I remember when Allyson told us that she was finally having a baby - I was hoping and praying for a little girl that I would be able to spoil. With 3 boys, I wanted to buy pretty things and help dress them up cute. When Allyson got so sick with the pregnancy and Chloe was in real danger of having a less than ideal life, I remember praying to help bring her to this world safely and without permanent reprecautions. I was there when Chloe cried for the first time and I remember being so excited and grateful for this little girl who was overdue by 10 days, beautiful and screaming her lungs out. For the past 5 years, she has been a permanent fixture in our home. She loves our boys and calls them her brothers. She tells us "I know their my cousins but I still call them my brothers". She has sleep overs at our house almost every Friday night and we go get donuts on Saturday morning. She always reminds Uncle Brian the exact kind that she wants and oh, she wants them in a seperate bag. We have only been getting them that way for the past 3 years but she still reminds us everytime. We took Chloe with us to Disneyland in April and Brian and I have commented many times how much fun we had with her. She brought a new element to our trip that we had never had with 3 boys. We did the fairy princess makeover, Cinderella's castle, lunch with Ariel and friends and autographs with all the princesses. Chloe has a great love of life and getting to watch that with her has been a true gift that I treasure.
When Allyson told us after 5 years that they were having another baby - again, I prayed for another little girl because Allyson has SOOOO many clothes that they needed to get used so more. Again, when Allyson got sick with her pregnancy, I prayed that Dr. Beck would take better care of her than her previous doctor and that Peyton would not have to suffer. Allyson bore much of the brunt of this pregnancy and Peyton seemed to cope better. Again, I was there when Peyton came into the world after many, MANY hours of labor and she too came in telling her own version of the story and just as beautiful as Chloe. In fact, in many regards, they looked like the same baby. We love her so much and I am very grateful for the opportunity to spend as much time with her as I am able to. I am grateful that we are able to live so close to them and that we have an incredible bond with them. Both these girls hold a very special place in my heart and again, I count them as 2 of my most precious treasures.
