Happy Birthday Amanda

December 14th at 11:30 a.m. the most beautiful little baby I have ever seen was born.

She was so beautiful, I couldn't help but fall in love with her immediately. Amanda Jane was our first child. I am sure she had to endure the inexperience of two parents who loved her immensely. She didn't have much hair. Just some fuzz, but to me she was perfect. I couldn't take my eyes off of her. To her Dad she was perfect too. She was the first grandchild on both sides of the families. Jane and Barbara loved playing with her. She never lacked for attention.
Today she turned 40. It doesn't seem like 40 years.

Of course like all parents, I can remember clearly so many milestones in her life.

Above- the first photo is a picture taken one day before Amanda was born. The second photo is Tom, Amanda and I in our first family picture. We dressed her in a little Santa outfit. She was the perfect gift for both of us. I remember when Amanda started to walk. She was so cute. I love the next photo. She is smiling as she usually does. She is so loved.
The first day of school was hard for this Mommy, as it is with most mommies. We made her all pretty, and I sent her off to school,while I was worried sick. She had a great time, and I worried for nothing. She really excelled in school. She was the only girl on the school baseball team. She really wasn't a tomboy. She confused the super duper boys who couldn't strike her out. I loved watching her play sports or anything else she participated in.
She continued to mature and accomplish many things. Awards and trophies to acknowledge her talents. What fun it was to go shopping for that first prom dress. We laid everything out before she put it on and took pictures of it. She looked like Cinderella to me. She was so beautiful. Inside and out beauty.

For Amanda her dream was to be a mother. She wanted children so much. At one time before the kids came along, she had five cats and one dog. They were her kids until babies came along. She is a beautiful mother. I am so proud of the mother she is. I wish I could have been as good a mother as she has been. Cassidy was born August 23rd on Tom's birthday. Lauren was born January 28th, and Luke entered her life on January 14th. You never know how much you are loved until you have children of your own. Just as God loves all His children. It is a love that is stronger than any love. We continue with a story that has no end. As Tom and I have loved you, you will love your children. I know the love you have for them. It is what I felt the first time I saw you. You may have been pink, purple and white, all wrinkled and crying, but to me you were the most beautiful little girl I had ever seen. I loved you before you were born.

I hope all your birthdays are as special as you are. God blessed me with the ultimate love the day you were born. I love you Amanda.

Love, Mom