Happy 3rd Birthday Baby Girl!

What a day we had! Sarah Beth woke up to lots of pink balloons in her room and pink streamers hanging down in her doorway. She was awake at 6:30! I guess she just couldn't stand the excitement! We went to church and her teacher/class sang to her, then we had a relaxing afternoon as we baked her birthday cake, she napped, and we got ready for her birthday dinner. We invited Mimi, Grandaddy, and Grammy over for our little family party, and she got a few gifts, too, of course! All day long she said "Sing Happy Birthday to me, Mommy!" I believe she truly felt like a princess, as she should on her birthday (although I'm not sure how this is different from any other day with regard to feeling like a princess :). Sarah Beth is still trying to get the hang of holding up three fingers to tell how old she is- she just can't seem to hold that pinky finger down with her thumb! But.....she knows she's 3, and she's very excited about that! She's really looking forward to her birthday party in a few weeks when we'll celebrate both her's and Matthew's birthday together- a Willy Wonka party!














Decorating her Strawberry Shortcake cake (it had LOTS of sprinkles on it!)














Blowing out her candles...




















Some of her gifts (she'll get her "big" ones at her party in a few weeks). She got a Strawberry Shrotcake doll, a Disney Princess cell phone, Don't Spill the Beans game, and the Mega Blocks Cinderella carriage- what fun!!!














Enjoying her cake with her new Strawberry Shortcake doll at her side!

Wow- it just seems like yesterday that we were at the hospital waiting for a room to become available as I was in labor wandering the halls of the maternity floor. I was HUGE! That's easy enough to explain, though, with a 8 lb. 15 oz. baby! She was born at 11:51 pm on August 3, 2005. What a complete joy to have a newborn baby girl!!! She had dark curly hair, dark skin, and dark blue eyes. It was quite a frightening delivery, though, because she was so large that her shoulders were too wide, and she was stuck. Dr. Asa Peek (my hero!!!) had planned for this, and immediately did all the "emergency" things they do in this situation, including putting her arm up beside her head and pulling her out with one arm up, narrowing her shoulders. Praise the Lord that everything went well for us at that moment!!! After 16 hours in labor with no pain medication (my choice, I know- but I would still do it all over again!!!), she was a sight to behold!
















Precious Baby Girl!













Matthew kissing Sarah Beth for the first time.














One of my favorite pictures when she was about 3 weeks old.

Sarah Beth is such a precious little person. She is completely different from her brother, in that she is extremely independent, and can be quite stubborn at times. She has a very strong will, which will be an asset to her later in life (although it is quite challenging these days!). Sarah Beth is very self-confident, she knows what she wants, and she goes after it- I like that about her. She can also be extremely loving and nurturing. I love watching her sing to her baby dolls or feed them. She talks in this high-pitched voice that is just precious. Sarah Beth is all "girl," completely! She loves pink painted fingernails and toenails, and she enjoys wearing dresses that can "twirl," as she says. She enjoys riding her bicycle, playing baseball with Daddy and Matthew, putting on make- up (every day!) with Mommy, and playing with her big brother. She has quite the personality, and I love seeing her grow and develop every day. I'm amazed at her communication, the way she picks up on others' emotions so quickly, and the way she learns so easily. She also already seems to have a spiritual sense about her. As she was going to bed on her birthday, she said, "Mommy, I want to give Jesus a piece of my birthday cake." Who would have ever thought of such a thing but a child? It was precious. She loves to pray every night before going to bed, and is very sincere with talking to Jesus. I'm very thankful for that. God truly blessed us when Sarah Beth came into our lives, and we are so proud to be the parents of Sarah Elizabeth, "Princess Consecrated to God." Happy Birthday my precious baby girl! I love you!!!!!