Happy Birthday To My Baby!

Dear Cassidy,

I am so excited for you today as you celebrate your 10th birthday. As I kissed you good night last night and you reminded me that it would be the last time I would kiss you as a 9 year-old, a flood of memories washed over me. I can't believe that it's been 10 years since you first arrived in the world.

I won't ever forget the night before your arrival. The "experts" all say that babies move much less as their big arrival date approaches-that they run out of room for kicking, stretching and acrobatic maneuvers. You apparently missed out on that chapter of the book, as we were at Nanna's house and she and I watched you move, squirm, jab and roll from side to side. I was so ready to finally meet you! Nanna and I tried to guess when that day would actually take place. Little did we know that I'd be heading to the hospital just a few short hours later!

Did I ever tell you how many cameras Daddy brought to the hospital? Or how he and I sat through the night, listening to your heart beat and wondering if we'd be welcoming a son or a daughter into our lives? Did I ever tell you how calm Daddy was when he called all the grandparents to invite them to the hospital . . . that it "was time." Have I ever mentioned that as I was breathing through the contractions, Nanna arrived and in the midst of tears said to me, "My baby is having a baby." Oh, the memories . . .

You won't ever know the joy and happiness you have brought to our lives. I don't know who cried harder upon your arrival-you or me. Your cry was the sweetest sound to my ears. I'm told that it was matched only by the screams of joy from outside the room from your grandmothers and Auntie Happi-who made it in the nick of time for your birth. Those were some excited women-that's for certain!

And your Daddy? You have no idea, sweet girl! He fell in love with you, instantly. He was smitten from the first moment and proudly wore the new shirt emblazoned with "Cassidy's Daddy" that Grandma and Grandpa brought the next day to the hospital. (By the way, he is planning on wearing this to your high school graduation, so consider yourself warned!)

I am so proud of you, sweet girl! You bring so much joy and love to our lives each and every single day. I consider it an immense blessing and gift beyond my wildest dreams to be your mom. God is so good! I am thankful to Him every day for your life.

Happy Birthday, sweet daughter of mine! Enjoy your special day and thank you for making so very many of MY days more special than you can ever know!

I love you!
Love,
Mommy