Having two girls born on the same day isn't that rare. After all, people have twins all the time - and I've heard of twins born two days apart - and even cases of twins born in different years, or different cities, or different states.
It's a little more unusual to have two girls born nine years apart on the same day. It's my party trick, my "tell us something neat about you" item. Allegra was born December 22, 1994 at 4 something in the morning. Riley was born December 22, 2003 at some time in the afternoon. (I could tell you exact times if I went to find the baby books. I'm not doing that. Sorry.)
But when they are happy, they are happy. Kind and full of life, funny and sharp at the same time.
I often feel as if they get the shaft, having birthdays three days before Christmas. I try really hard to make a big deal of their birthdays - but this year I've fallen short. No cake sits in my kitchen, awaiting decoration. No party is scheduled for tomorrow, no streamers have been hung. I haven't done any of those things, and that probably makes me a bad mom. I can do one thing, though - I can make a birthday wish. (Well, that - and make a cake. Get with it, already, geez, Carmen.)
This is my birthday wish for them. I want them to be happy.
If money comes their way, great. If success comes their way, I'm thrilled. If love, marriage, children come their way - it'd be a blessing.I know that they will struggle, I know that there will be tough times, but above all, I want them to be happy. And I want them to be at peace in themselves, happy with who they are and where they are.
I want them to be happy. And I will do everything in my power to help this wish come true. (But I won't buy you UGG boots, no matter how much you think that will make you happy. Sorry.)
Happy 16th birthday, Allegra. Mommy Loves You.
Happy 7th birthday, Riley. Mommy Loves You.
Happy birthday Allegra and Riley. May mommy's wish for you come true!
Posted by: maggie | December 21, 2010 at 11:10 PM
Happy Birthday Allegra and Riley! :)
My cousin's children were born on the same day, 5 years apart (a boy and a girl).
Posted by: Cindy | December 21, 2010 at 11:12 PM
Happy Birthday to your girls! I was born on my brother's 4th birthday. He has always called my older sister his sister. But he always calls me his little sister.(emphasis on little!)If he ever complained about sharing a birthday (rare) my response was at least he got a few to himself first!
Posted by: Karen P | December 21, 2010 at 11:15 PM
Happy Birthday to Allegra and Riley!!!! :)
Posted by: ek | December 21, 2010 at 11:22 PM
Happy Birthday Riley & Allegra!
A good friend of mine had December birthday children and often felt they got the shaft too when it came to celebration. As the children got a bit older she gave them the option of having an "un-Bithday." The "un-Birthday" could be any month and day the child selected. Most of the time the child selected a warm summer day. Birthday shaft solved.
Posted by: Kristi | December 21, 2010 at 11:23 PM
I love this quote: "If there must be trouble, let it be in my day. That my child may have peace." Thomas Paine.
Uggs rock ;-) Happy Birthday, girls!
Posted by: Nelson's Mama | December 21, 2010 at 11:31 PM
Happy Biarthday, Allegra and Riley!!
Posted by: Jodie in MN | December 21, 2010 at 11:32 PM
My cousin was born on Christmas day...talk about getting the birthday shaft... My aunt decided when she was 4 or 5 to fox it--they had the birthday party and cake on her half birthday instead.
Posted by: Thumper | December 21, 2010 at 11:52 PM
Happy Sweet 16 Allegra!!
Happy 7th Riley!!
Posted by: Shelly | December 22, 2010 at 12:47 AM
Happy Day Allegra and Riley. Your mom is right, you know. Being happy in all things is much more rewarding than just about anything that I can think of. May you have the best year ever!
Posted by: Headless Mom | December 22, 2010 at 01:26 AM
happy birthday girls!
so is allegra driving yet? my 15 year old just got her permit a month or so ago, and she wants to drive me everywhere. eek!! LOL
Posted by: Sandra | December 22, 2010 at 02:52 AM
Love this! The shared birthday thing is so cool! But I am sure a challenge for party and gift planning with TWO birthdays so close to Christmas.
Posted by: Amie | December 22, 2010 at 03:36 AM
Happy Birthday to you both, Allegra and Riley!
Posted by: KatieButler | December 22, 2010 at 05:24 AM
We have a similar problem here because Charlie's birthday is Jan. 12th. It's right after school starts again from the holiday break and somewhat close to Christmas.
Your birthday wish for your girls is better than a party but then I'm almost 43 so my view is skewed. :)
Happy Birthday to your precious girls!
Posted by: Elizabeth | December 22, 2010 at 06:50 AM
Happy Birthday Allegra & Riley !
Posted by: Marie | December 22, 2010 at 07:15 AM
Happy Birthday, Allegra and Riley. Hope your day is really special.
I love your wish for them, Carmen.
Posted by: UKCraftySal | December 22, 2010 at 07:36 AM
So...I just had child #3 last month...Get this...my Mother in Law was born November 12, 1945...I had my first child November 12, 2002, and my third child was born November 12, 2010! My MIL was over the roof to have 2 grandchildren born on her birthday! :)
We figured it out...9 months before November 12 is FEBRUARY 12th! Valentines Day weekend! Happy Birthday to your girls!
Posted by: Caren | December 22, 2010 at 07:59 AM
a good friend of mine just had a birthday and I gave her a mug: http://www.cafepress.com/+birthday-overshadowed-by-christmas+mugs
It must stink being born so close to Christmas and getting joint gifts and all but it must also be awesome to share a birthday month with Jesus. xoxo to my two awesome nieces.
Posted by: Angela | December 22, 2010 at 08:46 AM
Happy birthday, ladies! I, too, have 2 with the same birthday nine years apart, but they are three days AFTER Christmas and one of them was adopted. Still, I know what you mean about party stories! Nobody has ever done a joint gift for either of them.
Posted by: Elizabeth | December 22, 2010 at 10:03 AM
One of my brothers was born on Dec. 31. My Mom always swore his birthday would be celebrated on his birthday, not Christmas. She always told us he deserved to have a separate birthday celebration and not just a doubled-up Christmas. For years, my folks did nothing on New Year's Eve because they celebrated his birthday instead.
Posted by: Pat | December 22, 2010 at 11:50 AM
Happy Birthday Allegra and Riley! May your day be filled with Blessings!
Posted by: Brandy | December 22, 2010 at 02:23 PM
Happy Birthday girls! I feel your holiday b-day woes -- mine is Dec. 26th and it sucks!
I also have 2 kids on the same day (3 years apart), and they too are similar. My neighbor has 2 on the same day, and when the youngest one, at age 3, needed a life-saving bone marrow transplant for leukemia, she just KNEW that the b-day "twin" would be a perfect match, and of course, he was!
Posted by: Beth | December 22, 2010 at 03:03 PM
Happy Birthday Allegra and Riley!
Wishing you happiness today and in years to come.
Posted by: A Simple Twist of Faith | December 22, 2010 at 03:21 PM
Happy birthday Allegra and Riley. May you always be content, regardless of the circumstances, and may you always feel the depth of your parents love for you.
(My baby's birthday is Christmas eve. I know what you mean about worrying over your kid getting shafted having their birthday so close to Christmas.)
Posted by: Kait | December 22, 2010 at 06:31 PM
Happy Birthday Riley!
Happy Birthday Allegra!
Enjoy your birthdays!!
Posted by: addy | December 22, 2010 at 09:33 PM