3. Genre: Narrative/Memoir
The Day You Arrived
A few days before the
arrival!
The wait begins…
At 10:00 AM on June 27, 2012, Ryan and I arrived at the doctor’s office for my
scheduled Obstetrician appointment. I had suffered from back labor contractions for about
thirty hours, so I was glad when the doctor admitted me to Labor and Delivery! Emotions of
excitement, nervousness, and anxiety engulfed me. Lying in the hospital bed in the Labor and
Delivery room was nerve-racking. IVs were connected to my arm, and a baby heart monitor
and contraction monitor were placed around my belly. I absolutely loved hearing my
daughter’s heartbeat! I wasn’t too fond of the contraction monitor though. After each
contraction, Ryan observed the severity of the contraction and exclaimed, “Oh, that was a big
one!” “Yeah, I know! I can feel it!” I angrily said in return.
Time moved slowly as I anxiously waited for my daughter to arrive. Each hour the nurse
came to check for dilation, finally at 11:20 PM she questioned, “Okay, are you ready to
delivery?” “YES!” I exclaimed. At this point, all the pain from the past day and half erased
from my mind. As the doctor came into the room, my motivation elevated and I began to
focus!. “1, 2, 3, PUSH!” the nurse chanted.
At 11:58 PM, I heard the most beautiful sound, my daughter’s cry! Ryan cut the
umbilical cord and by midnight I held her in my arms. I had anticipated what this moment
would feel like, I thought I would cry. But when placed in my arms all I could do is smile! My
thought at that moment, “the pain was totally worth it!” Emory Olivia Worden had arrived and I
am the happiest mother alive!
4. Genre: Announcement
Birth Announcement
she’s here!
Emory Olivia
Born June 27, 2012 at 11:58pm
7 pounds, 4 ounces
20 inches long
With love from the proud parents,
Ryan & Laura Worden
5. Genre: Family Tree
Family Tree
Larry Worden
“Grandpa”
Cheryl Worden
“Grandma”
Ryan Worden
“Papaw”
Cheryl Doolittle
“Grandma Cheryl”
Laura D. Worden
Father
Mother
Emory
Photo of tree retrieved from
http://myktis.com/2013/08/free-trees-for-northminneapolis/
David Doolittle
6. Genre: Informational/Journal
August 5-11, 2012
Trip to Eupora, Mississippi
October 19-22, 2012
Trip to Lake Lure, North Carolina
Dear Journal,
Dear Journal,
A few days ago, my father called to inform me
Doodle (my grandfather) had been placed under
hospice care. With this news, I decided to drive to
Eupora, Mississippi with 6 weeks old Emory so she
could meet her great-grandfather before he passed. I
packed up the car and we got on the road, making an
overnight stop at my Aunt and Uncle’s home in
Newnan, Georgia. While there, Emory got to meet
her aunt, uncle, and cousins for the first time. The
next morning, August 6th, as I packed up our things
to finish the drive to Eupora, I received another
phone call from my father. He informed me Doodle
passed away that morning. I was heartbroken I
didn’t get to say goodbye to him, and Emory wasn’t
able to meet him before he passed. Even though
Emory didn’t get to meet him, she was able to meet
her great-grandmother, Granny, and also lots of
extended family that she would not have seen for
quite some time. It was good to be able to spend this
time with family and I believe Emory brought
happiness to the somber occasion.
Unlike the first trip, this trip to Lake
Lure, North Carolina was a planned one.
My husband, Ryan, was able to go with us
this time. Ryan and I had visited Lake
Lure a few times before becoming parents
and we really enjoyed the scenery, so we
decided to take Emory. Even though at 3
½ months old she wouldn’t really care
about the view. Ryan’s parents met us
there and we had a great time just hanging
out and enjoying nature.
7. Genre: Informational/Journal
October 22-27, 2012
Trip to Mississippi
December 27, 2012-January 3, 2013
Trip to Mena, Arkansas
Dear Journal,
Dear Journal,
I wanted to visit my family in
Mississippi again before school started
back. Family and friends were excited
to see how much Emory, now 4 months
old, had grown since our last visit.
After a few days at my Nanny’s house
in Amory, we went and stayed at my
Granny’s home in Eupora. It was a
good visit with the family. Both of
Emory’s great-grandmothers were
smitten with her!
