Last week we celebrated Emily's 7th birthday! She has gotten to be such a little lady. We had a princess party and she had 7 friends come.
I have never really recorded details of her birth so here goes:
I remember when we went to the hospital to have Emily, we left at about 10:30 PM January 7, 2003 and drove to West Jordan to Jordan Valley Hospital. I coudn't tell if I was having contractions, it was more like constant and severe pain. When we got to the hospital they checked me out and said I was in labor. After several hours they decided to "help" me out a bit and induce me. I was very relieved when they finally gave me an epidural and I could rest for a short time before I had to start pushing.
When the pushing started, (with absolutely no effect whatsoever by the way), I began to wonder what would happen if I couldn't do it. Oh everyone assured me that she would come out on her own but I wasn't buying it! After 2-3 hours of trying to push, the nurse came in and talked me into using forsceps, she assured me it would all be over in 10 minutes- she was right! I feel sorry for all those women who might be bamboozled into thinking there is anything wrong with getting a little help through labor!
Sixteen hours of labor later with inductions and forsceps she finally decided to grace us with her presence! She was so beautiful, very pink, and her eyes where incredibly blue and big and sparkly, her mouth was open wide and she was screaming at the top of her lungs! (Incidentally, I don't think she stopped screaming for several hours as I attempted, unsuccessfully, to nurse her and get her calmed down). Everytime the poor little thing fell asleep, a nurse would come in and wake us up and tell me I needed to try to feed her again! Ugh!! Finally we gave her some formula in a bottle and there was peace for an hour or so. Emily was 6 lbs. 14 oz. and 20.5 inches long. She had black hair and was beautiful!
Emily is our little genius, she started talking and walking at 11 months. Her first word was "butterfly" and she could sing a stirring rendition of Twinkle Little Star before the age of 1. She was very tiny for her age and was not on the growth charts until the age of 2 when she finally reached 20 lbs. She was a petite little doll and still is, and despite her smallness, has always enjoyed wonderful health.
Emily is an imaginative, fanciful little girl and I always think of her as the "little Elizabeth" from the Anne of Green Gables books. She is quiet and thoughtful and loves to read and create art of all kinds. She is a beautiful little dancer and loves to prance around the house in her pretty ways. Pink is supreme in her world and dolls and Barbies are very real and fun companions for her. Although she has informed me of late that they are just pretend people.
She had an imaginary friend named Pink who was the size of her little finger, she lived in the little kitchen that has been in Emily's room since the age of 2. Emily says she is still there but likes to stay inside that plastic kitchen where no one will bother her.
Emily has been playing the violin for a year and a half and is doing very well. She is interested in all sports and dance and wants to do it all. We'll see if I can keep up. She does very well in school and is a top notch reader. She had her first crush this year although I am sworn to secrecy as to whom it was with :).
I am so grateful to have this little princess for a daughter. She informed her kindergarten teacher the first day that she was a "really, real princess" and she is right. She brings a lot of sweetness and love to our family and I can't fathom life without her!
