My Biggest Accomplishment

Day 16 of the 31 Day Challenge - My Biggest Accomplishment.

This one is an easy on for me.  My baby (can I still her call her that even though she is taller than I am??) girl.  Ever since I was a child I wanted to have a daughter.  I really don't want to sound like I am bragging, but she is amazing.  Ever since we have heard her tiny little heart beat at 8 weeks pregnant I have been totally in love with her.  I had an uneventful pregnancy, no morning sickness, no high blood pressure, no heartburn, and gained 30 pounds.  She came on her due date, after two trips to the hospital.  I did all my labor at home (because I had already been sent home earlier that day by a nurse telling me she didn't think I would have my baby that day).  By the time I got to the hospital, I was 9-10 cm dilated.  They were putting my IV in down the hallway.  I didn't get an epidural and pushed for about 45 minutes.  My beautiful baby was born close to 11 at night.  Since she was born, she has continued to amaze me every step of the way.

Today, she is very smart.  She is in 7th grade and recently was invited to take the ACT.  She scored a 21 and she didn't study anything.  She has straight A's since starting school.  Her lowest grade right now is a 95.  She loves being the smart kid.  She plays the cello in an extracurricular orchestra and for the school orchestra.  Last summer she decided she wanted to take piano lessons.  After 3 months she played Fur Elise during a recital.  She loves to perform on stage in musicals.  This past summer, she was Cinderella. She loves all things Harry Potter and most Disney. She is a true Daddy's Girl and Momma's Girl (and Nana's girl..lol) She is a child of God.  She is so kind hearted.  She is a very giving person.  She gets along with everybody.  She is a rule follower and people pleaser (got that from her mama).  She does have a bit of a temper too (also from her mama...haha).

That girl is my everything.  We joke that when she goes to college, I will be right there with her in the dorm room.  We spend a lot of time together, usually running her back and forth to one of her activities.     She tells me things, we talk and she opens up to me.  I could go on and on but I will end with this; I love that she tells me "love you" no matter who is around.  That is the last thing she tells me before hanging up the phone, getting out of the car, and going to sleep at night.  Yeah, she is my greatest accomplishment.

Clockwise: First day of 7th grade, cello concert, with Dad at WW of Harry Potter, musical rehearsal, and Cinderella.

If you want to read about other people's accomplishments; head over to Fabulous Finds by Tiffany.

I cried today

Today, my one and only child took the ACT's.  She is 12.  She got invited by the Duke Talent Search to take the ACT as a 7th grader.  I am very proud of her for taking it.  She said that she guessed on a lot of the math and science, but thinks she did really well on the English and reading portion.  When we got to the high school she will be going to in a couple of years, she was really nervous.  The kids going into the school were way bigger than her (and she is a tall girl, as tall as me) and older.  I waited with her until they told everyone they could go into the rooms.  It was very hard as a parent to send my only child, my baby, up the hall and into a classroom where I couldn't make sure that she gave the correct forms or answer any questions the test people might have.  I prayed for her.  This is one of the first steps of the separation process that, in six short years, will happen.

I got into my car after walking out of the high school and cried.  I prayed and cried.  I prayed that she would have a sense of peace that just because Mom wasn't there, I would always be there.  I cried because I just dropped my baby off to take the ACT's.  I know this is not her "real" test (we just wanted her to become familiar with the test).  It still was very hard because I know I don't have long left with her.  She still needs me right now.  I cried because it seemed like just yesterday I was crying as I dropped her off for her first day of pre-K.  I cried because I am proud of the wonderful human being she is turning out to be.  She amazes me.  I am so blessed that she is my daughter.