31 years ago today, my world was blessed beyond blessed with the arrival of my little girl. We would call her Audrey.
Audrey was a name that both her Dad and I loved, but there were some who tried to convince me that she would grow up to hate her name. I almost caved to these people. But it was Barry who would make me realize how beautiful and special and wonderful her name is. He wanted Audrey Allison from the very moment we knew we were expecting a baby. I absolutely loved the name, but the consensus from “people” was that Allison Audrey was a much better choice…
Our baby was due June 26th, but on May 21st I felt the oddest little sensation when I went to bed that evening. The next day I would go into labor. I was teaching a class at the time and felt a rush of water. I couldn’t see my legs or my feet, so I quietly asked a student if my beige pants were red with blood. They weren’t. Barry and I taught at the same school, so I sent a student to get him. Then, in a blur of excitement and fear (our baby wasn’t due for 6 weeks), we headed to the hospital.
36 hours later, our little girl arrived by Cesarian delivery… and Barry was with me. He had been with me the whole way, encouraging and loving and helping and loving some more. I remember how my heart leaped when my OB said those words, “She’s here!” SHE. I was so confident that SHE was a boy! I watched Barry’s eyes as he watched her come into this world, into our lives, into our arms and right into our hearts. I remember seeing her beautiful little face, and then she was rushed away to a waiting incubator. I remember waking up in recovery with a pediatrician leaning over the railing on my bed. I knew it was night time… and I knew that he had good news. He was smiling broadly. He told me how perfect our little girl was, then he asked her name. He said that the nurses in the preemie unit always put the names of the babies on their incubators.
I didn’t hesitate one moment. I had seen Barry’s eyes when his first little girl came to us.
I answered, “Audrey. Her name is Audrey.”
That was 31 years ago tonight. Our beautiful baby girl is now a mommy to 4 beautiful boys. Tonight, we went to Audrey’s home for a little cookout and cake. Her boys were so very excited to watch their mommy enjoy her special day. But when Audrey didn’t respond quickly enough to one of Benjamin’s requests (after all, he is 2), he said, “AUDREY, I want milk.”
I laughed out loud. And I remembered all over again how much I love my little girl’s name. And you know what?… Audrey has loved her name since the moment she knew it was hers.
HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AUDREY! YOU ARE MY VERY LIFE!
I love that you were calm enough to ask a student if the water was clear, Sharon. I don’t know if I could have been that calm!
I love the story of her birth and her name. Such a touching tribute.
I remember all this as though it were yesterday. Can it really be thirty-one years?
I’m sitting at my computer on a beautiful Sunday morning, the windows open, birds singing, with tears in my eyes with remembrance of a wonderful story.
There are a million Allisons, but few Audreys. Your precious baby, Sharon and Barry, is one in a million in more ways than one.
Happy Birthday, Audrey Allison.
When you talk about your kids and grandkids you make me realize you are the 2nd greatest mom in the world (my mom being the first, of course) but if my mom wasn’t the greatest, I would want you to adopt me.
Oh my goodness! As a teacher, it was always my greatest fear with each of my 3 pregnancies that my water would break while I was teaching! You handled it with such grace, as always.
Thank goodness you had your wonderful daughter who has touched so many lives all over the country. What a blessing she is to you, and to us!
What a perfect memory. I love the name Audrey – and it certainly suits her. I hope you all had a wonderful day celebrating!
You can feel the love in your posts when you talk about your beautiful family. They are very lucky to have you. Happy Birthday Audrey Allison! What a special mom you have.
This is beautiful. Happy birthday to Audrey
What a beautiful post about Audrey. I love how you speak about your family.
Sharon, I cried reading this! Your Audrey has both a beautiful name and a beautiful spirit. J. and I both love the name Audrey and we always talk about classic and beautiful it is!
What a beautiful story about a beautiful girl. I adore the name you picked. You amaze me to think you worked up until the hours before she was born. Now, that’s dedication!