Happy Birthday Nine-Year-Old

Today is my first-born's birthday. She is nine-years-old. I can hardly believe it's been that long. The other night I was talking to Eliza and Kate about how each of our children's births was special.

I listed off things like: Kate's was special because she was almost born in the car and then after she was born she couldn't breath so she was whisked away from me immediately;

Andrew's was special because he was showing his stubborn streak even in utero and wouldn't come until I went in for an induction and my doctor broke my water;

Adam's was special because we never found out whether he was a boy or girl before he was born, and he was the first even numbered birthdate in our family;

Maryanne's was special because she got here the fastest, and her birthdate is half of Adam's (16/2=8).

But, Eliza thought it was so cool that the reason her birth was so special was that she had to be suctioned out with the vacuum and had a cone-head for a few hours, and her birth was the longest of them all at 6 1/2 hours.

But, that's not what makes her so special in our family. Eliza is my most responsible child, and maybe that's because she is the first-born. I am so grateful she is my oldest, she helps me out so much. All of our children really have two moms because she helps me out a ton.

I can always count on her to remind me when I've forgotten about a privilege I've taken away, and she helps me to clean whenever I need it. I depend on her to do the right thing and obey.

She is also very good with her siblings, always making sure to include them in whatever is going on. She watches out for them and loves them. Eliza pushes herself to do her best at everything, and she constantly trying to grow up ... something I have a hard time letting her do. She applies herself to tasks that I think are too advanced for her age, and she shows me that she can do it. We really are blessed to have her in our family, she sets a great example for her siblings. Sometimes she feels the weight of that calling, but she does such a great job at it.

Here are her favorites at nine-years-old:

1. Food: Hard boiled eggs

2. Song: Book of Mormon Stories

3. Movie: Nancy Drew

4. School Subject: Gym & Art

5. Book: Allie Finkel's Rules for Girls Book One: Moving Day

6. Thing to do: Softball

7. Thing about her siblings: That she can play with them

8. Thing about her parents: That they are fun

9. Thing about herself: She has a good singing voice