Alexis is 20 today. After she was born, I went to the NICU to check on her. I looked at her cribsheet and noticed that she was born on the 24th, the same as Karissa. I never planned that. Alexis had me bedridden for the last month of my pregnancy with her. She had wanted to come earlier. She was still a premie. She was the biggest premie in the NICU. She stayed there for another month as her lungs were getting stronger.
When I brought her home, Karissa screamed and ran behind the door. I’m not sure why; she knew Lexi was coming home. Lexi was colicky, but eventually, she just stopped crying so much. I remember family and friends giving me many tips on dealing with a colicky baby. They even tried to feed her strained baby cereal through a bottle. I stopped that one quickly. My favorite tip was to sleep when she slept. I think they forgot I also had a three-year-old who wouldn’t nap when her sister did.
Growing up, she always said what was on her mind. I had to teach her to be kind with her words. She would spend every weekend in her sister’s room. Even if she was mad at Karissa and not talking to her…she’d still drag her sleeping bag into her sister’s room on Friday.
Now I see her with her friends in college. She is protective of her friends. I’ve seen her grow into a lovely young woman. I still see her as a little girl. I know she has grown up, but I still see the kid in her.
Happy birthday my little redhead! I love you! <3
