Happy Birthday, Ashley!

Today is Ashley's 22nd birthday!

Ashley was three weeks early (how about that EE?) and has continued to be like her dad and early to everything henceforth. I had a fairly easy time of delivery, other than the high blood pressure which made everyone think I was going to stroke (250 over 150). I fainted in the shower when some dumb nurse left me alone only 40 minutes after delivery. My pediatrician arrived early so he witnessed the whole birth (along with several nurses and interns since she was born during the lunch hour!). Dr. Chuck says he was never the same after that!

Let me tell you a bit about this daugher of mine....

She is a picky eater. How did I get a picky eater??? I don't know but I am glad its her and not me! She does not like "white" food, including vanilla ice cream (she prefers chocolate). Whipped cream, mashed potatoes, marshmallows.... nada.

She is a great student, graduating in the top 10% of her graduating class of 600 and achieving high academic honors at her college. She majored in Fashion Management and Marketing but will be getting a masters in counseling. She takes her studies seriously, again taking after her father.

She's a classic beauty. She wears very little makeup and what she does wear looks so natural you aren't sure if she really is wearing any. In this regard she takes after her Grandmother Oliver. She has a natural sense of style and grace.

She loves God and has worked at the Newman Center as a Youth Director while in college. She loves children and dotes on her two little cousins, Kassie and Tristan.

I suspect she drives too fast and hasn't yet been caught (that would be like her mother!)

She's loyal to a fault. She works at My Secret Garden which is a floral shop which has been difficult with her college schedule. She finds time to work there. This semester she's working from 8-10 a.m. If you knew that her first college class didn't start til 11, aren't you impressed that she gets up early to go to work?

She's a fan of CSI (all of them), movies and Grey's Anatomy. Considering she gets two channels at school, this is quite the deal.

She is a miser with money, finding a way to spend YOURS rather than HERS.

Ashley was born on her Grandpa Steffes' birthday. The only granddaughter on one side and the baby on the other AND sharing her grandpa's birthday made her a very special baby. She is still our special baby today.

Happy Birthday, sweet girl.