For many people, the only reason they wake up each morning during the month of December is because of the excitement of Christmas approaching. For me it’s more than that. It’s also my birthday month! I was brought into this world Friday, Dec. 8, 1995, at 10:27 a.m. I was born a little under three weeks early; my expected arrival date was Christmas. My mom couldn’t get enough of the fact she was going to have a Christmas baby. Her lovely idea? Let’s name her Noelle. If you have the privilege of knowing my mother on a personal level, you know she obsessed with French things. Of course she couldn’t have her daughter’s name be just plain old Noel. She needed to put some flair on it, so why not spell it like the French do? Needless to say, Mom got her way and my name is Alexa Noelle, spelled the French way. Birthdays are my thing. I know everyone’s birthday and always make sure to bring in a special treat for them on their day. This year, I’m turning the big 1-7. Usually on my birthday, I take a “personal day.” AKA, skipping school. I stay at home, relax and do my best to avoid the crazy “Happy Birthday” posts on Facebook. This year, my birthday was on a Saturday. I’m rather upset that I didn’t get my “personal day”, but I did get to spend the day in Pittsburgh with my best friend. This isn’t the first time I’ve done something exciting for my day. From my first birthday until around my tenth my mom has made it apparent to throw extravagant parties for me each year. Every party has had a theme, special types of food and a different activity each year. For the last seven years, I’ve done my own thing. I usually take a day trip somewhere, go shopping, or like last year, get a tattoo. Unlike most teenagers hounding their parents for their first tattoo, mine comes with great symbolic meaning. It’s scripture, and every time I look down at my foot, whether it be now or when I’m 80, the ink will still be very special to me. So while everyone else starts out their December just being excited for Christmas, I start out waiting for my birthday to arrive, then I throw myself into all the Christmas mumbo jumbo.