Ohmystinkinheck

For my birthday I have decided to add another photo to the Real Moms… set at my flickr.

Real moms use natural birthing breathing techniques when they get tattooed.

And? I’m a real mom.

On Saturday morning I woke up to a full pancake and egg breakfast, handmade cards from my kiddos, some moolah from my parents, and from Jeff - a gift certificate for a tattoo; not just any tattoo either, but a beautiful orange sunflower I eyed a few months ago.

It was a two hour job and I would say I faired pretty well during the first hour and 15 minutes, but then the guy took a bit of a break to rest his hands before he finished shading in the color. When he started back in I was “skin sore” and had to kick in some of my breathing techniques to take the last bit that circled around my shoulder bone.

Ouch.

So, while Jeff talked to Beau, the tattoo artist, about military special ops, Arizona’s Indian reservations, country and western singers, and the fantasy piece behind the skulls that line the walls of tattoo studios the world over, I moaned my way through the last 45 minutes of Beau shading in my skin with needles.

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
*breathe*exhale*breathe*
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
*breathe*exhale*breathe*
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

While sitting in what is affectionately called the “hot seat” or “chair” I tried to pass the time counting the number of square tiles in the room *breathe*exhale*breathe* reading the various book spines on his bookshelves *breathe*exhale*breathe* singing to the 80’s and early 90’s hits on the radio *breathe*exhale*breathe* and wondering just how big a sweat stain was going to encircle my rear when I stood up since sweat was pouring down my spine.

*hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm*

Would I do it again?
Yea, this wasn’t my first.

And the result? A tattoo I’m very, very happy with - as is Jeff.

Speaking of Jeff.

Happy Father’s Day, baby.

You take my breath away … and I’m not even talking about your dirty laundry and the dutch oven fart-a-thons.

23 Responses to “tat’s my birthday gift”

1. Cassie

   AWESOME! That new ink is the bee’s knees :) As someone who has endured a lot of work for the eight I have? Breathing-works wonders
   **snort** And I’m glad to know I’m not the only one who has done that.

2. Bethany

   It hardly even looks swollen. I hope it’s healing fast!

3. Annika

   Wow. It might have been painful, but your skin took the color BEAUTIFULLY.

4. saj

   pretty!

5. ashley

   it’s beautiful and looks fabulous. i have a star on my hip from my younger, wilder days … it has finally grown on me and become a part of me (ironically). i am glad you’re so happy with it. happy birthday again.

6. Laura/PinkFontGirl

   aww!! it’s gorgeous!!

7. OMSH

   Cassie - It isn’t as bright today … getting that clear snakey film across the top as it heals. When that peels it’ll be brilliant!

   Bethany - It isn’t swollen much at all. I have been very faithful to keep it layered with lotion and well, it is just a good tat to begin with … which makes a world of difference.

   Annika - I think so too! Thanks!

   saj and Laura/PinkFontGirl - Many thanks!

   ashley - My first was a yellow and pink rose all entwined with their green stems and leaves. It is about the size of the palm of my hand and on my bum (close to my hip). I’ve always been happy with it. I joke that the roses bloomed with each pregnancy, but actually the tat held up very well through all the stretching and withdrawing.

8. Bah

   Beau did a fantastic job!!! It looks great

9. Angela

   Beautiful! I love tattoos and yours seems to suit you so well. I love it. What a great present. :)

   I hope it heals well! The week after a tattoo is always my least favorite.

   Oh and I know that breathing technique well. I’m hoping my tattoo experience will help me in the delivery room one day.

10. MissPrissy

    Beautiful!!
    Happy Birthday!

11. Kristin

    What a gift–pain! Just kidding. My tat (on my lower back) hurt like he** and it was in a spot where I’m very ticklish!! Could hardly sit still.
    Show us pix of your other tattoos!! Hey, that would make a great Flickr Group, don’t cha think???

12. Jill - GlossyVeneer

    I was comforted to see that you weren’t posting a picture of a bloody wreck. That’s one thing that has always intrigued me about tats, are they all nasty and gory at first? Guess I should learn some natural birthing techniques before I get one, huh? :-)

13. Angie

    Love the tattoo! I got one for my 30th last year.

14. MMM

    How bout’ that! Sweet!

15. Ren

    Very pretty. I’ve never really understood the tattoo thing, the thought of permanently marking myself gives me the heebee geebees, not to mention what it would like like by the time I turned eighty… yikes!

16. Angella

    Pretty, pretty flowers. Happy Birthday again!

17. Loralee

    YOU ARE SO BRAVE! I had one tiny, TINY little ladybug put on my tummy (For my “Bug”) and I was a freaked out MESS during the whole thing. I am a total needle-phobic

    The artist thought it was amusing.

18. KYouell

    Well, I guess I should have shut up and not posted my last comment over on your birthday post until the silly Google Reader told me this was here.

    I do stand by the idea that those little sweetheart monsters would make the cutest tat.

    It’s so sweet that your hubby likes ‘em too. Mine doesn’t like my tat. In fact he brought me an article from the NY Times Magazine a few weeks ago about some makeup that stars use to cover their tats for movies. The guy is just not into football like I am.

19. jen

    Way to go Sexy Mama! Its beautiful!

    PS, also…Happy Birthday, and your hair looks great! I just got 12 inches chopped off mine on Friday.
    Oh! The Joy! The Freedom! The Funkiness!

20. OMSH

    Bah, MissPrissy, Angie, Angella - Thanks ladies!

    Angela - Hey, that’s a great way to prepare for childbirth. The pain is a wee bit different *haha* but it certainly is constant.

    Kristin - I might drop my drawers for you guys one day … but that’s the only other one I have. :) ALTHOUGH … an OMSH tattoo would be fun, as suggested by KYouell.

    Jill/Glossy Veneer - The tats should NOT be all gory. If you have a gory tat then you have a bad tat. I’ve had two and neither one bled past the first 5 hour patching. Sore, yes. Slightly puffy, yep. Bloody? Nope.

    Ren - I figure by the time I turn 80 I won’t give a rip if I have a tat on my bum and back. BUT … I have seen tats hold up very well on older people and so … I’m not too concerned about it. But I get that not everyone is thrilled about them and I love frankness.*wink*

    Loralee - My guy wouldn’t have found that amusing. He wasn’t one to mess with - ha! Then again, you probably batted your eyelashes while you were jumping around. I was snarling.

    jen - Rubbing it in are you. *pbbthhh*

21. Tanya

    Okay, that is an awesome tattoo! I have always wanted one, but I can NEVER settle on what I want permanently on my body. So, I settled for piercing my belly button.
    But, yours looks amazing! What a great present. Again, happy belated birthday.

22. Jesse

    Looks wonderful, I love it!

23. Friglet

    Happy late birthday!!!

    Wow, you’re brave! It looks great. :)