Face down, booty up that's the way we like to --- fondly remember celebrating my past birthdays. I'm sorry for that lousy attempt at inserting a song lyric, I'm just really excited to be linking up with my two pals Helene and Taylor.
No but really, every single year, for the first 17 years of my life my parents would come in my room at 6:35am, the exact moment I was born. My dad balancing the 80s old school video camera on his shoulder, whispering the plans to wake me from my birthday slumber into the camera's microphone as he tip toed up the stairs with my mom. As they turned the corner into my room, video rolling, they would flip the lights on and there laid Sarah, face down, butt sticking up in the air for the world to see, with a giant mop of curly hair spread across the pillows. My parents would start singing happy birthday, and I would always sit up, rub my eyes and and stare at the camera so shocked that it was my birthday.
Every year on December 17th at 6:35am for 18 years.
My 19th birthday I spent with my friend Magen at her beach house in North Carolina. My parents still called my cell that year at 6:35am to wake me up by singing happy birthday. If someone told me that my Dad was actually filming the phone call, I wouldn't be at all surprised. As much as I of course loved the attention, what only child doesn't, I always thought it was just a silly little thing our family did. My Dad passed away when I was 19, which made me reevaluate the silliness I once felt. So now those 18 birthdays are some of my most treasured memories, and it's all on video tape.
Every year on December 17th at 6:35am for 18 years.
My 19th birthday I spent with my friend Magen at her beach house in North Carolina. My parents still called my cell that year at 6:35am to wake me up by singing happy birthday. If someone told me that my Dad was actually filming the phone call, I wouldn't be at all surprised. As much as I of course loved the attention, what only child doesn't, I always thought it was just a silly little thing our family did. My Dad passed away when I was 19, which made me reevaluate the silliness I once felt. So now those 18 birthdays are some of my most treasured memories, and it's all on video tape.
I tried to continue this post with more memories about being a Christmas baby, but I think I'll actually just leave it at that memory. It is a pretty good one.
i love it!! clearly you were a daddy's girl, right? adorable :)
ReplyDelete-kathy
Vodka and Soda
Lovely photos! That's what I always say to everyone in my life when I'm being snap happy, you will appreciate this in the future when you have these memories frozen in time to cherish forever x
ReplyDeleteThat is so awesome, what awesome memories to have of your dad!
ReplyDeleteaw what a great memory! and awesome that you have all those embarrassing videos now! :)
ReplyDelete-- jackie @ jade and oak
Now I'm all teary eyed. But what a very sweet memory to have of your dad!
ReplyDeletewell yes, i am tearing up. this is really sweet. and i can just picture you with your butt in the air. i love this.
ReplyDeleteWhat a sad, but sweet memory! My parents didn't video tape it, but my mom still calls/texts me at exactly 8:06am on December 16th :) I will be 35 this year!
ReplyDeletethis is the sweetest thing I have read in quite some time. so awesome to have all that video footage. sounds like you have a pretty great fam damily :)
ReplyDeleteThis is amazing and I am sure those home videos are really special to you!
ReplyDeletexx
Kelly
Sparkles and Shoes
Our dad's sound so much alike! Mine was always toting his video camera too. I used to joke my entire life was on video, but those are moments to cherish.
ReplyDeleteI love this! The camera is a classic :)
ReplyDeleteAwww you were such an adorable kid :)
ReplyDeletewhat a beautiful memory!
ReplyDeleteSo funny how I knew what you were talking about when I read the subject line.
ReplyDeleteThis is so precious and I'm also a daddy's girl.
Also, my family has the same tradition and they call me in the morning to wish me a happy birthday. It started up a few years ago too, I can't recall when but I like it :)
I love that video camera!
