My baby is 13. Holy crap!

Seriously, she was 2, like yesterday, wasn't she? I don't even want to think about the fact that the adorable girl in the background is going to be driving soon. It's been quite a ride. Nothing is ever dull with this kid. I blame her for most of my gray hair and I credit her with many of my happiest moments in the last 13 years (I'm not a happy pregnant person, so she doesn't get extra credit for those 39 weeks. In fact, she owed me for all the barfing, worrying, skin stretching, general mayhem, not to mention a pretty epic labor... a debt she repaid within the first 5 minutes of her life!).

For those of you planning for your children, plotting their futures, charting their courses, let me say "Aren't you cute!" -- having a kid like C has taught me that there is no plan, no chart, and no course that can ever come anywhere close to matching up to the dreams our kids have for themselves. I feel very grateful that she's beaten that into me early so I can relieve myself of the burden of planning and watch it all unfold. With an open heart (and wallet), Mr. K and I are taking C's Wild Ride, and, as long as we have our seatbelts securely fastened and lay off the cotton candy, it's mighty fun!

True, it has its moments of ABMP (that's Adolescent BitchManic Psychosis to the uninitiated), but some people call that spunk, and we could all (almost... see C's little sister, A) use a little more of that! I can't wait to see what the rest of her "teens" have to offer (or maybe I'm not at all ready... again, planning is for the delusional types).

In the tradition of Amy Poehler's hilarious and yet kinda touching Time 100 speech:



I'm feeling especially grateful to all the people who have made it possible for us to raise C (+2) while still having some freedom to explore our careers (or in my case, "flail" might be a better term), take bike rides, pee alone, and sometimes even go an a nice date. So, thank you UCC, Natalie, Fay, Mary, Bacca, (a few kinda crummy babysitters in the middle), Andy, every single (non shitty) teacher, Miss Susan, Staci, Grandma, Grandpa, and assorted friends and family who have enriched her life and ours. It really does take a village... (or at least a fun-loving co-ed with pockets full of candy).