Annie Eileen is 4!

It is hard to imagine that there was a life without Annie but once upon a time she was only a dream! I remember where Bob and I were 4 years ago at 10pm like it was yesterday. All of our company had left and it was just Bob and I sitting in the hospital room giggling to each other about everything that had happened that day - feeling like the luckiest people in the world. The weight of a hard pregnancy filled with angst filled tests and pessimistic outlooks was finally over. Annie was here - perfect in every way including her heart, which had been the main concern of every doctor and specialist. She had her 1st Echocardiogram in the OR where she was delivered and we were given the thumbs up - perfect. After that, everything else was just icing on the cake. We had endless visitors that evening - all just clamoring to get a look at our new little princess. She was passed from one loving family member to the next, kissed a hundred times and, of course, everyone stroked her beautiful dark hair!

Annie's delivery was like a dream. It was seamless in every way from the wonderful nurse who took care of me from start to finish right down to having my dad's face peek through the OR door because they wouldn't allow him in. Annie came out fiesty and ready to take on the world and she has never changed.

When we got to the recovery room my parents were standing in the room waiting for us. My mom had tears in her eyes and my dad had his arms out to take Annie. They cooed at her, rocked her, sang to her and reveled in their new grandchild. Little did they know that in quick succession they would be doing this three more times in the next year! My c-section was amazingly easy and thanks to my wonderful OB who understood my impatience with medical things I was on my feet only three hours after surgery. Karla's sister had told me that her one mistake had been staying in bed for too long after her c-section and the quicker you got moving the better you feel - I was not taking any chances!

These pictures are still some of my favorites because I was so amazed at how loving and sweet Peter and Molly were from the moment they met Annie. They loved to hold her and love her with very little issues around attention or anything else. They did an amazing job as big brother and big sister and I could not have been prouder of them! I even think I see a smile on Annie's face just being with her brother and sister!

I remember when we took this picture thinking that I had the BEST life. Three beautiful children, a loving husband, surrounded by family and friends who support us - I just couldn't imagine it getting better than that moment! Needless to say - It DID!

You may be wondering why I am posting this picture in my loving tribute to Annie on her 4th birthday! The truth is that this was such a fun memory of the night she was born that I just couldn't resist. For some reason Molly and Peter had an obsession with when the baby was going to poop and that they wanted to be there for it. Annie, like a proper lady, waited until 2 am to do her business and the kids were not there. Bob and I were both up and as I started to undo her diaper I realized that I wanted to take a picture for the kids but I couldn't seem to get the words out. Bob started handing me everything in sight - diapers, wipes, blankets, water, face clothes - we just could not communicate! So anyways - I ended up screaming at Bob to get the camera and he just stared at me - "The camera - that's what you needed, the camera!" The kids appreciated my efforts - they took this picture to school the next day!

So four years later and Annie's birth finally made it on to the blog. Annie has filled our life with more joy than I thought possible. She is bright, beautiful, kind, inquisitive and loving. I love being Annie's mother!

Happy Birthday, Annie-Boo! We are so happy that you were born! We love you!

I often catch my mother singing this song to Annie or even humming the tune under her breath and it makes my heart so happy!

GENTLE ANNIE

Fair and lovely Annie,

Your gentle ways have won me.

You bring peace and joy and laughter everywhere.

Where you go the sunshine follows,

You're a breath of spring in winter

And my heart and soul are always in your care.

Gentle Annie, Gentle Annie,

And my heart and soul

Are always in your care