Saying Good Bye

This has been a rough week for my family. My baby brother, Zach, left for college yesterday. I have been feeling quite sad and nostalgic. I was almost 8 years old when he was born. There were no other kids between us. I was SO excited to learn that I would be getting a new baby brother or sister. The months of waiting seemed to last forever. When it got closer to the big day, I went with my mom to one of her midwife appointments. I listened in awe to the sound of my new brother or sister's heartbeat...

As the day approached, a lot of changes went on in the house. One change was that I was bought a new bed. This bed would not only be mine, but the new baby would be born on it, as my mom and dad's bed was a water bed. I know what you are thinking, "Ewww!" right? But we did all that was needed to keep it from being befouled. I was ridiculously excited by the fact that the baby would be born on my bed, and that I would get to see it. (Incidentally, for all parents of daughters, letting your daughter witness a birth, is a sure-fire way to guarantee that said daughter will be a good girl in her teens.)

Summer ended. I went back to the first day of school with one of my older brothers, Brad. When mom dropped us off, she told us that the new baby would probably be born that night! Little did I know in my haze of almost 8 year old excitement, that she was in labor and feeling a great deal of pain already. I skipped blithely off to school, to spread the news that I would soon be a big sister.

I stayed up all night. My dad tried to get me to sleep for a while in his and mom's bed, but I was having none of that. After over 17 and a half hours of labor, Zachary David Victor was welcomed into the world. He was born at 12:02 am on September the sixth. (I got out of the second day of school ;) He was 22 and a half inches long and weighed in at a whopping 9 pounds 13 ounces. My mom had three other kids before Zach, and she thought she was all done, when only his head was out! BIG baby... I was the proudest big sister in the world. My heart was captured, forever.
Yep, this picture was taken minutes after Zach was born. And despite the sleepy, half confounded look on my face, I think you can see the immense love and joy shining through...

Over the years, my relationship with Zach has had its ups and downs. What sibling relationship doesn't? But I have been so blessed to be a part of his life and to have him in mine. I cried the day he got his driver's licence. I couldn't believe how old he was! I mean, hadn't he just gone to his first day of kindergarten? That first day, when I forgot to pick him up at the bus stop so he had to ride all the way to the bus garage and then back to school where mom had to pick him up... On the whole though, ours has been a very close relationship. Closer than most brother/sister relationships I think. We have been there for each other, comforted each other, laughed hysterically over stupid movies, and yelled with mirth while bashing each other black and blue. Well actually, I punch him as hard as I can making little or no impact, while he barely touches me and I end up black and blue. They boy is ridiculously strong... I was unbelievably excited the day he told me he was auditioning for the high school concert choir. I loved going to his games and stuff, but I couldn't really relate to his love of sports. Choir was something I understood, and that brought us even closer. And in choir, he met his amazing girlfriend Nicole. I have always been rather possessive of Zach, but Nicole more than meets with my approval. :) Then, this day happened...

Graduation day.

(Above with Nicole, Below with all sibs and mom)

Seeing as how I cried when he got his licence, you can guess how this day went... So we have spent the summer, trying to see each other as much as possible, which, let's face it, hasn't been much. We both have been extremely busy. Then all of the sudden, on Friday, he was packing for college!
A bunch of us went down with him. He is attending Pacific Lutheran University. He had to be down 2 weeks early for football. We helped him get his stuff into his dorm, then went for a stroll around the campus be fore going to the football BBQ.

(He's checking to see if the light bulb is broken, in case you were wondering)

Strolling through campus

It was such a hard day... I am so proud of the man that he has become. He is so honorable, loving, strong, intelligent, talented, and kind. It was so hard to say good bye. But that is what we had to do. This is the good bye moment:

You can see the tears threatening to break out... I love you Zach, and I miss you like crazy already. I am so proud of you and who you are. I can't wait to see you again.