Double Digits

Today is Double Digits Day for my youngest child. The big 1-0. Yep, she's 10. She was so excited about this that she woke up at 4:15 this morning. But then, a downer because she wasn't actually born until 4:59 am so she wasn't really 10 yet. Fortunately, she was able to fall back to sleep and wake up at 6:45 fully and officially 10 years old. Whew!

How I love my Katie Lois. She was the only one of my 5 children that we didn't find out was a boy or a girl before she was born. I wanted a surprise, so we could hear the words, "It's a girl!" and laugh with joy at the wonder of life and the fact that WE HAD FOUR GIRLS!

Katie is an individual. She has definite opinions about the when and where and why of life. She has a flair for the dramatic, and keeps us chuckling with her observations of life. She loves to laugh, and when she gets to giggling, she inevitably ends up with the hiccups (she had the hiccups the whole time I was pregnant with her). Her heart is tender, filled with compassion for babies and children and animals and suffering. At her young age, she understands what it means to mourn with those who mourn.

It can be a tough gig being the youngest. Lots of people telling you what to do or not to do, ratting you out to Mom and Dad, and you always get stuck in the back seat because you're the smallest. But then, there are the perks: you're still small enough for Mom to snuggle and smooch, you still want and get toys for Christmas and birthdays, and you can still order off the kids menu at restaurants where the macaroni and cheese is plentiful and comes with a drink (Sprite) and a dessert.

I love you, Katie! Welcome to double digits! I'm so glad you picked us as your family!

1st picture: the shirt Josh sent her from his mission.

2nd picture: Laughing at the card Grandpa Gresko sent her; it sings "Shake It Up, Baby Now!"