She's 23, Seriously??!?!?!

Happy Birthday sounds so very insignificant, especially when I'm wishing you more than just a HAPPY birthday. I want you to have the kind of birthday that is the kind where you fall over drunk from sugar rush and from over eating Monkey Bread. I want you to wake up with a smile on your face and go to sleep with a smile on your face just because you are celebrating you! We're celebrating you too!

My world has never been the same since you were placed in my arms 23 years ago. I remember the awe of what it felt like to be a mom. No longer would I define myself as just a wife but a wife and a mom. Your presence signified to me that I would never ever live the life I used to live and I haven't - all because of you.



The very first time you made my heart stop when you swallowed the nickel, to the time you talked endlessly about going to school, only to cry every day for two weeks straight because you missed your mommy will always be treasured memories.

Others lives have also been changed because of you. I'm sure you were the very first three year old that memorized the eye chart. The doctor thought you had 20/20 vision until you said, "I didn't see it, I memorized it." I'm sure new methods were born from that very experience.



Your addiction to gum of every sort was a blessing in disguise. It was often used as a method of bribery. Priceless! (I'm shocked you didn't marry the shareholder of Bubble Tape).

You dreamed simple dreams, made up beautiful songs, wrote wonderful stories and always made me smile. (You still do.)

When asked what you wanted to be when you grew up, your answer remained the same for years and years. "I want to be a singer, dancer and princess." Well, one of those three came true. You ARE a princess. You have taken the world head on and shown people that you are your own person, creating your own brand and seeing beauty through your own eyes.



Even better yet, you've been the greatest big sister a little sister could ever hope for. From the time your baby sister could recognize truly what a hero was, you were it. She walked in your footsteps, gave you her gum (sometimes unwillingly), watched Annie 10 billion times, listened to you sing Tomorrow, 8 Quadrillion times, humored you when you made her green eggs and would threaten to beat up anyone that hurt her big sister. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for still being her hero and more.




Even now, being so far away from you, you've been our biggest cheerleader, encouraging us to go for it. I just know that you wouldn't have encouraged us so much unless the biggest surprise yet was that you and my son in law were moving here to Oregon along with us. (Sorry if I spoiled your Christmas surprise...but we'll pretend to be surprised.)

When you blow out the candles on your birthday cake, remember how loved and cherished you are. We WILL celebrate your birthday when you are here with us, promise!!



I love you, Baby! Happy Birthday to my first baby girl.