Saturday, March 01, 2008

Happy 20th Birthday, Lauren!







I cannot believe that I now have a 20 year-old. I'm not so sure I like the sound of that, but will have to get used to it.

Where has the time gone? It has truly passed in the blink of an eye. It seems like yesterday when you were toddling around the house and learning to talk. (Once you learned you have never shut up!)

I can still hear your little voice naming all of the animals and making their sounds. I had so much fun teaching you those things. I still remember you getting excited over seeing a bird, airplane or even a balloon, and learning your colors and shapes. I can still hear you singing the nursery rhymes that I listened to over and over in the car with you. I remember how incredibly smart you were. (And I'm not just saying that because I'm your mom!) You spoke in complete sentences at 14 months of age.

I remember how stubborn you became and our arguments over what you would (or would not) wear to school. I remember when I could no longer play Barbies with you because you were so bossy you would tell me exactly what my Barbie had to say and do. I remember Aunt Peggy buying me a copy of "The Strong Willed Child". Ha! I remember needing reinforcements to get medicine down your throat.

I remember how terrified you were of heights. I remember it being just you and me when Dad would be away for weeks or months at a time. We had no family up the road, it was just the two or three of us for so many years in California, Korea and Hawaii.

Look at you now! You are such an awesome big sister to the kids. They love you so much and look up to you. I know you will always be their role model.

We love you, Nawen, and we hope 20 is a wonderful year for you. Keep being YOU! You have made us very proud. You are a very bright, independent and beautiful young woman, both inside and out.

Happy Birthday!

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Happy 20th to our wonderful, beautiful and intelligent granddaughter. We love you more than you will ever know. We are so proud of the young lady you have become. I, too, remember things you did from birth to now. You will always be very special to us.
love,
Meme and Papaw

Anonymous said...

Happy birthday Lauren, I second your moms narrative about you... It really fits you like a finely tailored suit. You have always been a 'classy' person. Don't ever change that....

Oh! one more thing, I too remember one (in particular) "strong willed moment", when you were about six. You were throwing the balls out of the ball pit at Mcdonalds into the drive through lane. I threatened to make you sit on the bench about six times to no avail. The balls kept flying out of the pit. ..Soooo I made you sit on a concrete bench at our table. You looked me dead in the eye and matter of factly announced "I ..am..going ..to cry. And proceeded to let out a wail that got everybodys attention. I had to call it a draw, one for me..one point for you....Everytime I think about it I chuckled to myself.

You have grown into a wonderful, decent human being. I am proud of you. Thanks Lauren for the great memories and I'm sure, more to come. ..I love you Lauren, Grandpa Paul

Anonymous said...

Oh I missed her birthday, tell I said Happy Birthday!! Is this weekend the lake house?

Carri said...

Yep, they leave tomorrow!