The night you were born {it’s a…GIRL!}

My sweet girl.

Oh my. I always do this. I stay up until the clock strikes midnight–so I can go up to your room…look at my princess sleeping…and be the first to whisper happy birthday. It makes me sleep better:). And I just love remembering–so I have to write it down for you.

I will never forget the night you were born. I thought you would complete our family–and we’d never grow again:). Little did I know there would be THREE more brothers to follow you. And you already had a big brother chomping at the BIT to meet you!! He was just 14 months old when you were born and that little stinker with his year long colic–he had JUST started sleeping through the night. And then…you came.

We didn’t find out whether you were a boy or a girl. We wanted it to be a surprise–but deep down…I confess…my heart longed for a princess. (Now I have to laugh that we have 4 boys–and you are still the princess! We would be lost without you!

Okay–*I* would be lost without you! And I guessed you’d be a tomboy having a brother just 14 months ahead and many to follow…but nope–100% princess you are! I’d love you no matter what personality you’d have of course…but I have to say I love picking out different shades of pinks with you and using your ballerina practices as my little get away:). Watching you dance takes my breath away.

Oh the night you were born…

You decided to come in the middle of the night. So we called the our best friends and neighbors to come over and sleep at our house while Parker slept–because I didn’t want to wake him and I knew you might not wait until the morning either. We rushed to the hospital–but as soon as we checked in–you decided you’d rather sleep. So we slept for a bit too. Aunt April came–she’s exactly 14 months older than me too–and she was there bright and early with treats and good reads to help me pass the time.

The doctor came in and told Richard he really should go get something to eat because he’d need his energy as it looked like it’d be a long day and quite awhile until you decided to come again. I begged to differ…and knew you were coming much sooner–I could just sense it. (And boy was I right!)

Nana and Papa came pretty early from Alabama, and they had mischievous looks on their faces–and momma knows how to read them…and I knew something was wrong.

Our sweet friend keeping Parker had gotten him out of his crib and had fallen with him down our flight of stairs….but everyone had promised not to let me know until after delivery. ONLY a momma senses these things and squeezed the information out of your Nana and Papa.

Your brother was in the ER at Children’s in the hospital next door–and since the doc said it’d be awhile–I decided I’d go to the ER to check on my other baby. Only the nurses said I needed to stay put. SO–I convinced Papa and Nana to forgo being in the waiting room while you were born and instead–to go be with Parker in the ER in the hospital next door while I waited for you to arrive. Oh this momma’s heart was so torn!! I couldn’t wait for you to come–but I was so worried about your brother. Thankfully he just had deep bruises on his legs and that was the reason he wasn’t walking. No breaks! BUT I’d definitely have my hands full the first week you were home!

Your daddy had gone to the cafeteria to eat–and he called a buddy (Watson Barker) to come meet him for an early lunch. It’s right then that I KNEW you were coming. I told your Aunt April you were coming, and she reminded me the doc said it’s be 7-8 HOURS. I asked her if she’d like to take a peak because I was CERTAIN you were coming–and she laughed and grabbed a nurse;).

Your momma was RIGHT! According to the nurses, you were coming!!

Aunt April panicked! The nurses and doc started suiting up robes and gloves. And I squealed that your daddy was doing WHAT??? Eating in the cafeteria!!! YES he needed his energy doc–but he also needed to be right HERE right NOW!!

I called him on his cell…and he sent me to VOICEMAIL.

I called him a 2nd time…and he sent me to VOICEMAIL…again!

I called him a 3rd time…and what do you know–VOICEMAIL a 3rd time!

Later I would ask him what on EARTH was he thinking sending his laboring wife to voicemail and he’d say, “I thought you were just going to beg me for a sweet tea and I was eating with Watson and knew you could only have ice.” UM. Not a smart move RICHARD! (You know he’ll never hear the end of this one!)

Aunt April called him on HER cell phone and he knew something must be happening–and she told him I was in full-blown labor and they were asking me to push with or without him. So he came running. ONLY…he got on the elevator with a sweet old man that pushed 10 buttons! Serves him right! hahah!!

By the time Richard ran in the room, you were already almost here–but thankfully he did run in the room just in time for the most perfect baby girl to enter the world! He was so out of sorts for almost missing the birth that he forgot to tell me whether you were a boy or a girl and he just stood there dumbfounded and the DOCTOR had to help him out!! I had to ask TWICE, “What is the baby!?” and finally I heard the words, “It’s a baby girl” after the doc coached the shocked and out of breath daddy what to say.

My heart melted.

A BABY GIRL.

I know you might get tired of hearing that you are my only, baby girl.

I know you might get tired of listening to me fret and ask you to be careful when you do this or that.

But you must know it’s only because I love you to pieces–and you are my baby girl.

You were and are absolutely perfect to us and for us.

Nine years ago today…you changed our lives forever…

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