My Girl

Tomorrow, Wednesday, October 13th is my girl’s birthday. My only niece will be 12. I don’t know where the time has gone – it literally seems like just yesterday when she was born. She was almost my birthday present, born just two days before my birthday. She was so tiny, only four and half pounds. . . I can’t believe what a beautiful young lady she’s turned into. I’m sad that she’s already 12, but I love watching her grow.

I remember the day she was born - my sister had to go to the hospital early Sunday morning. Makiah wasn't due until the end of November, but Patti had started retaining water horribly. On Monday, the doctor said they were going to keep Patti on bed rest until Makiah's due date. But on Tuesday, I went for a department meeting at school, came back to my room and my daddy was leaning against my classroom door. He said "We're having a baby at noon!" I immediately went to the office and said I needed to leave. Our AP at the time said I couldn't leave. I kind of ignored her and spent first period making plans. My friends Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Grant and Mrs. Barry all took some of my kids for the rest of the day and after 1st period was over, I left.
When I walked into the hospital, Patti was telling my mom grades for her kids, and my mom was filling in Patti's bubble sheets for report cards. Later, while we were waiting, I was writing names for a new 9 weeks in my gradebook. We waited forever it seemed. Robyn kept praying for her to yell - she said if the baby could holler or yell, that her lungs would be strong enough for her to be OK. I just kept praying she wouldn't have to have a needle in her head. I kept thinking I could handle anything, but if that tiny little baby had to have a needle in her head, I just couldn't stand the thought of that.

We both got what we prayed for - she yelled for her Aunt Robyn and she never had to have a needle in her head. She was tiny, much tinier that either of Robyn's boys. We were used to 8 pound babies, so this little 4 1/2 pound things was just nothing.

Now, she's taller than her mom, and her feet are nearly as big as mine. I just can't believe it!! She's so much more than we could have wished for - she's beautiful, she's smart and she's sweet. I wish my mom could see her now!