Last night before she went to bed, Annika asked me to recount the story of her birth. (Yes, she was stalling, but how can a mother resist such a request???) I told her all about Eric's huge eyes when he woke up enough to process the fact I told him my water broke, how we had to return a rental car en route to the hospital, how the theme of her birth was "THEY LIED" (in terms of how labor would most likely ramp up... there was no ramping!! Contractions were 3-5 minutes from the get go!), and how I left a message at work from the rental car return parking lot while Eric got gas in the rental car to let them know (a) I was in labor and (b) what I'd been working on most recently, how we made a U-turn on the Montlake Bridge because we overshot the ER entrance (good thing it was midnight and no one else was on the bridge!!), how I wanted an epidural but there wasn't enough time, and how she was about 20 minutes old before I was able to (finally) ... Daddy got to see her first and tell me all about her. I told her about how much love we had for her from the first moment, how fun it was to surprise people with the news that she arrived during the night (3 weeks early!), and how cute her 1st night hiccups were. She heard all about how tiny she was (I wound up going to Babies R Us the day after coming home from the hospital because we needed preemie clothes and diapers), and how she was so little that we had to feed her with a tube.
Looking back, so much of that story feels like ancient history ... but so much more of it feels new and very recent. It startles me to think that she's 12. Then I stop to think about all of the things she has done, how much our family has done and experienced over the years, and how much she's grown (5' 2" at last measuring) and the math adds up. Our little girls is knocking on her teenage years... loudly at times.
Annika, we are so proud of who you are, your empathy, your willingness to lend a hand, and your ability to see challenges as opportunities (even if sometimes begrudgingly). You are a blessing to our family.
Annika's 12th birthday was a fun-filled one. She, Conor, Emma (nanny), and Huck (our pup) went to Greenlake to swim and enjoy the beautiful summer weather. For her celebration dinner, Annika requested chicken enchiladas and green beans (I threw in a bonus salad for good measure). For dessert, it was all about the Oreo cheesecake.
Happy 12th birthday, sweet girl! Here's to a great year ahead of you!
Annika's 12-year-old interview
Favorite thing to do in your free time: Irish dancing and playing on iPod
Favorite food: Schnitzel
Favorite drink: Fanta (orange)
Favorite book: Evil Spy School
Favorite color: Seafoam green
Favorite song: "Wonderful Life" (from Smallfoot movie)
Favorite TV show: No Good Nick
Favorite movie: Smallfoot
Favorite subject at school: Art
Memories from being 11: Breaking my left arm on the monkey bars (again!), going to Ireland with Bestemor and Bestefar, doing MacBeth with my 5th grade class, finding out I have dyslexia, doing my first feis (and taking home a 2nd place trophy and 2 bronze medals), getting a new puppy (Huck!)
