These pictures are of Sarah at one day old, three years old, and nine years old (just a few weeks ago at the White Swan hotel in Guangzhou).

My first baby turned 10 years old at 6:59 a.m. this morning. I remember how worried I was when she didn't cry right away after birth; but she was fine. She just didn't see the need to make a fuss. Nor had she seen the need for any great hurry on her way out; I had begun to labor at 3 p.m. the day before. Little newborn Sarah was pink and perfect, with a little round head and peach fuzz for hair. (Compare that to Genevieve, who only took three hours to arrive start to finish, but came out blue and purple - as if she'd struggled the whole way out - and Miss Genevieve let her presence be KNOWN from the very start!)

Sarah has been with me longer than anybody else in my little family of 5 has been (including Dave - I met him when I was the single mother of an almost 3-year-old Sarah), and Sarah is such a special girl. I've been blessed with at least one child who is relatively calm and easy-going. She is kind and considerate of others' feelings, and swallows her tenderhearted tears too often. She is obedient, and talks about making good choices. She is so intelligent, and blushes at parent-teacher conferences when she is being praised.

Each of my children has come to me in a unique way. Sarah was a surprise, but she was also the greatest gift of my life. When I fell down, she was my reason to get back up again. She was sometimes the only sweetness when everything else was sour. She made me the luckiest mommy in the world.

So - happy birthday, my darling girl. I'm so glad you were born. Thank you for being my daughter. I love you more than anything.