Sister, Nieces and Nephew

My sister, Danita (Dee), is probably the closest person to me than anyone. She is older than me by 2-1/2 years, and we were always close, but I believe we became extremely close when our Mother died. Although we were older--21 and 19--when our Mother died, I believe you always need your mother, and when things got tough for us, me and Dee leaned on each other a lot. For example, when Dee became a mother herself for the first time, she needed someone to lean on for support...that someone was me. Although I didn't have any of the answers she was looking for, just being her support helped us get through many of those questions (and late-night feedings)! When I got married, it was an emotional time for me without my Mother, but my sister was there for me, supporting me and making me feel better whenever I was down. Dee has had some tough times to go through herself, but she has always come out on top like a shining star. She is an inspiration to me and I have a lot of respect for her. She is so important to me I honestly don't know what I'd do without her.

Phylicia is my oldest niece. She is such a beautiful girl both inside and out and has dark-blonde hair with red highlights and big, blue eyes. She is your typical nine-year-old and is starting to get into that "independent stage" where she doesn't need anyone telling her what to do or how to do it. She's so smart too, I remember it never took long to teach her anything when she was younger--she was like a sponge. I remember teaching her how to snap her fingers and it took her only a few tries before she had it down pat!  Same thing goes for when Dee taught her the alphabet. Phylicia is also very athletic; she is solid muscle for being such a skinny little thing! I am also Phylicia's Godmother, and because I was my sister's birthing coach, I got to experience the miracle of birth with Phylicia. It was one of the most exciting and beautiful experiences of my life (I cried)!

Michelle is my second niece (yes, she's named after me), and she too is a beautiful little girl inside and out. She is very sensitive and yet your typical redhead with big, blue eyes. She is mischievous and wild, but so lovable--it's hard to stay mad at her. She is six years old, and just started Kindergarten this year. I'm happy to say she loves school and is learning computer skills. She likes to have fun and enjoys making friends (and this past summer she has taken an interest in volleyball--hmmm, I wonder where she got that from)!  I was lucky enough to see Michelle be born, too. Michelle's birth scared me though, because the umbilical cord was tied in a knot so the doctors and nurses were in quite a hurry to get her born. Thank God everything turned out ok!


Nathaniel (Nathan) is my only nephew and is the youngest of the three kids. He is a handsome little boy with big, blue eyes and blond hair. I think he knows he's handsome, too, because whenever he's in trouble or wants his own way he lays on the old charm (pretty smart for a five year old)! Nathan, too, is very sensitive. Dee tells me all the time that he gets upset when she opens the car door for him and then walks up to the house door--he wants her to stay with him and walk up to the door together!  I did not see Nathan be born, but I am his Godmother too. Nathan was born through cesarean because his ubilical cord was wrapped around his neck two times! Again, God has been very good to us by allowing Nathan to be born healthy!

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