Happy Birthday, Lauren!

It's amazing to realize that 15 years ago today I because a mom.  I suppose all mothers feel that way as their children grow up!  I tease Lauren that she "technically" isn't 15 until 8:45 on the 24th.  She took her own sweet time arriving in the world (and that character trait still describes her to this day :)!!)

Lauren was due on September 21st, but that day came and went without any hint of impending labor.  On the 23rd, my husband and I were at his parents house playing a card game.  I actually won that game of "Liverpool" (a type of rummy) that night!  It was midnight.  We went out to the car and as soon as I got it I told my husband that I thought my water broke.  I wasn't sure, but it sure seemed like it to me.  He ran in and told his mom, we stopped by our house and got the bag that had been packed for a month (only because it was the FIRST child!) and headed to the hospital, an hour away.  We didn't know if we were having a little boy or a little girl, but both of us were thinking "boy".

All the way to the hospital nothing changed, just still the fluid, but no contractions.  They admitted me and we waited for something to happen.  It never did, so around noon the next day, they induced labor.  After a few hours, things began to get to going.  After getting to a certain point, I was given an epidural.  The babies heart rate went low so a monitor was stuck in the top of the head to keep check on that.  Thankfully, that part didn't last too long and everything was fine.

Lauren Ashley was born at 8:45 p.m. on the 24th.  She weighed 8 pounds and 9 ounces.  A funny thing was that the week before, I had dreamed that I had a big girl with a lot of hair!  Well, she was a big baby girl and she had a LOT of dark hair...even on her ears (we still tease her about that, too!).  It was such a strange dream because the whole time I had been thinking "boy".

Now, today, Lauren is 15.  It's truly amazing!  We have enjoyed watching her grow up and are so proud of her for who she is and who she is becoming.  Her Christian example is evident to those around her because she truly cares about others.  She makes it a goal in life to be an encourager to those around her, whether in her family or a school sports team, classmates, or club.  She is really funny (Dad trait), independent (Mom trait), and determined (Dad and Mom trait)...at times a little stubborn (I won't say who she got that from :)...)

I'm not ready for her to grow up completely and she's not ready, either.  However, we are both kind of ready for her to be 16, so she can drive (it will help me out a lot!).  In fact, she's going to start online driver's ed SOON!  Really, I'm glad she doesn't want to grow up fast.  Too many kids these days want to grow up fast and unfortunately many parents want them to, too.  We do know it's our job to prepare her to be ready for that day when she doesn leave home, though (sniff, sniff).  It's hard to let go, but it's my God-given duty as a mother.

Sometimes I'll tell Lauren things...things she doesn't necessarily agree with or want to hear. She will make a comment about it...letting me know she doesn't like it.  I just say, "God gave me the job to be your mother.  Let me do my job."  She just smiles and lets me "work".  At other times she makes her own decisions and then will ask me what I think.  I say, "You just do what you think you should do."  Then she comments about how hard some things are to decide.  Again, "just doing my job", I say.  I'm sure that scenario will be repeated many times during the next four years!

Today I took Lauren and Tyler (a.k.a. Biscuit) to voice lessons.  We were discussing her future in getting to drive soon.  Lauren told Tyler she wanted to take him places.  Neat places.  She said, "Tyler, I'm going to be the best big sister you and Zachary and Jacob could ever have!"  Although sometimes they don't like her "mothering" them if I'm gone and she's in charge, I think they will grow up and know that they did, indeed, have a great big sister!

 

Lauren, you have big dreams and goals and we look forward to watching you reach those goals. But, mostly we look forward to seeing how God will continue to work in your life in helping you become what He knows you can be!  We are proud to be your parents. And, we're very thankful that YOU are glad we're your parents!

We'll  love you...forever and always,

Mom & Dad