Bridgette is 15!

My little Bridgette is 15. I honestly cannot believe it. It seriously seems like a just a few short years ago that I was driving in a snowstorm to Willmar to see my new niece or nephew. School had been called off that day due to the snowstorm, but mom, dad and I took off anyway. We got there and we didn't have to wait too long before she arrived. I remember being so anxious...finally I went to the bathroom and when I came out, Ben had just come down to the waiting room to tell us that we had a new Bridgette Michelle. A GIRL! I was so excited.

I remember walking into the room and seeing her for the first time. She was amazing. She was looking all around and was so content. Holding her was like a dream. I still remember seeing my dad with her for the first time. He literally melted when he first held her and he hasn't frozen up again since either :) I guess when you add 6 more grandkids after her, there's no chance to freeze up again.

When Ben and Michelle moved back to Ivanhoe, I was so happy. I still remember the day we helped them move. My mom and dad were gone somewhere so Tina and I were responsible for taking our 1984 Dodge Ram Van to Willmar and load it up. We had to get up at like 6am and that was really early for us sophomore girls. So, I was terrified I wouldn't get up on time. I must have dreamed that the alarm went off because I went downstairs, took a bath (this was before we had a shower at our house!) and when I got out of the tub, I looked at the clock and it was 2:45am. I went back upstairs to bed and woke Tina and told her that I must have been sleep walking because I'd already taken a bath and it was only 2:45am. For anyone who knows Tina, she didn't give a rat's rear about that story in the middle of the night. She grunted at me and rolled over. I was laughing...I still sleep walk, although the incidences are further and farther between now :)

Back to Bridgette...she has truly been such an amazing niece. She was so funny as a little kid. Some of my favorite memories of Bridgette include singing. She was a real fan of Shania Twain (she was big in the 90's) and Bridgette knew all her songs, especially the one that starts off, "I met a tall dark and handsome man, and I was busy making big plans..." It was like her signature song. I wanted her to sing it at our wedding! Everytime she was with me, I was asking her to sing. As she got older and started to participate in Sunday School, I looked forward to hearing her songs. She sang Sunbeam one year and it was the cutest thing because everytime the chorus came around she would just belt out, "A sumbeam a sumbeam, Jesus wants me for a sumbeam..." I cried. I cried this last October at her confirmation when she sang for that, too. She's just so beautiful. She sings like an angel and I hope she continues to share her talents with the community.

Tonight, she texted me at 8:00ish and said, "You don't love me". Whatever. I just hadn't gotten around to calling her yet. We had company this evening and I got to hold a little baby for almost 2 hours and I didn't call her. Of course I love her. I called her when they left. She's 15! WOW!

It's because of Bridgette, Allison, Mason, Michael, Breanna, Brody and Kimmy that I dream of having children some day. They're all wonderful, beautiful, and good kids and I love them all so much. I wish we all lived closer because I'd love to be able to be with them more often.

I want to share some random Bridgette stories...

She was about 5 or so. Allison was 2-ish. Ben, Michelle and the girls and I were watching some home videos from when they were little and I asked Ben and Michelle, "Do you guys think you'll have another baby?" I can't remember what they answered, but Bridgette said, "But, we have to keep Alli!" Apparently she thought that if Ben and Michelle had another baby, they'd get rid of Alli?!?! Too funny!

Michelle was in a bad car accident in early 1998 and they must have told Bridgette that the car slipped on the ice because Bridgette said, "I know, we should get a sleigh for our next car. They're meant to go on the ice!" Classic :)

Mom and dad have the best video of Bridgette reenacting a scene from Grease. It's the scene at the very end when Sandra D is all decked out and looks like she's gone bad. Bridgette does the whole thing and it's so cute. I nearly roll over when I watch it. She was in Kindergarten. The best part is when she acts likes she's taking a cigarette out of her mouth and putting it out with her foot and saying, "Tell me about it, tud." It's not a typo, she says "tud". So adorable.

One of the all time best is after Allison was born and Bridgette was telling her parents...
"We need to have another wedding now so Alli can be in the pictures, too", since Bridgette got to be in their wedding pictures. How cute is that?

15 years ago...I really can't believe it. I'm still crossing my fingers that she'll change her mind and come to MSU for college...she'd have free room and board and maybe by then we'll need a babysitter and I'm pretty sure Bridgette owes me some babysitting time...FREE babysitting time, that is!

Love, love, love that young lady!