A Daughter

June 4, 1983 I married my sweetheart. We waited until then because Daddy said we couldn't get married before I graduated from high school; so I graduated on a Friday night in May and the next Saturday, June 4th we were married. We decided to wait at least 2 years to start our family. Well turns out that 7 short months later (not two years) I was pregnant. We were so happy about our news. My mom worked at Delta Bank in the drive through. I thought it would be neat to go straight from the doctors office and go through the drive through to share our secret with her. We drove up to her window and put the brochures that we had gotten from the doctors office that morning in the drawer. She pulled them towards her and figured out our surprise. That was a happy day. Shortly thereafter, I wasnt so sure how much I liked being pregnant. Morning sickness was more like all day sickness for me for the next 4 months. Then on October 28, 1984 I began having contractions. We went to my moms house and played cards and killed time. That was most of the day. Then around 7 or 8 that night I went back home, took a shower, fixed my hair, put on makeup, and at 10:00 that night, when pains were 3 or 4 minutes apart we went to the hospital. There I layed in a bed, messed up my hair, sweated off all my makeup and finally on October 29, 1984 at 9:00 that morning, exhausted I gave birth to a 6 pound 5 ounce precious baby girl named Casey Danielle. We got to see her for a bit and then off to the nursery she went. I remember her daddy buzzing the nurses station over and over again asking for them to bring her to our room. Late that evening she finally came in. We pulled back her white blanket with pink and blue stripes on the ends and counted her tiny toes and held her and breathed in all her loveliness. We were parents and we were most definately in love. That day we absolutely found out what was meant by the words used to describe her- "bundle of joy". Casey was such a smart beautiful little girl. I remember how she learned her alphabet so early and that people would stop me in public and tell me I should put her in pageants. When she started to talk we didnt think she would ever stop. :) She loved to tell stories and just to talk to us. She had lots to say and sometimes her words wouldnt work as fast as her thoughts, so she would stumble on her words. We would try to help her by giving her the word she was looking for. MISTAKE! We learned quickly not to do that as she then would be frustrated with us for helping and start all over from the beginning. EVERY TIME WE INTERRUPTED. So we learned patience and good listening skills. Weren't we the ones who were suppose to be teaching her? She has taught me even more since then, especially in the last several years. I am so proud of my daughter. She is the best mommy and so strong. Her faith is great and I am blessed to be called her mom. So now we have come to the end of her "Birthday Month" as October has been known for many years now. Today is the day to say Happy Birthday to my sweet, compassionate, loving, strong, faithful, beautiful, amazing daughter. Happy Birthday Casey. I love you more and more each year. Mom