our birthday gal...

{ NOW A TEENAGER }

Kerianne Jane was born on

Tuesday, September 3, 1996 at 11:45 pm

at St. Mark's Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Being three weeks early,

she weighed 8 lbs. 5 1/2 oz. and was 20" long.

She had blonde hair and big, dark blue eyes!

Some fav pics...

only 2 weeks old and already smiling!

one month - first Kiddie Kandid photo shoot
blessing day - 3 weeks old
two months

three months
four months (Kaisha 2 1/2 yrs)
first Easter - 6 months

always so happy - 7 months

the big "one year" birthday
daddy & his girls

(this totally shows Kerianne's personality!)

Your story...

Kerianne, we were absolutely thrilled to learn I was pregnant with you! I had suffered a miscarriage the day before Kaisha's first birthday, and then became pregnant with you shortly after. We were nervous that we would lose you, but everything was fine. Due to insurance reasons, I had to switch doctors during your pregnancy -- and he was, to say the least, horrible! It was a bad experience and I longed to go back to Dr. Lloyd (who had taken care of me with Kaish). As things turned out I was able to switch back to him, but that I had to deliver you at St. Mark's instead of Cottonwood Hospital. I was okay with that! Your pregnancy was wonderful. You were a very active baby! We made it through one of the hottest summers on record in Utah. Then September came. You weren't due until the end of Sept. but Dr. Lloyd was leaving to pick up his daughter from a mission. I had an appointment with him the morning of the day you were born, and he tried to help things progress - knowing that I was close and that we preferred to have him deliver you instead of someone else (he would be gone for two weeks!). After the appt., Dad and I went to Fashion Place Mall and became "mall walkers" for a couple of hours. I was having contractions and became uncomfortable. We tried to hang out in Salt Lake as long as we could, thinking you would come at any minute! We even went to the hospital, just to be sent home. After that we called Dr. Lloyd and he told us to go back. We did and they weren't too happy to see us! This nasty nurse did not want to admit me. She was giving us the hardest time and I was getting upset. I kept thinking that this was supposed to be one of the most wonderful moments of my life and I was miserable! Around 9:00pm, Dr. Lloyd came into the room, broke my water, and turned to the nurse and said, "Admit her!". Phew! It took him so long because he was delivering someone else at Cottonwood. Anyway, I watched NYPD Blue while the contractions began and then had an epidural. Well, long story short: it didn't quite work! I was in so much pain. They did it again, and only half of my body took. By this time it was too late. You were on your way! So I delivered you being able to feel half of it!! Dad and Grandma Kath were there and you came quick. We hadn't found out what you were so it was exciting to hear them say, "Oh, it's another girl!" I'll admit that I was relieved! I knew how to take care of a {girl} and we already had a ton of clothes! You were so beautiful and really didn't cry much. I didn't see you until the next morning. I was exhausted and in a lot of pain, so they kept you in the nursery (since you were going to be bottle-fed). The next morning Dad brought me flowers and Kaisha, and we enjoyed you and a ton of visitors all day. We left the hospital that evening. If there's one thing that I remember most about you as a baby, it's your total disinterest in binkies! You wanted nothing to do with them. But you sure loved sucking on an empty bottle! Sometimes that was the only way to soothe you.

I think your name is very unique! Kaisha and I took a second trip to New York to visit Aunt Lori (well, you were there too since I was five months pregnant!). Lori and I went to see Les Miserables on Broadway and while walking through the hallway I saw a sign that announced a stand-in for that performance. The name was "Kerianne". I thought it was gorgeous, as did a lady walking in front of me (who was pregnant, too)! I thought it would be cute to have two "K" kids and Dad loved the name, so we started thinking of a boy name also. You were named "Jane" after your great-great-grandmother Erma Jane Bell Thompson (Grandma T.)! I'll never forget how thrilled she was to hear that! You were very special to her :)

Kerianne, you have always been so happy and outgoing. You are a bright light in our family. I love that you still have gorgeous blonde hair (amongst the rest of us brunettes!) and that you're the only one that's left-handed! And now you're officially a TEENAGER! We are so proud of you and are excited to see how you grow and progress.

We love you, Ker-Bear (chubba-in-the-tubba!)