You are my Sunshine...

I'm beginning to feel like I have a handle on my surroundings again. I've finally almost caught up on after guest/sick laundry (which was easily 25 loads worth), can get out of bed almost immediately upon waking up AND can actually navigate my way through the day with minimal nausea/starving hunger pains.

It is now that I accomplish what I set out to do two weeks ago when our Sunshine turned 8 years old. I'm taking the opportunity to rave, just as many lunatics do. In this case, my ravings are about the sweet 8 year old that graced us with her presence many, many moons ago...

I discovered I was pregnant shortly after He-Man and I took our obviously very romantic belated honeymoon to Europe...(I say 'obviously' because had it not been, we probably wouldn't have attained such a permanant souvenir) and I had been told by my doctor that due to some previous health concerns that it may be difficult for me to conceive.

The moment I knew, I knew it was her. Every time I craved a whopper or an Arby's Beef and Cheddar, scarfed them down then violently threw them back up, I knew it was her. I knew it was her when I would hear people speak of the ideals of having a 'big brother' first. I just knew. It's tremendously cheesy (I totally own up to it) that when the song, "I Knew I Loved You Before I Met You" came on, I was convinced the song was made just for the two of us. Her personality was so big, even then, I knew it was her.

5 days after my due date as I lay falling into an incredibly uncomfortable and frustrating night sleep, my water broke and it was GAME ON! 6 hours later, after experiencing the worst pain of my life and coming to the conclusion that controlled and thorough pain killers were a very good thing, she was born.

She was this complete package of the best of everything that He-Man and I possessed. She platinum blond naturally, with deep blue eyes, skin so light it was probably a half shade darker than albino and completely beautiful.

From the start she's been eager, thristing for for adventure, social interaction and bursting with life. Raising her for the first few years was easy and natural. She was my sidekick for everything.

As time has gone by and she's gotten older, raising her has gotten tougher but better, sweeter and truly more real. The first few years were surreal, almost like a dream. Now, every experience holds a lesson and an opportunity to love her more deeper with a sincere, complete love.

I love how Sunshine laughs. When she laughs her laugh it's infectious and fun.

I love that Sunshine is like me in the best ways, but not like me in the worst. She loves other people so much but does not allow the worry of what people think of her consume her and cause her to second guess herself.

I love how she is always trying to be better. In the past few years, perhaps because she was an only child for so long, she has struggled to look at things from others' perspectives. Yet, as she has gotten a little older, she tries to understand and be more sensitive to other people and their needs.

I love how she is so excited to share things with people, she's practically bursting to share what she discovered.

I love her unfailing love for others. She is so kind and forgiving that it never ceases to be an example to me. Seriously, she holds no grudges!

I really could go on and on but sufficeth to say, I often feel completely unworthy of the person she is and am so grateful that Sunshine is part of our family...I am convinced that she is truly destined for greatness!