ReplyDeleteYour post made me tear up! I think it's awesome that your parents did that for you every year. I always think of the exact time my daughter was born on Nov. 25th and I plan to celebrate it with her every year. It looks like you had a wonderful daddy, such a lucky little girl you were!
really cute and sweet. :-)
ReplyDeleteAh you were such a cute little peanut! I wish my family would have taken a ton of videos throughout the years like your dad it...and that first line im sure that has been everyone's "birthday song" at least one year lol
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet tradition :) I love that your parents did that for you every year!
ReplyDeleteLove this post, so sweet :)
ReplyDeleteI think this is absolutely sweet. It's great that you have such wonderful memories of your dad! That's a very important thing to have!
ReplyDeleteJamie @
The Growing Up Diaries
I absolutely adore the fact that your dad always had his video camera! What wonderful memories!
ReplyDeleteYou got me, ya bugger! It's 8:42 am and I totally choked up. My dad died when I was 19 too. I understand that feeling of appreciating things that we used to roll our eyes at before. I think this was a perfect memory to share.
ReplyDeleteAnd.. that video camera makes my heart smile. Your parents were ballin' to own one of those beauties in the late 80's early 90's!! My grandpa had one and they were SO freaking heavy! LOL
Yes we were ballin , and we had the cutest little girl ever. She still is.
DeleteOne of the most adorable things I've ever seen
ReplyDeleteThis is too sweet. Great way to share and remember memories of your dad!!
ReplyDeleteI'm a Christmas baby too!
love this :) glad you have such fond memories !
ReplyDeleteOur Christmases always started with a video camera much like your birthday. What a sweet and special memory for you to share with us.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this sweet girl... I'm sure you have the happiest memories with those videos. XO
ReplyDeleteThis post got me all kinds of verklempt...When it comes to my little girl I'm like the paparazzi, camera always in hand...Happy birthday month!
ReplyDeleteSuch sweet memories of childhood with your Father! You were obviously the best Christmas gift he ever received!!
ReplyDeleteI adore this post....and clearly remember my father having an 80's video camera that every Christmas would tape us opening presents....so sweet!
ReplyDeleteMeet @ the Barre
Aw, what an amazing and wonderul memory. My mom and I used to decorate for Christmas every year together and then go look at Christmas lights. She passed away when I was 15.
ReplyDeleteyour dad seems like he was a really great guy! and how amazing to have all of those videos. what a great treasure!
ReplyDeletexoxo, Amy @ Interpret As You May
Great stories of you and your dad, so sweet!
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks for sharing those lyrics because now that song is in my head and it looks like it aint going anywhere, anytime soon!
That old RCA, love it!! Nothing wrong with being a Daddy's girl! So great that you have those videos to look back on now.
ReplyDeleteHow lovely you have those memories now so you can appreciate them. I think that's the sweetest tradition!
ReplyDeleteI teared up :(
ReplyDeleteI think I just figured out where you got your documentation/blogging genes from! ;)
That is such a sweet memory to have, and even better that its all on video :)
ReplyDeleteWell, well, well... someone certainly had Daddy wrapped around her little finger, didn't she?! :D So cute! And any time that song is used it's NEVER a lousy excuse. :P
ReplyDeleteHow cute! And my dad used to have the exact same camera. Couldn't open presents unless it was set up on the tripod focused on me! Gotta love the perks of being an only - no sharing screen time with other kids hahaha.
ReplyDeleteHappy (almost) birthday!
My grandpa did the same thing! ALWAYS with his video camera and camera, one wrapped around his neck and one in his hand. Those memories are so precious now :)
ReplyDeleteThis is the sweetest thing ever! What amazing parents :-)
ReplyDeleteSuch sweet memories to have!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post!
ReplyDeleteAw, that's adorable. The fact that you have the video, the reactions captured and the strong bond with your late father is priceless. Hugs, Sarah - I know this time of year isn't easy. Happy early birthday!
ReplyDeleteThis is incredibly sweet! I am so glad you have such one memories of your dad. He songs like a great one!
ReplyDeleteI love the video camera pictures! My family is HUGE on birthdays, so this warms my heart!
ReplyDelete-AJ
FitTravelerAJ.com