The Patterson Family: Happy 18th Birthday McKenzie

18 years ago today at 2:18 p.m.
McKenzie Spring Patterson
was born at American Fork Hospital.
She was born exactly 2 weeks early and
weighed a whopping 9lbs. and was 21" long!
It was a very good thing she was 2 weeks early.
The thing I remember most about her birth is that the Doctor
could not remember what we were having (we knew it was a girl)
but he didn't have it written down so he did not want us to tell him.
He said he was really good at just looking at their face
when only the head is out and being able to tell if it was a boy or girl.
He explained that girls had an angelic look about them,
and boys well, they just looked like boys.
So with only her head out he announced that it was a BOY!
My thought was "oh my gosh! We have an ugly girl"
When she was born I absolutely thought she was beautiful.
But James informed me that she was not!
Her whole life James has told her the story of the
Ugly Duckling that turned into the beautiful swan!!!!
What kind of dad says that about his child!
To this day I still think she was a beautiful baby!
And she has grown more beautiful through the years!
About her name....... James wanted to name her Spring.
So then we would have Summer, Autumn and Spring.
Normally, I just let James have his way, but with this I put my foot down.
Reading through the obituaries one day, (yes I am one of those people who read the obit's everyday) anyway there was a little girl who had died with the name McKenzie!
I had never heard of it before, and it reminded me of where I had grown up in Oregon.
They have a lot of things with the name McKenzie.
So I talked James into it.
As she got older and started school it became apparent that,
that was a popular name in 1992!!!!
I think she probably wishes her name was Spring!
I can't believe that she is turning 18, will be graduating this year and moving away to college!
It nearly breaks my heart!!!!
Some things about McKenzie.............
She is very tenderhearted and compassionate,
she is quick to say she is sorry...
yet she has a strong will and not a lot of patience!
(especially when it comes to her little brothers and her dad)
She is kind of a perfectionist
She expects a lot from herself, which is good and bad!
She is a very good student. Her GPA is a 3.9 something......
She has always wanted to go into medicine,
that is until this year when she did an internship at the hospital and
realized the sight of blood makes her feel faint.
Not even the sight of blood, just looking for a vein............
Instead she has decided to go into nutrition and exercise science.
McKenzie has danced since she was 3 years old.
Basically Dance is her life! When she isn't dancing,
she is thinking about dancing!
Even though she is graceful and all in the dance world,
in the real world she can be a klutz!
I can't tell you how many times she has fallen down the stairs!
McKenzie is really blond. Most people who did not know her when she was younger,
don't know that. I can't even remember when she started going dark.
Around 9th grade I think. I love her with dark hair!
It would be weird if she went back to blond.
McKenzie loves to talk!
I never have to worry about what is going on in her life.
I get a daily report about her, her friends, her friends friends,
and anything else she can think of to tell me...
Whether I want to hear it or not.......but actually, I love it!
And I love McKenzie and just can't imagine our home or our lives without her!!!

I don't know what James was talking about! She was the cutest baby ever!
(it is surprising how much this picture and especially the top picture look like Aspen)

McKenzie with Grandpa the Fireman!
That is what they all use to call him.
It was easier to say and easier to remember than Grandpa "Stoneberg"

This is my all time favorite Halloween Costume!
I still have it. Now all I need is a granddaughter to wear it!

I love this picture of McKenzie even though she wasn't smiling.
There is just something thoughtful and soft about it.
I think she looks a little like Noah in it.
It is her 1st grade School Picture.

"THEN"
Some things never change!!!!!
"NOW"

She did Cheerleading in 6th and 7th grade.
She stopped because she just really wanted to Dance!!!!

The other day McKenzie said that we had no pictures of her and I together!
Well, SURPRISE! I found one!! I am not sure she will like this one though!

This was taken at Summers wedding!

McKenzie with Steven Welch at Sadie Hawkins.
They have been friends since they were 5.
For some reason they thought it would be funny to dress up like pioneers.
They even carried around a doll like it was their baby!
This is their first "Welch" family photo!!!