9 years ago...

9 years old

2 1/2 years old

1 years old

4 years old

6 months old
(just look at that HEAD!)

5 years old

8 years old

7 years old

4 years old

SO, today is elise's birthday. i just can't believe she is 9 already! i remember so clearly the time i was pregnant with her. i was all alone working at joann fabrics and telling people i was 7 months pregnant only for them to look at me a bit funny and just nod there heads. after she was born and i brought her in to work i literally had people say to me "oh, you really were pregnant." uh, yes i was. why would i make that up?
elise wasn't supposed to be born until the end of july, early august but with every ultra sound her due date kept getting farther and farther out until the last ultra sound said she was due in october. by that point they told me she would have to be born that day because her head was twice the size of her body and she wasn't growing. she looked like humpty dumpty for about the first two years of her life, poor kid. my labor was short and quick and every nurse told me they couldn't believe how fast i had her for a first child. she came out in three pushes. the nicu team were waiting for her, only for them to bring her right back to me declaring that she was perfect. and she was, in every way.
elise has been my adventure buddy the whole time we lived in england, my little helper when michelle was born and my little mom since wesley's been around. she has been my joy and my pain (more my pain recently) and i worry about her more than any of my other kids. she's an amazing artist and amazing at never holding a grudge. (something i completely admire in her). she can make friends with absolutely anyone and is always in for a good time (which i'm sure will kill me when she's a teenager). i love this kid and am so grateful she's mine. happy birthday little er, big girl! hope it's a great day.