Could there be a sweeter eight year old?

Today my baby is Eight years old.

8 years ago I was anxiously waiting for my baby girl to come. I had gone into labor at home about 1am August 11th. By that evening I was so sick. My body was not doing well in labor. My kidneys had shut down. I had a 104 fever. I was regressing instead of progressing. Her heart rate was all over the place. Had it not been for a final decision at 2:30am (after 3 hours of pushing thru illness) to finally go ahead and do a c-section, me and my baby girl may have had a different outcome. Instead, at 3:13am my baby was finally delivered. I had passed out - too exhausted and sick from the past 24 hours to be awake when my baby girl was born. But here she was. Crooked ear and all. All 9 pounds of her. Finally I told my mom what Steve and I had decided to name her:

Lindsay Claire Simpson

Oh, how we had dreamed about this day. What would she look like? Who would she look like? Would she have the hair? Well, we all know about the hair. And really, I think she is beautiful and bears a resemblance to my mom. All I know is she was perfect. Just what we had always imagined and more. Never had there been a more perfect baby. My mom dubbed her the world's first perfect grandchild.

I didn't know who or what she would become but I knew she would be loved not only by us but an entire extended family waiting to welcome her into the world, as #1 grandchild in my family, as the #7 grandchild in Steve's family. To her mom and dad who could not get enough of her soft skin, her tiny lips, her 17 chins, her cuddly body.

She has a tender spirit about her and is moved often to notice the small and lovely things this world has to offer. She has a generous loving heart and brings joy to a room with a winning smile and gregarious giggle. A day without Lindsay leaves an ache in my heart for her laugh and eyes that smile from here to the moon.

Me and my baby enjoying the Tide Pools in La Jolla, CA together this past weekend.

Checking out creatures

Watching for the perfect waves. Lindsay was lucky enough to get to spend her birthday weekend at the beach. (More on that later.)

If you are in town, we would love to have you join us as Lindsay is baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is a time to recognize the commitment she has made to live her life according to the teachings of the Jesus Christ and celebrate this special ordinance together as family and friends.