AnDy!!

I feel like blogging and it happens to be my brothers birthday,

so he'll be my subject. :)

Today is my lil bro Andy's birthday. He is 19! Wow! He is the baby of the family, the last of seven. I was SO excited when I found out my mom was going to have a baby. There is six years separating him and the next oldest. My parents always knew there was to be one more, but I don't think anticipated having to wait for him for so long. I remember my mom was a ways along when they told us. My dad left for work at an extremely early hour, like 4:30 or something. My parents got us all out of bed for a family meeting before dad left for work one morning and told us. I was eleven. My dad said something like, "someone got your mother pregnant" I don't know if it was the early hour or what...but is that any way to tell your kids? Your eleven year old daughter? Well, for our family I guess it was, because we laughed and laughed , and continued to laugh about it for years.

Everyone was so happy!!

{Such a CUTE baby!!}
The day my mom went in to labor with him it was my oldest sister Amy's seminary graduation. She sat through the graduation in some heavy labor, she did not want to miss it! (not heavy breathing labor...but well in to it :) So, of course my mom made it to the hospital and had him. She stayed for five days, and he was not even a c-section.
I think she was trying to gear her self up for this 7 kids business! ;)

{Me and Andy on MY graduation day}

I remember the day he was born and going to the hospital to see Andy for the first time. The doctor was in the room when we all filed in. I don't think we actually filed though. We are a rambunctious bunch! The doctor had a surprised look on his face see the pack of us and politely told my mom he'd just come back a little later.

{Prest, Andy and Me on HIS graduation day. May 2008}

Andy's name was not yet decided. It was narrowed down to two. I remember my mom making lists of names and finding them around the house. It was such a great time for our family!! Anyway, it was down to either Zachary or Andy. My mom loved Andrew, but his name needed to end in the "ie" or "y" sound. All of us kids' names end that way. (Amy, Lindy, Julie, Carrie, Jeremy, Timothy, and Andy) it was not done on purpose until Andy though. So we took a vote there at the hospital. I loved Zachary, so that was my vote. Even though I was out voted, Andy is a great name. However, I decided then and there that I was going to call him Andrea. And I did-- A LOT. Poor kid!

{One of my favorite pictures: Dylan and Andy}
I loved helping mom with the baby. I would change his diaper (oh, soooo many diapers!) make his bottle, and even get up in the night with him sometimes. I loved having him sit with me at church and taking him out when he fussed. I was just pretending I was his little mommy I guess! Just after he was born, I bore my testimony for the first time, I was just so happy and excited for him to be my little brother! His middle name is Charles. After my grandpa on my dads side. Andy is so lucky to be his name sake. My grandpa was the kindest man! Truly one of the best men I have ever known. My grandpa died when Andy was only six months old.

I am so happy they had a chance to meet.

When Andy learned to talk I would make him say all sorts of silly things like "I'm your huckleberry" from off the movie Tombstone. I dressed him up as a girl and did all those silly things an older sister would do. Thanks for tolerating me all these years Andy!

I love you, and Happy Birthday!!