Ryan and I decided to drive with
Emory, now 6 months old, to Mena,
Arkansas, which is a fifteen-hour drive!
Surprisingly, Emory did very well! While in
Mena, Emory got to meet extended family on
her dad’s side, including her greatgrandmother, Jodie, who lives in Texas. This
trip involved a lot of firsts for Emory! She
saw and touched snow, which she didn’t like
too much probably because of the coldness.
She also saw and sat on Molly the donkey! I
always wondered what she thought about
this animal; did she think it was a big dog?
Emory also got her first taste of solid food!
She ate steamed carrots and seemed to really
enjoy them! It was so fun to watch her facial
expressions change as she discovered this
new texture.
8. Genre: Informational/Journal
March 2-9, 2013
Vacation in Gatlinburg, Tennessee
July 6-13, 2013
Vacation in Hilton Head, South Carolina
Dear Journal,
Dear Journal,
Emory’s first week-long vacation took
place in the Great Smokey Mountains when she
was 8 months old! Emory’s Papaw and Nana
(my father and his girlfriend) met us there to
enjoy this time. A day after we got there, Emory
crawled for the first time! It was so wonderful
that not only our family got to see this milestone,
but that her extended family did as well. The
resort we stayed at had an indoor water park
that we went to a few times throughout the
week. Emory freaked out when we put her in
the water, for she had never swam in a pool
before! She didn’t cry, she just gave us this look
of “what is going on?” Once she got use to the
water, she began to have fun and splash around.
We also visited Ripley’s Aquarium of the
Smokies. Emory seemed very interested in the
aquatic life. This was a great first vacation and I
hope we will get a chance to go again!
Ryan’s parents and his brother’s
family met us in Hilton Head during this
vacation. This vacation excited me because
we not only got to spend time with family,
but it was also Emory’s first beach vacation!
The day after we got there, we went to the
beach. Emory, now 12 months old, seemed
a little unsure about the waves in the ocean,
bending down to touch the water as it
washed over her feet. She also did not like
sitting on or touching the sand with her
hands. By the end of the vacation though,
she excitedly stomped through the water
and played in the sand! Other adventures
in Hilton Head for Emory involved riding a
trolley and on the back of a bike, both of
which she seemed to love! I look forward to
our next beach vacation!
9. Genre: Timeline
First Year Milestones
Rolls over
one way
Laughs
Holds
head up!
Rolls all the
way over
Pulls up to standing
position
“Uh-oh” First word
Sits up
used in context
Crawls
unaided
Cruising
Walking
Claps
Dances
hands
Smiles
1
3
2
5
4
7
6
# of Months Old
9
8
11
10
12
10. Genre: Graffiti
Your Words and Gestures…
m
Mom
ki
ss
hugs
meo
es
w
g Dada
o
d
fpointing
oo
Uh No W
mo
-O my Thanks! re
h
ah
Mama
mw
Mm
y
11. Genre: Persuasive/Editorial
Let Them Play!
Why is important to let children play? The obvious answer is that play is how children
learn! I know some of you reading this may see “play” as a meaningless use of time,
when in fact it’s not! From the beginning of life children learn by playing. Play gives
children the opportunity to explore and it enhances their development in all
developmental domains. Still don’t believe me? The following is a list of developmental
domains and how play contributes to them:
Motor Development: manipulating objects increases their coordination
Language Development: enhances their receptive and expressive communication
Cognitive Development: fosters problem-solving when learning how things work
Social-Emotional Development: interacting with others teaches children how to get along
with others and it enables the use of empathy
Another question you may ponder is if play, in the form of recess, should stop in grade
school? NO! Play is not only useful for development in the early years of life, it continues
throughout life. As an adult, we don’t consider ourselves to be “playing” when we learn
new things. But that’s what play is, it’s learning by doing!
Let them play!
12. About the Author:
Hi, I’m Laura Worden! I currently attend the
University of North Carolina at Charlotte pursuing a
degree in Elementary Education. When presented
this project requirement at the beginning of the
semester, I immediately considered my daughter as
the purpose and intended audience. My hope is that
she will view it when she is grown and also want to
share it with her own family!
Thanksgiving 2012
