It was a dark and cool night in mid-March...

And one of the last babies to be born in the old Womack Army Medical Hospital at Fort Bragg, was born...after 19 plus hours of labor...in the middle of the night...12 days "post dates"...a 7 lb, 11 oz bundle of joy, with her daddy's cheekbones and beautiful olive skin, mommy's dark brown eyes, and a future full of promise...

The nurses all looked at her, and looked at her daddy, and said, "There's no denying this one" (not like he would have anyway)...our firstborn is a 60/40 split of her daddy and her maternal grandmother...

We called her "squidlet" before she was born...afterwards? She was our "Baby Burrito" (only if you have seen an olive skinned, dark haired baby all tightly swaddled up in the receiving blankets by the maternity ward nurses, would you know what I am talking about)...

And today, she turned 10. Mercy, where has the time gone? My little bitty girl...on the verge of young womanhood. Getting taller, more self-assured by the day. She still has her daddy's cheekbones and my eyes...she tans like a dream, and is 'brown as a nut' by the end of summer...swims like a fish, reads voraciously, and is as hard a worker as you can get...

I can only pray that she continues to grow, to be the woman she promises to be, today. When she had her First Communion last year (we moved right smack when they were having them the year before), it was startling to see her all in white, with a beautiful veil on her head--I told El Husbando then, that I'm practicing for the wedding...lol. Yes, I cried. I can't help it. Baptisms, weddings, funerals, now add First Communions (and we've got another one this year! EEK). Something about a beautiful young girl, all dressed in white...sniffle.

So, firstborn, daughter-of-mine, know you are loved more than words can say. Rest in the knowledge that while we drive you hard, it is because your "engine" will handle it...and in fact, needs it. Enjoy being young...you'll miss these days when you are grown and gone...you laugh when I tell you "Hush!" when you speak of being a teenager, and grown up and gone and married...but that day will come far, far too soon for your father and I, and we love you so much.

Continue, my dear one, my sweet little "Princess Lilani", to grow up, learning best how to know, love, and serve Our Lord and Savior. Stretch your mind, and learn, while the learning is easier. Enjoy the fresh air and sunshine, the birds and the trees, while all the world is still fairly new to you...

In the meanwhile, your daddy and I will be praying for you, for your future husband (should there be one, God willing), and your children and their children...

God bless you, my precious girl-kin...

And happy birthday...

Your Mom