A Walk Down Memory Lane - Baby Girl is 21

Baby Girl may not like every picture I put on here and I may have others that I wish I could have put but this was the best I could do with all the other things going on today and everyday. So I hope that you will enjoy this look back in time over the last 21 years of my precious daughters life and smile, as I do, at how beautiful she was and still is.

She wasn't due until March 2 and I thought for sure she would be 2 weeks late because she was my first and everyone said that was the way it would be. She fooled all of us. On February 19, I had gone to the doctor and he said nothing about it being close to having her. My friend and I went shopping for a little while and I bought the cuttest little socks that said "I love Daddy". I don't know why I bought them because I didn't know I was having a girl. But they were pink! Fourstringpop worked nights then (as he does again) and was asleep when I got home. I fixed dinner and was watching tv when I started having what I thought was braxton-hicks contractions. I got his watch and started timing them. They were mild and didn't hurt at all. When he got up for work around 10 I said nothing. He left for work a little before midnight and I was still awake. I didn't tell him anything because I wasn't sure since it was 2 weeks before the due date and the doctor had said nothing. This was my first baby after all. I decided to take a warm bath and then go to bed. The bath did relax me some. So I went to bed and got woke up by "something" around 3. I wasn't sure what to do. I called my friend who really was not kind at all. She wouldn't come over like she promised she would, she was busy sleeping! She had already had two babies and I suppose it was nothing major to her. I waited as long as I could until fear took over. I waited until 5 or so to call my husband. He didn't get off work until 7 but I just couldn't stand it because I didn't know how close I was to having the baby. He left work and made it home around 6. We went to the hospital and the doctor showed up and broke my water around 8 a.m. on Feb. 20. They gave me Demeriol (big mistake) and it didn't really help me with the pain. I went in and out of sleep but was not really "in control" of anything. This was all new to my husband, too, so he wasn't really sure what he was supposed to do. (He was much more helpful with our other 3, lol) This was in the day when you had a labor room, a delivery room, a recovery room and then the room you stayed in the rest of your visit. (I know, the dark ages, lol) When they finally took me to the delivery room it didn't seem to take much longer until she was born. She was born at 1:23 p.m. on February 20, 1987. She weighed 7 pounds 2 ounces and was 19 1/2 inches long. She had peach fuzz for hair and not much of it. She seemed so tiny but so beautiful!

This picture was taken on her actual due date, March 2, 1987. She was a tiny little thing. I was 21 when she was born and her dad was just about to turn 25. I told him she was his birthday present because she was born 8 days before his birthday. She was and is a gift to both of us daily.

My Grandmother (whom adopted me, so really, my mom) was one of the people that was closest to my daughter. They had a special bond. When we visited they would say their prayers out loud together at bed time. I know she had a major influence on my daughters spiritual growth, as she did on mine. She went home to be with the Lord in 2000, when my daughter was 13 1/2 years old.

She didn't always like taking pictures! In fact, she really didn't want me to take this one! But she looked so cute! I just had to. This was taken in '89.

In September 1992 she became a big sister for the first time, after being the only child for almost 6 years. She handled it really well. She became a "little mamma" to him, just like our younger daughter is to every youngest that comes our way.

OK, so this time, she wanted me to take the picture. She could get a tan just stepping outside. This was the summer of '93. We were at Grandma's house fixing to go for a swim. She loved going to Grandma's house every summer.

This was taken in the 1997, she was 10 years old. This was the last picture she took before cutting her hair shoulder length for the first time. I loved her long hair so much but we all have to try new things and see what we like.

Right after she turned 12 we had another baby (her second brother). She was great with him. That was before she got too old to have her mom pregnant, I guess. The next time hit her harder. Being 14 and having your mom pregnant just blew her away! That is a hard time for a teenager and I didn't make it any easier putting a bunch of siblings in her life. But she loves them so much! And they love her more than anything.

After her brother came her little sister, when she was 14 1/2 years old. She was there for her birth so they have a very special bond. The three of these guys are real close.

This is how my "punk rock princess" dressed back when she turned 15. She got a cake at church that Wednesday night. Isn't she beautiful? I think so!

This birthday party for her brother was the perfect time for them to wear matching Jackie Chan shirts since it was his Jackie Chan birthday party! This was in April of 2002. She had just turned 15.

Here is a picture she took with her cousin in Alice, TX. She was almost 16. This was the summer of our last vacation together. I hope there are more to come soon! She started working after that summer and hasn't stopped since. So she never has time to go anywhere.

This is the love of her life. They have been dating now for 3 years. This was taken three Christmas' ago, in 2005. They are very happy together!

This was taken last spring. The kids still hang all over her and miss her so much because she doesn't live with us anymore. They adore her and so do we!

This was taken last October 31. They are a very handsome couple.

I posted this after our annual birthday dinner Saturday night. Each family member gets to pick where they want to eat for their birthday and it can be anything. So her and her dad picked Blackeyed Pea and we had a great time talking and laughing. It was a nice dinner!

That is my look back. Now I will look forward to all the new things that will go on in her life. She posted a very sweet prayer on her blog this morning before going to work and I want to put it on here to share with everyone. I hope that is ok. She is at work so I can't ask. If she objects, I will take it off.

I am another year older today....God thank you for helping me make it through this past year. I am not where I want to be quite yet, but I know where you are calling me. And even though I am not sure where this road leads, I am willing to take it. I am keeping my head up, believing in the love that has never failed me. Thank you for new gifts, and thank you for those blessings that have endured the fire and are still here with me today. Give me strength to love my enemies, and be strong during trials. Even though I am a year older, I am still so young. But it is you that has called me to to do great things at a young age...please never let me forget that. As I go throughout my day today and everyday, I will walk by faith. You renew my mind and my heart and you are always capable of making all things new. Amen
"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity." 1 Timothy 4:12"

I am so proud of her for many reasons. The most important one, her faith. I have watched her grow in the Lord and even through the hard times, she has allowed God to grow her. From the moment I laid eyes on her 21 years ago I have had a love bursting in my heart for her and that grows daily. I pray that the Lord will grant her prayers for strength and help her to be strong in Him. Thank You, Lord for my sweet, precious daughter. Make her a voice for you in the world around her and let Your light shine through her always!

I love you, Sweetheart! Now and always! Mom