TEENAGER IN THE HOUSE :)

RACHEL ELIZABETH DEAN

Rachel was born on June 6, 1996 @ 7:36 PM. She weighed 7 pounds 12 ounces and was 19 inches long. She was born 2 days over the due date. My water broke around 11:30 AM on the 6th. I delivered her at St. Marks Hospital with Catherine Wheeler as my doctor. They were so busy that she was delivered in a storage room at the hospital. She was such a good baby she slept through the night the first few days home from the hospital. She literally slept the first three weeks of her life day and night...I don't know if it was because it was summer and our apartment we lived in was hot but we loved it. It was so fun for us to be first time parents. We had a great time dressing Rachel up and playing house. Some other names we considered for Rachel were: Courtney, Ashley, Lindsey, Eliza, Rebecca, Bridget, Sadie, Chloe and Danielle. We couldn't decide so we narrowed it down to Lindsey, Rebecca and Rachel. We wrote down our top two choices and hoped that the same name would be on both lists. Luckily it worked out. Mike picked Rachel and Rebecca and I picked Lindsey and Rachel...so RACHEL it was. Rachel is such a joy to be around. She is very creative and keeps us entertained. She loves most sports and has a great heart. I love to have talks with her at night and consider her one of my BEST FRIENDS. We love you Rachel...Thanks for "13" great years...we can't wait for what is a head for you.

Mike graduated from the University of Utah on June 7th. I missed out on seeing him walk but he came to the hospital after and saw me and Rachel. When they gave him his diploma they announced he was a new daddy.
Rachel was blessed in my Grandma Ashton's dress... it is over 100 years old.She was such a chubby, happy baby :)Her preschool graduation...Kindergarten here I come.

1st day of Kindergarten. That was a big day at our house since she was our first to go to public school.Rachel loves, loves Diesel. He usually picks to sleep with Rachel at night. Watching her take care of Diesel makes me realize she will be such a good mom one day.

She loves to spend as much time as she can with Sydney and Zoe.

She also loves spending time with her cousins Annie and Lindsey.She truly is a CRAZY girl.

She has become a really good skiier...I almost can't keep up with her anymore.

I love to listen to her play the piano. She has had a great time taking lessons from Grandma Ruthie and getting to know her better.

She loves to play soccer.

She played Volleyball at Olympus Junior and loved learning the game.

We surprised her with a new cell phone for her birthday. I have to admit it will be nice for me to keep tabs on her. I don't know how our parents did it without us having cell phones. I got to where I would let her take mine alot and I would really miss having it so it is time for her to have her own.

I hope you have a HAPPY BIRTHDAY Rachel. Thanks for being such a great girl and friend. You make life so fun and interesting.

I LOVE YOU :)