8 is Great!

Happy Birthday, Robyn!

It's hard to believe you're 8.

You love to hear us re-tell the story of how you were (not) born. My due date came and went, and so did Gram who came to help from Chicago.

During the Vernonia Logging Festival, we paid a quarter a piece for wonderful children's books at the library sale and paid nothing for all the great advice we got about how to make you come. "Eat a big bowl of chili...Go on a bumpy motorcycle ride...Run lots of stairs..."

We didn't try any of those, but I had already walked all over downtown Portland, was still doing water aerobics, and picked and ate over 11 lbs of blueberries (with Dad's help), none of which seemed to do a thing.

11 days after you were supposed to come, I was induced and labored all day. When your heart rate dropped, the doc. said we had to get you out right away. I didn't want a C-section, but Daddy said a prayer and we felt at peace. Even though my recovery was far from easy, we were both healthy. I was SO glad to have you, and everything was OK.

The doc. said there are 3 signs of an overdue baby, and you didn't look a day overdue. You were so long and had such long feet that the nurse had to stamp them twice to get them to fit in the right spot on the birth certificate.

We named you Robyn after my maiden name, Robins.

Grammy came, the Rzepkas came, and then Gram came back. Two weeks later, I took you to your wellness check and then drove with Dad in the moving truck back to Provo.

You have been such a joy in our lives, a wonderful daughter and a loving big sister. You wake up extra early to sneak in an extra chapter of your book. (Right now, you're in the middle of the Little House on the Prairie series). You love to keep a journal like me. You love to cook and play music like Dad. When you want to learn something, like jump roping, you do it. You're responsible, honest, and thoughtful.

I'm so happy you're in our family!

love, Mom

PS I felt badly about posting this late, but it's less than 11 days after your B-day, which means I'm early, right?!