Zoey

September 28, 2008
We are driving home from church, when I realize what day it is...
"Ahh, (I think out loud) September 28th... Do you remember what happened six years ago, Ross?" He just smiles; Zoey perks up because she knows it is about her. I just continue with my thoughts aloud...

"We were overdue for a Zoey, so the doctor told us to call and see if we could come in and have a baby that day! She said to come on in, so we packed up our stuff and excitedly headed off to the hospital!! Today is the day! Today is the day we get to finally meet our Zoey! I remember being so excited, thinking about lots of little things like, finally seeing her face and holding her in my arms and even about her birthday and that today hers would be 9/28 which is neat because mine is 8/29! But Zoey even before she was born, was showing us who was in charge!! She wasn't coming out on September 28... "

Zoey adds from the backseat, "That's right... the Bubba (as she refers to herself) wanted to pick her own birthday and she wanted September 29th!"
Ross and smile. "Yes, Zoey... you picked the day you were born!" We often tell her that, because she didn't want to come when we wanted, but when she wanted. This pleases her, of course.

She is so excited about her last day of being five years old. Ross tells her, "At midnight, you are a big six year old!!" She grins with pride. She has been waiting a long time, probably just shy of a year...

Later that night as we put her to bed, she excitedly tells me that if she wakes up in the middle of the night, she is six!! I smile as I head out of her room, and sigh a little too.

"Ross, how do we have a six year old already?" He just laughs. He's heard it before... my bittersweet thoughts of kids growing up...I am amazed how the days go by slow, but the years... they seem to fly by. I look in the mirror, scrunch up my face and see the image staring back at me, six years older for this girl, too...

September 29, 2008
Max wakes up early. He was having weird dreams, and talking about all kinds of things in his sleep. It is actually a blessing to get up a little earlier today.
Ross heads out to get Zoey her favorite bagel for breakfast. Cinnamon Crunch please, sliced and toasted, with raspberry cream cheese and an apple juice!

I go in to wake Zoey up, "Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Zoey, (Max jumps up and joins in) Happy Birthday to you!!" It is still dark, so she peeks out of the blanket with a tired smile, "Is it day? Is it day, already?"
"It is" I tell her, "a very special day!!"
"Yay! My birthday!! I am SIX."
Max adds, "and I am five!"

On her drive to school she is so excited... You can always tell because she talks way more than usual about everything she sees. A good day is planned. Special snacks for school, and dinner out at the Cheesecake Factory (her choice), and home for cake and presents!! She had a party on Saturday, so this day is just for her and for us!! To celebrate our sweet girl, who came into the world when she wanted to, and has been making her own way ever since. We love you so, our sweet Zoey. And although it is a little sad to say goodbye to the baby, the toddler, the little one you once were; there is a sweetness to meeting the young girl that you are now and that you are becoming! We love you and God Bless you always.

September 2002 - Age 1 day

September 2003 - Age 1

September 2004 - Age 2

September 2005 - Age 3

September 2006 - Age 4

September 2007 - Age 5

September 29, 2008 - Age 6