Oh Daniel...

10 years ago on this very day another little baby brother was brought into my life. I will always remember Daniel's whole pregnancy/birth experience. First off we were in Nebraska which was a far cry from my sweet home of tree filled Minnesota. Second my mom became very sick (which is what happens when she is pregnant..all 9 months) which meant that I now assumed the role of cleaning, laundry etc. I just remember my mom crawling out of her bedroom showing me how to do the laundry, which required me sitting on top of the washer when it was spinning the clothes. I remember random people that I didn't know very well coming in and out all the time with food and helping clean our house. I remember sitting at the kitchen table one afternoon doing my homework while my mom and dad where in the kitchen arguing on what the name of the baby would be if it was a girl. Finally they both looked at me and said Laura you are going to draw a name out of the hat 3 time and whichever name wins 2 out of three that's what it will  be. I also remember my parents telling me and Nate that if it was a girl I would share a room with her and if it was a boy he would share a room with Nate. I remember every night before going to bed praying and praying and praying that it was a girl who would want to play barbies and dress-up with me. Of course by the time 9 months was up I was 6 1/2 and we were getting ready to move to Duluth, MN.

I will never forget the day my mom went into labor with Daniel, we were picked up from school by some people from church. I remember talking to my dad right before bed, him saying that we had a baby brother but, we couldn't come see him till the next morning. I feel very bad for the girl who was probably 16, who had to put up with me that night. I was of course 6 and had been anxiously waiting for this moment for months and now the baby was here but, I couldn't go see it yet! I remember starting out sleeping on the floor in this girls room, than I woke her up probably at like midnight....she than let me sleep in her bed with her, I still couldn't sleep so we went and woke her parents up they let us sleep in the living room, but guess what I still couldn't sleep. Finally probably around 3am I woke the girl up again and she brought me to sleep with Nate. I remember curling up next to my younger brother and falling fast asleep. Of course the next morning we got to go see Daniel Harry Sahlberg in the hospital. I was a little disappointed that it was a boy and not a girl but, lets just say now I am very glad I don't have to share a room with a little 10 year old girl. (I am now thanking God for not listening to those prayers I prayed at age 6) 

I am blessed beyond measure to have a brother like Daniel. Yah he does get quite annoying from time to time and yah he back talks occasionally and yah he teases me like any normal ten year old brother would. But without Daniel in our lives I don't know what we would do. I know that he loves me to death even when he won't let me give him a goodbye kiss when the bus pulls up in the morning. He is the most creative and athletic 10 year old I know. He is always laughing and smiling. Even though he is only ten he checks up on all the people (guys) I hang out with and makes sure they are nice and treat me right. As a matter of fact last night at dinner he folded his hands on the table looked me right in the eye and said Laura I think it is time you get a boyfriend...but, not that guy from the coffee shop. Oh Daniel.....so full of humor and joy. 

So yes I am ever so glad that 10 years ago today my little brother Daniel came into this world.