happy birthday baby seester

I can't believe you are 21. I swear it was just yesterday that we were building pirate ship forts on the back lawn, playing school at grandma's house, and making forts under the kitchen table so we could spend stormy afternoons cuddled in front of the fire reading to each other. How did we grow up so fast?

When we were little I used to freak out that mom and dad had left us and I would have to raise you by myself (apparently I had abandonment issues ..). This was a constant worry for me, not because it would have been a burden to take care of you, but because I didn't think I was capable of raising you the way you deserved to be raised. Luckily, we never had to be in that situation, and you have grown up to be such an amazingly caring and beautiful lady on your own. Remember when you did karate? And synchronized swimming? And wore clogs for the first ten years of your life? You never cared what your friends did or what was cool- you always did what YOU wanted and your friends were forced to follow. You still emanate this sense of independence that others are drawn to and I admire you so much for growing up into your own, confident person.

A lot has changed since we were little, but I'm so happy that we still have a strong relationship. You are my baby seester and always will be, no matter how old you turn, but I'm also so happy that you are also one of my very best friends. I cant wait to experience this time in our lives with you and to see where it takes you!

I love you to the tippy top of the moon and back one million times.