10 is a milestone!

My sweet Meredith is 10 years old today! I had hoped she would be born on Jan 1, 2000 and even went into labor on New Years Eve, but the hospital sent me back home... false labor. She was a scheduled C-Section anyway, but my doctor had plans for that night apparently... So around 8:30am the next Thursday she came into the world!
She has been a joy to us! There were a few moments when I asked myself, "What were we thinking??!" but once we got past the biting phase of her life, things got better.
She has been my little diva and loves to sing as much as possible. Currently, it's Phantom of the Opera songs and anything by Taylor Swift. There was a time when Meri & Maddy were both going to be vets and share a clinic. Maddy would take care of dogs only and Meri would take care of the cats.
Meri was the girl who took over my detective interests and really loves the Nancy Drew computer games and books. She's a sleuth!
She was practicing her piano piece this morning for the piano clinic coming up in a week or so. She's playing Ode to Joy. Meri took piano when she was in kindergarten, but then we pulled her out and she took voice lessons for a while instead. Now she's back in piano and seems to be following in Maddy's footsteps. I'll record her performance at the clinic for you.
I remember when I was ten years old. One of my grandpas always gave the grandkids who turned ten a watch for their birthday. Mine was a pink, slender leather strappy thing. I loved it! We don't do that now, but what a nice tradition to start up sometime. Maybe we'll make 20 the year of the watch!
We celebrated Meri's birthday on Monday night, as the rest of the week was booked solid with activities, but she has a party with a few of her friends on Friday. Meri was born on Epiphany, January 6th. So at church last Sunday, our pastor announced at the end of the service that on Wednesday night, we'd be celebrating Meri's birthday! (He actually said this!) and he added quickly "then of course Epiphany service!" We're bringing ice cream cake to share tonight if you can come!
When Meri turned 5, I lay in bed with her for a few minutes before the morning schedule heated up and reminisced with her about when she was born and told her that today was her birthday. She freaked! But you said my birthday party is in 3 days!!! You have to call all my friends and tell them to come today!!! There were many tears and hugs until she understood. Funny.... Maddy did the exact same freaking out when she turned 5! If the party wasn't on THE DAY, then it wasn't your birthday.
So anyway. .. Meri - have a wonderful birthday today! We love you!