Twenty-five years ago today

Twenty-five years ago my life completely changed and has never been the same since. I awoke early September 5, 1983 at about 2:00am with a burst of energy. I washed baby clothes I had received at a shower the week before, made phone lists, cleaned our townhouse and then tried to go back to bed. At 5:00 I got up again and when Garth got up at 5:30 to go play golf, I had a hard time talking him out of going. After all it was Labor Day and he had the day off. I wasn't sure I was in labor, I'd never been through it before, but I finally convinced him that calling me after every hole wasn't a good idea. Remember this was before the cell phone era so I don't know how he thought he would call me.

At 7:00am when my water broke, all doubt left us and we headed to the hospital knowing we would have a new baby that day. Two hours later, I was a mom to a beautiful 6 pound 13 ounce little girl. Garth and I were in heaven and couldn't believe the beautiful baby we had to love! Needless, to say I was scared to death to have this little girl to take care of. I stayed in the hospital as long as my insurance would let me and then my mom came the day I went home and stayed for a week. My mom was such a life saver; I didn't know how to take care of a newborn! After a week of my mom's help and wonderful meals she had prepared, she left me alone to care for this little baby. I was SO nervous! I really didn't know anything about being a mom, raising a daughter and teaching her everything she would need to know so she could make good decisions and grow into a responsible, caring, contributing member of society. I could barely figure out why she was crying.
But like all first time moms, I just started to wing it and prayed for a lot of help. She was a great baby and slept though the night after the third night we had her home; can't get much better than that! Garth and I would sit all night just watching her sleep. Sleeping is one activity she has excelled at from birth and still does very well.
She was a beautiful baby, toddler and little girl and made my life full of surprises and joy. I had no idea what joy and happiness a baby could bring to your life. You learn to put your needs last and thrill in the "newness" around you as they discover the world. I had forgotten just how exciting Christmas lights are or watching popcorn pop or playing in the rain. Lonica made me look at life all over again and it was fun.
She was always hard to buy gifts for because she never really played with toys. She wanted to dress up, make something, read something, put on a play or dance, be the teacher or store keeper or the museum director. Her creativity never stopped. There were many days I wished it would because she just had to have some fabric, paper, paint, glue or whatever right then to finish the latest project she was working on.
She never thought it was impossible to do anything and had such self confidence. If She needed help in a store or library, she was never intimated to ask an adult for it. She made up dances (she only took a few lessons when she was four) and performed them at her elementary school talent show, sang solos in choir, plays and recitals, played the piano, participated in Speech and Debate, swam in city meets, played water polo, took swing lessons, was a Junior Miss contestant and loved to scrapbook. She was such joy to watch in whatever she did and had such a great attitude whether she did well or not. To her it was all about the experience.
I could almost always talk her into doing crazy things with me whether it was a hike, project or some other off the wall thing. And she talked me into trying new things too, like making my own wallpaper or substituting in high school. She has always been an inspiration to me.
One of Lonica's greatest loves has been learning and going to school. I was so proud as I watched her receive her diploma from Arizona State University, sum cum laud and see the culmination of years of hard work. She has always loved to read and we have enjoyed discussing and teaching the same books, developing lessons plans together, bouncing ideas off one another and of course watching all 6 hours of A&E's Pride and Prejudice over and over and over again.
Today Lonica turns 25 years old and she has had a full 25 years. She has married a great guy named Scott whom we love and adore. They are always going, doing or trying something new and are never dull to be around. This weekend she is participating in her first triathlon, and so what if it isn't a full one, at least she is participating, she is giving it a shot.
Twenty five years ago, I had no idea what life would be like being Lonica's mother and I was so scared. Now it seems that those years have flown by and I realize that if I have a daughter that is 25, I must be 25 years older, but what wonderful, joyful, learning years they have been. I can't wait to see what the next 25 will hold for me and for my amazing daughter. I love you so much Lonica!!!