Happy Birthday Lauren

Today, I was thinking about the day that Lauren was born.  I always remember that year because of the REALLY cold, snowy weather we had just before she was born.  It set weather records that year.  It was VERY snowy - Mark had to hike into town in order to get groceries, leaving me very pregnant at home.  We lived on the frontage road outside Columbia and the doctor was worried that if I went into labor, I would have problems getting to the hospital.  I made it until March 3, which was the scheduled date for the C-section to bring her into this world.

Happy Birthday Lauren, here are some of my favorite photos of you growing up - please share them to Liam:

Born as a true redhead - I knew I had my hands full with your temper...and I was right! Your grandmother loved the fact that her dream came true and I had a redheaded daughter! She wanted me to name you after her mother, Bernadine!  I told her, "That would happen over my dead body!" Keva loved having a little sister until you started getting into her stuff - then she wanted to be an only child.

 You looked wonderful in blues - they matched your eyes.  As you grew up your color became green!

 We were at the St. Louis Zoo for the photos above and in our kitchen for the photo to the right.  My very favorite photo is below.  I was packing away winter clothes and you insisted on wearing my sweater - so I put it on you, rolled up the sleeves.  You decided that you wanted to chew on the turtle neck, so I had to wash it again before packing it away.

You loved textures at that time in your life.  If I took you shopping with me, you would sit in your stroller, pick up each sleeve on the hanging clothes rounds and rub the fabric against your cheek or the tip of your nose...you loved the feeling of the different textures.  You would have loved the little modern teething clothes of today (with the little loops of different textures).  I'm not surprised that you now love knitting and crocheting as there is strong texture in yarn.

I love this photo below - you can see her rosy cheeks that were there most of the time.

The photo to the right  - I had to make a pilgrim dress, collar and bonnet for the Thanksgiving program.  I loved that costume.  You are in Grandma's living room for that photo.

The photo below is another favorite of mine!

 Pius Lauren at her First Communion.

Here your are - looking much as you do now.  You have grown into a wonderful women and mother.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LAUREN!!!

AND MANY HAPPY RETURNS!!!