Happy Birthday Jessie Lou

Toady is my "baby" sister's birthday. I say baby, because to me she will always be my first baby, but in reality she is a mother to her own adorable baby boy.

When I was 9 years old my mom told us she was pregnant, and I was ecstatic. I didn't remember when my brother Joey was born (he's only 20 months younger than me) so this would be my first experience with a baby in the house. I was so excited that I even helped name her. I especially remember the day that she came home from the hospital. I just sat and stared at her for hours, and I fell in love.

Over the next 10 years, Jessica was my little sidekick. I took her everywhere, I dressed her, I played with her, I adored her. She was my half-sister, but you would never have known it. I treated her as much like my child as my sister, and I was ferociously protective of her. Once, when she was in elementary school, she went to the beach with her friend and got sunburned on her back. I was so mad at her friend's parents for letting it happen, and I laid her on the floor and covered her back with a cool wet towel to soothe the heat. I sat there for hours replacing the towel as it got warm, and the next day the burn was better.

When I was 20, I had a baby of my own. Jessica was 11, and she stepped right in like a big sister. To this day she still mentors and loves Alyssa, as well the rest of her nieces and nephews.

Jessica married a spectacular man, Derrick, who loves her as much as I do, and they have a beautiful son, Dexter. Jessica is such a phenomenal wife and mother. She is sweet, active, organized, responsible, and spunky enough to be strong, but loving enough to not be mean. Jessica has become a woman who I am proud not only to call my sister, but my friend.

I love you Jessie Lou, Happy Birthday.