as being right before fertility declines. I never even considered it at 34. It was so far out of my mind. It was 36 when I thought "oh yeah". Now 38 is looming a couple weeks out. Yuck!

Overwhelmed! said...

Happy Birthday! I loved seeing your picture. You have beautiful hair. :)

B said...

Hippo bathday and all that.

I really do hope it was/is a happy one.

barbs

ColourYourWorld said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! I hope you have a wonderful day.

Heather said...

Many happy returns! (from the really young 37 year old!)

Rachel said...

Happy Birthday, Mel. 34 with 2 kids isn't shabby.

Hope you had a good one.

♥.Trish.♥ Drumboys said...

happy Birthday Melissa
did you get some cake and nice surprises ?

Anonymous said...

I KNEW there was a reason I ordered that flourless blueberry and apple cake with cream cheese icing with my chai latte this afternoon. Hope your day was filled with fun, adventure and cake.

Anonymous said...

Happy belated birthday! Love the pic - it's great to have a face to go with the name. You're adorable!

Fit & Fierce Mama said...

Happy birthday!!

ms. c said...

Happy Birthday Mel!
Thanks for the excuse to eat cake. (and thanks for everything always.)

Rebeccah said...

Happy Birthday! Wow, you're gorgeous! Thanks so much for all you do for this community.

Hope2morrow said...

Happy Birthday, girl! I may have cake and a drink in your honor several times this month!

Anonymous said...

Happy birthday! A piece of cake will be consumed in your honor today.

C said...

Happy Birthday Mel!:)

Ginny said...

Happy Birthday! I just turned 30 & had a hard time dealing it that myself. Hope you had a great day!

dmarie said...

I'm a day late, but Happy Birthday!!

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday, Mel! What a beautiful smile you have......

Always enjoy your birthdays, no matter what number they are! Have some cake for me...

Tammy said...

Happy Happy Birthday! I am not that far behind you in age so I think that you are really really young too... :oP

I hope it was fantastic.

Sherry said...

Whoops, even though its belated I had to pop in and say HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MEL! YAY!

Portia P said...

Happy birthday Mel.

Sorry it's belated. I meant to post early but then with the criminal activity round my way, totally forgot.

Hope it was a goodie!! xx

Shinejil said...

Happy belated birthday, Mel! Thanks a million for all you do!

Esperanza said...

Happy Birthday! Sorry it is a bit late, but as you said - a birthday month!

(By the way, you share the same birthday as my sister :). Mine is in a week.)

E. Phantzi said...

I'm late chiming in, but want to wish you a most sincere happy birth MONTH!! You are truly the queen of all bloggers!

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday a bit late! I actually tried commenting on your birthday itself but it didn't work for some reason. grrr. Anyway since I get to celebrate all month, I hope you will accept my wish for you to have a wonderful year!

Christy said...

Happy, happy, happy belated birthday! Though, I guess I'm right on time for wishing you a happy, happy, happy birthday month. Oh, and by the way, you are 100% absolutely, completely adorable in that picture!

Bea said...

Happy birthday! (Only a little late...)

Twenty-one today, she's twenty-one today... and not in the least bit old at all!

Bea

millie said...

Happy (belated) birthday!

Hope you are truly enjoying your birthday month.

astral said...

Happy Birthday Mel!! I wish you all the best today and always!!!!

Queenie. . . said...

I love show and tell. I was sad I missed it this weekend, but I already have my next one planned.

Happy birthmonth! I think I'm going to have a giant dish of ice cream to celebrate you!

Rachel said...

Happy birthday!

I am so happy to know what you look like.

Jamie said...

Happy (belated) Birthday, Mel!!

I don't know what I pictured you to look like, but I have decided you exactly fit your personality!

You look fantastic, the 30's have nothing on you!

Malloryn said...

Happy birthday Mel! Thank you for everything that you do. I wish you all the best for the next year.

I just had the "flashing red numbers" 35 about a month ago, and I know exactly what you mean!

Malky B. said...

Happy Birthday Mel. 34 years young and to many many more