Happy Birthday Ellie!

Six years ago Ellie woke me up with sharp pains. Two hours later she was born.  This morning  Ellie woke me up watching My Little Ponies on the iPod, in my bed, with the volume turned all the way up.  Two hours later she was sitting in Kindergarten.

Ella Katherine 9lbs 21 inches

I've been planning this blog post all day.  It's Ellie's birthday and I knew I wanted to do an Ellie post, and I had it all planned in my head, but it's now 12:30 AM (about 12 hours from the time I actually started this post) and it's not technically her birthday anymore, but in honor of Ellie I'm staying up late and blogging her.
I'm sure you expect me to say things like, "The time has really flown by!"  and "I can't believe she's already 6!  It seems like just yesterday we were bringing her home from the hospital." but I'm not.  I don't feel that way.  The time hasn't really flown by.  It seems like 6 years ago that I brought her home from the hospital.  I think the reason for that is that I've been with her for 6 years. Day in and day out.  I'm with her when her brothers beat on her. I'm with her when she does endless dance "recitals" for me. I've spied on her while she's playing with her "girls" and listened as she creates her imaginary world. I beamed with pride when she took off her training wheels started riding up and down the street, and I burned with embarrassment when she threw a fit in the grocery store because she didn't get something (she didn't know what it was that she even wanted...she just wanted SOMETHING).  I've been with her to the ER twice and sat through her operation and I've watched her gymnastics shows and dance recitals and swim lessons.  And I've watched her sleep-as a newborn, as a toddler, as a preschooler and as a kindergartener.

Toddler Ellie sleeping at the camper

 I have 6 years of memories of her and I love every single one of them.  (Even the grocery store.)  I'm so thankful that I was able to be home with her all this time.  I love that I feel that I haven't missed a single moment of her life, good and bad.  So, on this 12th day of February, I celebrate 6 years of knowing Ellie.  Every smile, every tear, every temper tantrum over shoes and brushing hair, every "I love you Mom" each picture she's drawn of me, the way her hair smells when I kiss her good night.  It hasn't flown by.  It's all still with me.  Happy Birthday, Ellie.

First day of 3s preschool--notice no shoes...the issues had already started!

Ellie, 18 mos, at the North Canton Main Street Festival with Evan