Day 8 Happy Birthday Carrie

On this exact day several years ago I gave birth to my second red haired daughter. She came into the world easily enough but during one of my favorite tv shows at that time, Rockford Files. I've forgiven her for that, but like to reminder her each time I get the chance.

We also have a running joke in our family about the date of her birth. Seems I was filling out a form for something which required her birth date and put the wrong date --- for some reason I had gotten it in my head that her birthday is the ninth instead of the eighth. I was quite embarrassed when she corrected me, but it didn't stick! For a while if someone asked about her date of birth I really had to stop and think, and then I went through a period of time when I couldn't remember which was correct. *Did I say it was the eighth and she corrected me to the ninth or the other way round*, was a real dilemma for me. We have had some good times over it at my expense. I now keep it straight because I finally realized all of the girls were due on the twelfth but none were born on the twelfth. Donna was four days late (her birthday I always get right) and Carrie was four days early. Amy was much earlier --- actually came in December instead of January, and for that I am eternally grateful.

Carrie was a very precocious child. She was bright, witty, and full of information. Somewhere between the ages of 2 and 3 she summed up her ability to talk. We were at a family gathering involving extended family. When my uncle made comment that Carrie didn't say much, he opened a flood gate. She looked up from the puzzle she was playing with and stated very clearly and matter-of-factly, "I can say everything." I think she been trying to prove it ever since. I don't know of many 3 year olds that are taken on a trip just to be company for the driver, at the drivers request.

One of my favorite coined words is one that Carrie came up with when she was between 3 and 4. She and Donna were playing out in the front yard of our house on Crump Street when she burst in the house hollering, "Mommy, mommy, there's been a crash-a-dent." I couldn't imagine what had happened and went outside with her to see. There had been a slight accident at the corner between two cars. Crash-a-dent has been one of my favorite terms to describe slight accidents.

Carrie was also quite famous in our family for a special look. The adults in my family would delight in saying things that would invoke just so we could see it. It was a special way she had of rolling her eyes up and making her eyelashes flutter at the same time. I could never copy it --- well I've never seen anyone else that can do it. I fluctuated between anger and total amazement whenever I received *the look*. I'm not sure she can still give *the look*; I haven't seen it in years.

Carrie is still bright, witty, and full of information. We all tend to call her when we want to know some bit of trivia. I know my life would never have been as complete if I hadn't let her father talk me into having a second child. I'm glad he did.