As you may or may not know, I have a total girl-crush on Tina Fey. Not for one minute do I think we could be friends because in all likelihood I’d just giggle non-stop while she said things like, “no, seriously, could you please pass the salt?” Plus she’s all full of sage womanly wisdom and I’m all, “hey, I made a produce bag from another produce bag!”
Nonetheless, I had to read her new book Bossypants
. There is a part in the first chapter where she discusses her famous scar, which she received as a kindergartner when she was slashed in the face by a stranger. Yes, for real.
As a mom to a child who had a NG tube taped to her face for over a year– her first year, the one where you are supposed to gets zillions of compliments on your beautiful baby– this chapter really hit home. Like Tina, I also got the strangest reactions when people came up to us in stores and in the park. They ranged from “oh, that’s nice”, to people averting their eyes and walking away, to the most common comment: “she has such beautiful eyes!”
Yes, she does have beautiful eyes. Faced with the same split-second decision on what to say to a mom who has a baby with a tube taped to her face I’m sure I’d say the same thing. HOWEVER. I know I’m biased, but I truly think Noodle is one of the most beautiful babes ever– eyes, nose, cheeks, chin, all of her.
You’ll have to read the first chapter of Tina Fey’s book to get the full context, but this excerpt touched my heart in a myriad of wonderful and bubbly ways. About her scar:
Adults were kind to me because of it. Aunts and family friends gave me Easter candy and oversize Hershey’s Kisses long after I was too old for presents. I was made to feel special.What should have shut me down and made me feel “less than” ended up giving me an inflated sense of self. It wasn’t until years later, maybe not until I was writing this book, that I realized people weren’t making a fuss over me because I was some incredible beauty or genius; they were making a fuss over me to compensate for my being slashed.I accepted all the attention at face value and proceeded through life as if I really were extraordinary. I guess what I’m saying is, this has all been a wonderful misunderstanding. And I shall keep these Golden Globes, every last one!
This insight came at the perfect time for me, as not one week earlier I’d been asking myself if we focus too much attention on Noodle. I mean, we clap if she toots and says, “excuse me”. We laugh when she counts her burps. And when she pees on the potty? Ridiculous amounts of kudos are heaped upon her. You’d think she’d just graduated from Harvard.
Of course, to us, she is “the girl who lived“. Every thing she does is a miracle, because she wasn’t supposed to be able to do any of it. And if she earns a Golden Globe or Nobel Peace Prize or two, so be it!!
Back to the original intent of my post. I’m sending Bossypants down to my BFF who could use a serious pick-me-up right now. Along with it, I’m including a handwritten note on a card from Pear Tree Greetings. It’s rare I remember to send notes or birthday card because I’m so darn forgetful, but knowing how great it feels to receive one makes me take a minute to do that for my friend. You can win a set of Pear Tree Notelettes for yourself simply by commenting on this post. I’ll choose one comment randomly on June 20th, and the winner will receive 24 notelettes of their choice.
Use them to show your BFF how much you love her, stick them in lunch bags for your sweeties, or write to Tina Fey and give her a piece of your mind! And while you’re at it, please apologize to her for my stalker-like obsession. It’s just that we have an inside scar of our own that is still healing, and having her as a role model makes it a bit easier!
I realize this post started here, went there, and ended up somewhere completely different. In summary, Tina Fey is my fake wife, I love my BFF, and you can win some notecards. Whew.
Kristin says
1. My son came by as I was reading this post and the first thing out oh his mouth was, “Oh! What a sweet little baby! She’s so cute! Who is she?”
2. My favorite cousin has 2 heart babies. 2 heart babies with 2 different heart issues. Both had tubes taped to their faces for the better part of the first year – year and a half of their lives. The fact that their here is a gift, and we praise that every day. I think it is great that you do, too – for your Noodle.
3. She is beautiful.
PoetessWug says
Noodle was ‘INDEED’ the cutest baby that ever rocked an NG tube!! 🙂 ……And may she grow up ‘AND KNOW IT’!!!
Joanna says
Okay, let me just say that if I lived near you, and saw Noodle, I would’ve stopped you and said “she is beautiful!!”. She really was a beautiful baby!! I gotta admit the tube was the last thing I noticed about each picture. First the eyes, smile, clothing, and then the tube. Keep praising her, you are blessed!!
Andrea says
First, those notecards are really cute. Second, those pics of your little girl are GORGEOUS, and she did rock that tube!
Olivemom says
Hold up, I thought this was gonna be a giveaway of a copy of Bossypants, just in time for mah own trip to OBX! But I SUPPOSE note cards are just as awesome. Since eventually I will check out Bossypants from the library but I will NEVER get around to ordering gracious and lovely things like notecards and then feel like a tool when it’s time to write a note and have to scrounge up some free card with Bob Ross art that the Nature Conservancy sent me four years ago…
Life in Rehab says
I would have just started chewing on her toes without asking, but you know that. She was gorgeous swollen, beautiful post-surgery, delicious as an infant, and now as a big sister, she’s still completely munchable.
Some people were embarrassed by Thom’s grunts in the grocery store when he was six. Big deal. I know “granola bars” when I hear it.
Amanda says
She certainly does rock the ‘NG’ tube look for the girls team, but my Ethan definitely rocked it for the boys team! We are them with Ethan, showering him with attention, which is worse as he has a twin brother, but he is also one who shouldn’t have lived, it’s hard to get this one right.
The book sounds good, gotta love Tina Fay! Scars tell a story, most should be worn with pride! You can never have to many BFFs. And handwritten notes are to be treasured, especially when from a BFF.
the cape on the corner says
seriously she is an adorable and expressive baby. i just got done reading this book, and i loved laughing out loud so many times. i really needed it, and i would recommend this book highly!
Kris says
Miss J’s comment made me miss her. The note cards are cute, but not as cute as Abbydabby. 😉
Angee says
Oh my word! Can I just gush over Noodle for a sec. She is so stinkin’ cute! She makes me want a dozen more babies.
LG says
Bless your heart! I am a new reader and never knew that about noodle! How hard that must have been! I loved the pic of her in that pink snow hat! Great facial expression!
angelamjennings@hotmail.com says
New to your blog and can’t get enough-enough of your precious babies, outlook on life and great recipes! Thanks for sharing!
Leila says
Noodle is a doll baby. Always was, alays will be. As the mommy of A Boy Who Lived, the quote from Bossypants resonated with me. My 24 weeker has been home for 8 weeks and is regularly referred to as a miracle by everyone who knows his story. I, of course, agree. My concern is for his cousin who was born a month later. I am afraid that he is not as lauded as my wee man when the boys are together. I try to compensate by directing the conversation to my nephew’s wonderful achievements whenever possible. Every child should be made o feel extraordinary. You have given me something to think about…
S says
Honestly, cutest baby ever.
I was scrolling through Tina Fey images when I saw a pic and I had to go to your blog, I didn’t notice anything about her except that she was a beautiful baby.
Also, I have never posted a comment on any online public forum unless it was my Facebook or a homework assignment in Highschool/college.
Carrie Higgins says
Well, I’m so glad I’m your first public comment and you melted my heart by saying she’s the cutest baby ever. 😉 I wrote that post awhile ago and it was such a wonderful reminder of how far my daughter has come; thanks for that!