A very Happy New Year to you and yours and happy 6 of 9 birthday to me! I'm number 6 of 9 children and I'll be turning 36 on the first day of 2009. On New year's Eve of 1973, at about 10PM, my mom took castor oil to induce labor. I was born about 5AM, but she missed bearing the New Year's Baby. When they broke the news, she was a little disappointed, until she heard the lady who had the New Year's Baby had been in labor for over 36 hours, compared to her 5 hours or so.

My father is also a close to Christmas baby. His birthday is December 23rd. When I was little, I hated having a birthday this close to Christmas. I got board games wrapped in left over Christmas paper and my brother Ben, who's birthday is in June, got swing sets!

When I was pregnant with my daughter, her initial due date was New year's Eve. I told the entire family she was getting an official UNBIRTHDAY (right out of Alice in Wonderland) sometime in early June. Luckily, she waited til mid January and no fanciful rearranging of the calendar was necessary.

Now, that I am adult though, I have realized the very wonderous thing that is the DUAL OCCASION GIFT. One year my wonderful older sister got me a 32" TV! This year though, I am just so happy that my family is all well and none of us have been hit too bad by these trying times. So this is my wish for everyone in 2009, hope and prosperity!