Happy Birthday, Elli Sue!

Our Elisabeth Susan turns 6 today.  You know, people always tell you when you're pregnant, "Enjoy every moment because they grow up SO fast."  And then, those last few weeks of being huge and uncomfortable and not sleeping at night are upon you and time goes so s..l..o..w..l..y......and you think, "this baby is NEVER going to be born!"

Then, your doctor says there are signs that it's time.

And you panic.  Wait!  I'm not ready for this!  I'm not sure I like the sounds of words like "epidural" and "episiotomy" and maybe even "Cesarean section."  And, what are forceps again?

But, it's too late to change your mind.  This baby is on the way!

Elli Sue didn't keep me waiting.  In fact, she caught me off guard when she came more than two weeks early.

Not only did she surprise us by arriving early, she gave us a scare upon arrival.  Her body was blue and she wasn't breathing--the umbilical cord was wrapped around her tiny neck not once--but twice!

In what seemed like an eternity to a terrified mama, but was actually less than a minute for the attending nurses, she was untangled, airway cleared, and screaming her first screams.  Whew.

(Sorry about the quality of these old photos. I had to take digital photos off my laptop screen.)

Elisabeth Susan was named after her grandmother!

I am sure nearly all mothers think this, but man, was she beautiful.  She was round and fair, with red hair (another surprise!) and blue eyes.  She was our tiniest baby, weighing 6 pounds, 13 ounces and only 17 inches long.  By the time she came home she was only 6 pounds 2 ounces and I had to ask my mom to do a shopping run for preemie clothes to fit her.

Now, six years later, she is a very special girl.  She still has her red hair and now she's added a smattering of freckles.  She has a huge heart for all of God's creatures, and shows deep concern when any critter seems to be suffering.  I wonder if she'll be a veterinarian someday.  Elli loves chocolate and swimming in the ocean.  And, when I ask her who her best friend from school is, she lists every single class member--she's not happy unless everyone is included.  She has lost two teeth and learned to read this year, but she's even more proud that she has learned to snap her fingers, whistle, tie her shoe laces and ride a bike with no training wheels.  You know, essential skills for a Kindergartener!

Here are some photos I took of her the other day.  Thank you, Lord, for six wonderful years with this girl!

John 13:34-35  "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."