Happy Birthday Nicole

Today is Nicole's birthday.  On March 26, 1982,  Nicole entered our world and changed it as only first babies can!  Take one sweet little baby and two naive parents and what happens....you know it...she was not much for a schedule (I blame that on the La Leche League) and she slept in our bed!!! While sweet,  Nicole always knew her mind and could be stubborn.  I remember a particular incident in pre-school in which she was insistent that she wanted to wear a pair of Easter shoes to school...now Easter was long past and the shoes did not fit anymore but she was determined.  So using my "parental wisdom" I decided to let her wear them...get blisters...learn the lesson...I didn't even think to pack an extra pair of shoes that day .  When I picked her up from school  the teacher requested a quick meeting in the office.  Unsuspecting, I went in and sat down and so began the gentle reprimand concerning the consequences of wearing shoes that don't fit!!!  Yikes, did I feel stupid! 


Nicole spent her elementary and middle school years at St. John Catholic School.  A very small school run by the habit-clad Sister Mary-Therese, Nicole became a part of an eclectic family and grew up both fearing and revering her teachers (she had a ruler-wielding nun in the second grade)!   She met her soul-mate at the beginning of middle school....Laura Brennan.  Laura's dad was in the Air Force and when they moved in around the corner from us and Laura ended up at St. John...it was like suddenly both family's had twins!!! The girls did everything together...including a very interesting year of competitive swimming for PCST.  Laura was a fish in the water....Nicole not so much...but we were proud of her hard work and she saw the season through to the end. They vacationed with each other's family and have fond memories of time spent in Hilton Head and a trip to see Phantom of the Opera for Nicole's 13th birthday.  Laura moved the summer before 8th grade and Nicole focused on thoughts of high school. 


She applied to the IB program at Rutherford High School and never looked back. She sang in the choir in high school, got very involved in our church youth group, played on the tennis team one season, worked in a law firm after school her junior and senior year, and met her future husband...David Conrad.  Academics was her obvious strength....and she graduated number one in her class.  Many schools pursued her but she followed her heart and went off to a small bible college just an hour from home.  In many ways this was her coming out year.  She realized by Thanksgiving that she wasn't where she needed to be.  We offered the option of changing schools in January but true to Nicole's nature she wanted to finish the year.  She came away from that year with a better understanding of herself. She had also met and solidified a friendship with two very dear girls.  She moved on to Samford University in Birmingham where she entered the English program...became an RA...continued her relationship with David....worked weekends at Abercrombie...and did what she does with such ease....soaks it all in and excels.


Remember I told you earlier that Nicole always "knew her mind?"  Well by this point she had begun making plans...I joke that she had a daily... weekly... monthly...all the way up to a five year plan. So she knew she was going to be in school for several years...and she knew she and David didn't want to wait until all the degrees were finished to get married.  So... with a deep breath and lots of planning, Nicole and David were married in a beautiful wedding ceremony on June 7, 2003.  Since then?  Well, let's see...David graduated from Beeson  Divinity School and began the process of looking for a job...Nicole graduated from Alabama with a masters in English and began teaching high school honors English at Briarwood Christian School. David started working at Samford University as an admissions counselor  and deciding that Birmingham was where they wanted to put down roots, they bought a house next door to their best friends.  Life was grand, but don't you know that Nicole is a planner, so it was back to school for her and finally....talk of a baby.   She graduated from Montevallo College last summer with a masters in Secondary Ed and adjusted to being pregnant!!!  Woohoo we were going to be grandparents!!!  This past school year has been one of adventure with teaching and preparations for Claire's arrival. 


 Nicole has moved into parenthood with abandon. I say that because my sweet daughter has always been such a planner and I am certain that she thought she would make plans concerning Claire and carry them out.  But what has happened has been so heartwarming to witness...this beautiful little girl has rocked her and David's world... and plans...well, they change.... and that is okay because that is part of  life!!
So to my oldest daughter, who has become one of my dearest friends, I say Happy Birthday. I hope your day is extra special.  I love you!!