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It's a Girl!
On a rainy Wednesday morning in the DC suburb of Rockville, MD, my parents had me at Shady Grove Hospital. I would be my dad's first biological child, and my mother's second, after my sister, Ashley. -
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From Maryland to Arizona
This span of my life was my developmental phase, the time before I really began to consider my existence and what kind of person I wanted to be. It was really a simpler time that treasure and miss very much. -
Our First House!
Shortly after I was born, my parents got their first house in Rockville, where we would live until 2002. I have very fond memories of this house, especially of the daycare my mom ran to help support my dad after 9/11. -
My First Halloween
Although it wasn't a major event in my life, I just had to share this photo...
My mother was gifted at making Halloween costumes, and for my first I was a mouse on a cheese stroller...pure genius. -
Meeting My Grandparents
I finally got to meet my grandparents at varying times after my birth. My grandmothers lived very close, with one in the neighboring town of Salisbury and the other in a wealthy DC suburb called Bethesda, so they were able to attend my birth. My grandfather David lived out in Hawaii, so I didn't meet him until almost a year after I was born. Unfortunately, my mother's father Ernie died before I could meet him in 1996. -
My First Words!
Although the actual date is unknown, this event is forever etched into my parents' minds. My first word was an attempt at my sister's name, "Ash-ee" -
September 11th, 2001
This was a very difficult day for my family, although it can't possibly compare to the immense scale of tragedy that occurred. Since we lived right outside of DC, our area was in high alert when the Pentagon was attacked. I remember playing outside and seeing fighter jets fly in the sky, and I remember seeing the news report on TV. Shortly after, my dad would be laid off, and my mom started a daycare center in our house to bring in income while taking care of me at the same time. -
Becoming a Big Sister
My life changed forever when my sister Sydney was born on November 15th, 2001. Little did I know that she would become one of my best friends and the first one to really teach me about true responsibility. Now I understood how Ashley felt... -
Here Comes the Sun
After years of dealing with Maryland weather and after a new job opportunity sprung up for my dad, we made the big move to Orlando, FL and eventually to Cape Coral. It was entirely different from the climate up north, and my parents would quickly fall in love with it. -
Read Between the Lines
I eventually learned how to read, and once I learned, I didn't stop. Ever. My parents said I would quite literally chase them around the house with a book in hand, sharing the fascinating information I was absorbing. The very first book I ever read was "Who Took the Farmer's Hat? " by Joan L. Nodset. -
Rock You Like a Hurricane
Hurricane Charlie hit us and for the first time I really saw the power of nature. We ended up fleeing to Miami because of the immensity of the storm, and we came back home to find that all of our food had vanished (thanks to my Uncle Dave) and our power was gone for weeks. But it helped us gain resilience and showed how our family could handle itself even in the most dire of situations. -
Becoming a Big Sister Pt. 2
On January 10th, 2001, I would again know the joy of being an older sister with the birth of my sister, Cameron. She would go on to teach Sydney responsibility just like Sydney had taught me. Finally, our family was complete. -
Arizona Bound
Shortly after my sister's birth, my dad accepted a job in Arizona and we moved to a small town called Surprise (yes, that was the actual name!) this would last for a few years, and taught me a very valuable lesson; to never go to Arizona ever again.