Seventeen years ago I gave birth to a beautiful little girl at Camp Lester Naval Hospital on the island of Okinawa. The past seventeen years have been filled with joy, knowledge, love, and laughter. There’ve been a few tears and a little anger along the way, but mostly lots of love. One of our traditions is that on our kids’ birthdays we go around the room and each give a memory of the birthday child. Sometimes they’re funny, sometimes they’re bittersweet, but they’re all wonderful memories of a beautiful child. Here are seventeen of my favorite memories:
We were flooded with beautiful little dresses when Caitlin was born and there was no way that Caitlin would be able to wear them all before she outgrew them, so one afternoon we laid her dad’s bathrobe on the floor and had a “Caitie Fashion Show” with her modeling all of her clothes for the camera. She was an amazingly good baby and never even cried as we changed her in and out of her outfits.
We moved home when Caitlin was six months old and her grandparents were so excited to see her that they were waiting for us at the airport. They fell in love with the little blue eyed imp immediately and have grown to love her even more a the years have passed.
When Caitlin was three she went through a phase where she wouldn’t wear jeans because they were too “wiggly.” The only pants that she would wear were skinny pants and she always looked adorable in them.
We took Caitlin to Six Flags for her third birthday and she had a blast seeing Bugs Bunny, riding the kiddie rides, and eating lots of junk food. However, our sweet little girl turned into a screaming tyrant when we tried to take her on the water ride fully clothed. She insisted that she had to change into her bathing suit before she could go on a water ride. As soon as we put her into her swim suit, she was fine.
When Caitlin was about four and her brother was really sick in bed, we told her that she should go and cheer up her brother. A few minutes later, we heard this sweet little voice going “Go Sean Go” as she cheered up her brother.
Caitlin was the apple of her grandfather’s eye and he loved having her come out and spend time with him. They spent hours along the river watching for eagles and I am forever grateful that she truly got to know her grandfather.
Caitlin and I spent a week in Georgia when she was fifteen and she got to see the ocean for the first time. Even though it was March and not really warm enough to swim, she stripped down to her bikini and went and frolicked in the ocean.
I participated in the Illinois Author’s Book Fair a few years ago and Caitlin wanted to help out so she charmed the people running the book fair into letting her be a runner for the fair. She was responsible for running errands, getting people water, or any other odd jobs that needed to be done. She charmed all the authors and I ended up getting books autographed to “Caitlin’s mom.”
When I woke up the morning of Caitlin’s fifteenth birthday, she’d written in lipstick on the bathroom mirror: “Mom, thank you for giving me life. I Love you. Caitlin.” That was the sweetest thing I’ve ever had done for me.
One Halloween, Caitlin was a beautiful fairy princess. She’d gotten a blue leotard with sparkles on it as part of a ballerina kit and I made a beautiful blue skirt for her and she looked adorable. We completed the ensemble by having her brother be her knight in shining armor.
Caitlin has grown into a beautiful and accomplished young woman and she sometimes tries to hide her accomplishments from us, but this year she was the Student of the Quarter in English, won debate trophies, and awards for the newspaper. She did an outstanding job in her junior year and I’m very proud of her.
Caitlin and I drove her older brother out to Washington, DC two years ago and on the way back we had a great time talking and driving through the mountains. It was wonderful to just get to spend quality time with her. We stopped at a grocery store to buy some food and I’d locked the car and she accidentally locked the keys in the trunk. Thank god for Onstar. They were able to unlock our car remotely so we could get back on the road.
First jobs are always momentous and Caitlin got her first job last fall at a bakery in Arlington Heights. She makes me so proud because she is so responsible about always getting to work on time and making sure she gets herself to work even when it is raining out and she doesn’t have a ride. She is also very responsible with her money and is good about spending her own money for treats she wants.
Caitlin’s fifth birthday she had a “Blue’s Clues” birthday and her dad made her a pin the ear on Blue game. She was so proud that she had this cool game that her dad had actually made for her.
Animals love Caitlin. Every time we go to the zoo, all the animals come up to the fence/glass to stare at her and they will follow her as far as their cages will allow. Once we went to the Lincoln Park zoo and a harbor seal we named Turner came up and spent at least five minutes just staring at Caitlin.
We went to see the movie Madeline when Caitlin was six and she had to have a Madeline haircut. So as soon as the movie was over, we went to the salon and got her a Madeline haircut.
Caitlin a 17 year old unwed mother of five children, at least that’s what she sometimes tries to tell people. The truth of the matter is that she is a very good mother to her five critters. She has two birds, two hamsters, and a guinea pig. She loves her “kids” and she does a great job taking care of them.
Cairn by Cairn 
This was a wonderful tribute to your Caitlin and to your writing abilities. Keep it up!!!!
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