The beautiful girl in the picture above is my daughter Kelly celebrating her first birthday.
My parents were always very efficient — they raised their own babysitters. I was ten and my brother was eight when my sister was born. So I clearly remember my parents talking about wanting two boys and two girls. But it didn’t work out that way — my sister was followed by another boy.
Fast forward a few years — my parents were looking forward to having a granddaughter to spoil. My brother got married before I did and had four boys. My first child was a boy.
But then, on January 1, 1972, Kelly Elizabeth Adams arrived in the world. She came as a surprise to just about everyone — her mother and I didn’t have any girl’s names picked out. Kelly made quite an entrance into the world — she was the first baby of the new year in Wabash County, Indiana. Kelly also showed that she has a mind of her own — she was supposed to be a 1971 tax deduction!
So in the midst of New Year celebrations, I would like to wish my favorite daughter a very happy birthday. She started recycling birthdays a few years ago, so I can’t tell you how old she is. But I can tell you that she still likes chocolate. And by the way, she’s my parent’s only granddaughter.

January 1, 2009 at 3:39 am |
Awww!!!
Happy New Year!!!
January 1, 2009 at 6:34 am |
A very happy birthday to your daughter, and best wishes to you and Betsy for the new year. I know your parents are very proud of their only granddaughter!
January 1, 2009 at 9:04 am |
Hope your daughter has a good birthday…we could be friends. I love chocolate, too!
January 1, 2009 at 9:55 am |
HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND HAPPY NEW YEAR to your daughter.
BTW, George, we may not be good at math, but when you give us a birth date we can figure out the age! 🙂
January 1, 2009 at 10:45 am |
Carolyn, I promised Kelly I wouldn’t tell anyone her age — I didn’t promise that I wouldn’t tell when she was born!
January 1, 2009 at 10:15 am |
Sweet memories! It really goes by fast, doesn’t it? Happy birthday to Kelly.
January 1, 2009 at 11:06 am |
That’s such a cute picture! Happy Birthday to her and Happy New Year to you and yours.
January 1, 2009 at 12:37 pm |
If she were born here, she would have been spoiled rotten by everyone! 🙂
Happy birthday to Kelly! And a happy new year to you and your family, George. Wishing you all peace, prosperity, health, happiness and love in 2009.
January 1, 2009 at 2:47 pm |
George, I think you are having a senior moment, you DID tell us how old she is! LOL!!!!
January 1, 2009 at 3:25 pm |
Very cute photo! Happy birthday to your daughter!
January 1, 2009 at 5:39 pm |
Happy Birthday to Kelly!!!!!
what a lovely story behind her bday too….I bet she was not in the least bit spoiled!!!!!
January 1, 2009 at 7:15 pm |
A very nice post George. Happy Birthday to your daughter and a happy new year to all of you.
January 1, 2009 at 7:20 pm |
George: Best wishes for your daughter a New Years baby. Happy 2009 for you and Betsy.
January 1, 2009 at 7:34 pm |
Wishing a ” happy birthday ” to Kelly…. We do enjoy our chocolate!!!!
I hope you and your family have a great 2009…
Baba
January 1, 2009 at 8:18 pm |
She was born in the year I first go married. Cute picture.
January 1, 2009 at 9:21 pm |
Happy Birthday to Kelly. Sure looks like she enjoyed that chocolate cake. 🙂
January 2, 2009 at 5:59 am |
What a sweeeeeeet photo… I could not help but giggle!
A little late on the birthday wishes but still wishing them just as BIG!
Happy Birthday Kelly!
(HUG)
~Michele~
January 14, 2009 at 1:18 am |
I was reading some of your blogs they are so interesting, I wanted to respond to this one because my parents had my two grandson, my younger brother’s 2 sons and it wasn’t until my baby sister had her first child that my parents had their first and only granddaughter. She was our princess.