Here's to the birthday girls who've blessed our lives!

March 7, 2011

Cheers to the birthday girls!  That’s right: there are two special girls celebrating birthdays in my family.  One was yesterday, and it was truly her birth DAY.  My brother, Roman, and his wife, Jen, gave birth to a beautiful baby girl yesterday, March 6!  After a long journey to get to that little miracle, I know the two of them must be so relieved and over-the-top excited.  I am so proud of their perseverance.  Jen, this summer, was telling us about the charms she had on her bracelet.  Ronnie and I asked what one was her favorite.  She pointed to a very simple yellow and white gold charm.  I can’t remember the name of the charm exactly, but it was something like “the bumpy road.”  Roman had given it to her after one of their unsuccessful pregnancies.  At the time of our visit, Jen was pregnant with the little peanut she just gave birth to.  The outlook on this pregnancy finally looked good and she glowed as she talked about the future.  Ronnie and I were amazed then, as I am now, at her postitive attitude and utter determination.  This beautiful little girl that has just been born is so very lucky.  She has amazing parents who went through so much to have her!  Congratulations, Roman and Jen, on your beautiful new bundle of elation (joy just didn’t seem like a strong enough word!)

That other birthday girl is kind of like my baby.  My little sister, Ronnie, is 18 today.  I remember the day she was born so well.  When she was born, I was in Kindergarten and only had school Monday, Wednesday, and Friday every week.  This meant I got to spend Tuesday and Thursday at home with mom and baby sister.  I loved helping mom feed her bottles and snuggling in for an afternoon nap.  That time passed so quickly, just as the rest of her 18 years has.  The feeling is bittersweet: I am sad my little sister is no longer a baby, but I wouldn’t trade the friendship we have, either!  She has grown into a breathtakingly beautiful woman with smarts and talent I’m very envious of.  My hometown recently had a talent show, for which Ronnie danced (with her dance team, a dance she had choreographed), sang, played guitar, and played piano.  So amazing!  I’ve also had the honor of getting to listen to most of the songs she’s written.  I hope someday she’ll be able to share her amazing “Taylor Swift”-like talent with more than just her family.

This summer, Ronnie is living with Jeremy and I so she can work and save up for her first year of college.  I’m so excited for this time to live with her again, since it’s been a while since I moved out of Mom and Dad’s house!  So, even though I’m in awe at how old my baby sister is, I’m so excited for her to enter this new phase of her life, and join my older sister, Brianna, and I in the adult stage of life.

So Happy Birthday to the beautiful little miracle that just blessed us through Roman and Jen, and Happy Birthday to the beautiful young woman that blessed our family 18 years ago!