Fourteen

She's the caboose. When she arrived we had this calming knowledge that everyone had finally shown up. I knew she was the tail end. So I held her longer, smelled her fresh baby skin and kissed her tiny baby toes. I soaked her in.

I still find myself trying to soak her in. But from a distance of course. Teenager and all. I watch her with my mother heart and catalog every smile, every eye roll and every "Love You" as she walks out the door. More often than not I find myself sneaking a peek at her humming along with headphones on.

She has attitude for miles. #whatever. But no matter how much she argues or how much she yells, I still see my tag-a-long toddler who adored me and I adored her. And now, at 14? She has my heart. All of it. For all time.

She's a good friend, a great sister and a clever organizer. She loves to chew ice and sleep late. She can't wait until her braces are off. She is my everything. All the time.

She's a part of my very heartbeat. She completes this family. And forever just wouldn't be the same without her. She is our joy.

Have the loveliest of birthdays #3.
Love You Lots So Many