I Have an Eleven Year Old

Christmas Day eleven years ago, I lay in the hospital with a beautiful baby girl in my arms. She had soft auburn colored hair, and perfect tiny feminine features. My biggest dream had come true, I was a mom!

From my upper floor hospital room I had a view of the entire valley covered in a fresh blanket of snow, which had just fallen Christmas Eve, beginning about the same time as my labor pains. I didn't know which gender this baby was because at my 20 week scan she refused to reveal that to us, so she was a surprise, and I was so excited when the doctor announced "it's a girl!". I'd secretly been hoping for a girl, I've always wanted my oldest to be a daughter.

I had a special name picked out for her, one I thought was both beautiful and unique. Dabriah Ashli. Everyone who knows her would agree that everything about this girl is sweet and kind, peaceful and strong. She is the perfect oldest child for our family, she is so good to her younger siblings.

I cannot believe she is eleven. I am in awe of the beautiful young woman she has become. I am so blessed to have her and I truthfully don't know where I'd be without her.

At eleven years old, she loves:

-to sing

-good books (and she goes through them faster than I can keep up with)

-rollerblading

-baking

-shopping

-painting

-swimming

-family game nights

-kittens

-lip gloss

-nail polish

-raspberry lotion

-being with friends

-staying up late goofing off with her sister

-girls nights out

-the colors pink and blue

-all things beautiful

-writing (her work is amazing)

It's not easy to have a birthday on Christmas, but she always handles it gracefully.

Amidst all the bustle of family activities surrounding the day, we did a special dinner at home with her Christmas night.

Happy birthday Bri! I love you so much.

Her dinner choice: Radiatore alfredo, and eggnog.Little monkey.

She wanted a fancy cake, and I had intended to make a triple layer one, but just so you know, glass casserole bowls don't bake cakes well, even the small ones. So thankfully we were able to work with the parts of the cake that did turn out and came up with this one instead. She liked it.