Happy Birthday, C!

I admit, this is the picture that comes to mind when I think "C's birthday" - it's funny how parents can be there for nearly every single day of their kids' lives but the time still seems to move so quickly. The funniest part about this picture is that C just woke up. She hopped out of her bed, put on her "party clothes" (pants didn't gain favor for a few more months), and didn't even forget her hat. This was C's last birthday as an only child - obscured in this photo is my massive belly full of R who was born about 7 weeks later.

Although I rarely give her the full credit she deserves for her adaptability, C has been through many changes with K and me. She's lived in three houses, gone to three schools (if you include preschool which I absolutely do because it was so great), welcomed (for more generously than I think I might have if I were her) two siblings, gained and lost a few pets, gained and lost a few friends, and did it all with a quiet confidence that I adore. She was there from the beginning of my best (and worst) attempts at motherhood. Her little bro and sis are very fortunate to have come after her - she broke us in.

Twelve is hard to swallow. It seems so old. Then I consider the fact that she will be driving in four years. I met and fell in love with K when I was only 5 years older than she is now. College is 6 years away. If she wasn't starting to mature, I guess that would be far more worrisome than the fact that she is.

So, today, all 4' 9", 70-odd lbs of C are ready to be seen as someone other than the sparkly-hatted 3-year-old in my mind. I'll have to fake it for a while but every day she gives me more and more reason to believe that she'll be happily and successfully on her own all too soon.

but I'll take a few more tickle fights in the mean time.