Dear Ashlin,
Happy 4th birthday! I cannot believe how the time has flown by. I can remember the days before and after your birth like they were just yesterday. In the beginning, I was so so sick. I had to keep going into the hospital for IV infusions of medication to help me keep food and nutrition down. I fainted a few times due to dehydration and lack of nutrients. It got a little better as time went on. While I was pregnant with you, our family was just Kenzi and me. I was worried about how your life would be. Would it be sad for you? Would you be angry with me for the way things were? Things changed when I was about three months away from having you. We met your amazing daddy, and everything became perfect. We got engaged to be married, and planned our wedding and life together. As the time drew nearer for you to be born, we hoped you would stay put until after Daddy and I could get married. Luckily, you were a good little baby, and the wedding went without a hitch. Your due date was August 24th. Our wedding was on August 3rd.
We moved into our tiny two bedroom apartment in West Jordan, Utah and began our little family's life. We got everything ready for our new baby girl to come into this world. There were a few false alarms, one that resulted in actually going into the hospital thinking I was in labor. No such luck. On the night of August 11th, 2007, Daddy and I were lying in bed talking. Dad was telling me all his stories from his mission in Taiwan and we were just having a nice visit. It was late - around 2 am. I heard a little voice call out "Mommy!" I thought for sure it was Kenzi calling me from the other room. But when I went in to check on her, she was completely asleep. I got the chills up and down my arms, because the voice had been so clear and had seemed so close. Not like hearing a child from down in the parking lot or in a neighboring apartment.
I brushed it off and continued talking to Daddy. We had been awake for a long time, so I went in to use the restroom. I sat down and my water broke! I started giggling and then Dad and I started laughing really hard.
We called Grandma and Grandpa, who quickly came over to watch Kenzi while we drove to LDS hospital downtown. My doctor was Dr. Draper. He was a great doctor! After my epidural, I slept through most of the labor. In the morning, it was time to stat pushing. I pushed about 5 times, and we had our sweet baby girl! You were 6 pounds 3 ounces, and 19 inches long. You had very little hair, but it was blond. And you had beautiful, huge, blue eyes. I was so happy to hold you for the first time! You were such a good baby. We could all feel your spirit was so excited and happy to be here with your new family! I truly believe that the little voice I had heard calling out to me was you, letting me know you were on your way! We love you, little Ashlin girl!
