A decade old.

Today.

Ten years ago today Ashley changed my life forever. Her very life redefined mine forever... by adding one my most important titles I'll ever have. Mother.

But this day isn't about me. It's about her. That blue eyed girl with long legs and thick, wavy blond hair. Mature beyond her years, she's kind, determined, loving, smart, hard working, funny and silly. She has a great sense of humor. She's loved by her many many friends. To Emily, she's the definition of cool. To the little ones, her snuggles are the very next best thing to mommy. She's maternal and has been since the first time she rocked a baby doll- before she was even a year old. She's stubborn and still tests the boundaries when it comes to talking back to mom and dad... because she's still fairly certain she's always right. ;) She's a pack rat. She loves small shiny things. Sea shells, jewels, beads, "Indian money"... anything she finds beautiful she collects and hides in secret places. She's artistic. Her mind spins with ingenuity as she builds, crafts, and creates. She likes to be organized but her creativity gets the best of her most of the time as her side of the room usually looks like a whirlwind of craft supplies and shreds of paper, play makeup and nail polish, dolls and stuffed animals she's nurturing... and small shiny things. She loves The Lord and has a heart of conviction. She proclaimed her faith a couple of years ago through baptism. And it's a joy to watch her relationship with her Savior-- her friendship with Jesus-- grow.

Today she turns ten. Double digits. :)

And today is so monumental that it requires two posts. ;) This one, about who she is now. And the next, about how she came into this world. The letter that I wrote to her when she was born. (I'll link here once it's posted.)

Happy Birthday to my beautiful, loving firstborn. I love you to moon and back. And I'm so proud of who you are.