My darling baby. I didn't dare hope that you would be a girl. Another boy would have been fine. Now you were here and 4 days old and I was so thrilled with you.
My funny bunny. You were dressed like this because you wanted to do everything your big brother did. We dressed you up and sent you out with Daddy and Tim for your first Halloween at 17 months old. You really liked your M&M's.
My sweet 2 year old girl. This is everyone's (especially Daddy's) favorite picture of you. All dressed up to take your Grandmommy to the airport. You had just finished sitting in her lap and trying to file her nails. Look at those perfect little shoes. You were into the girly stuff way back then.
You were so happy to go to kindergarten and you really loved school. You really liked wearing dresses and you let me put a bow in your hair every day. This is about the time you decided that you would grow up and teach little kids.
You had been pretending to be a dancer for a few years, so when you were 5 we sent you off to tap and ballet. It was the beginning of your 13 year love of dance, with all it's tears and pain and laughter and friends.
When you were 16 you decided to go for the Gold. You did it and I thought my heart would pound out of my chest. You were beautiful and strong and intense and athletic.
This had to be your yearbook photo. Taken by your best friend in the whole world. You were a beach girl from the first time I took you, when you were 4 months old. You spent your first 18 years and 3 months within 6 miles of the ocean. Just last week, you tried to surf for the first time. There's salt water running in your veins. Someday, Mom and Dad will live near the beach again and we'll watch our grandchildren be beach kids.
This is the probably the last picture of you that was taken on Cape Cod. We know how hard it was to get in the car 5 days later and move 1,355 miles away from the only home you had ever known. The first months were a little rocky, but you hung in there and found your way. You made a new home, new friends and a new life here in the Sunshine State.
Here you are. 21. We have been so proud of you, every step along the way. You are smart and funny. You work hard. You make thoughtful decisions. You have hopes and dreams. You are beautiful. We are thankful every day that you are our daughter.We love you, endlessly and forever.
Love,
Mom and Dad
13 comments:
She's beautiful.
Happy birthday to you all.
That was beautiful! I got all teary-eyed. Speaking as a daughter, nothing makes you feel better than to know that your parents are proud.
Many happy returns--she looks like the ideal daughter. Great yearbook photo--that shows personality! (and beauty, of course;))
Aw, happy birthday to the Sorority Girl! She is just lovely. I hope she has a wonderful day!
Love you Mom and Dad!!
<3 Sorority Girl
Happy Birthday to your Sorority Girl. You did good, Mom!
your daughter - she is beautiful.
Gosh - she is LOVELY.
Happy day to her (late) and congrats to you, she's a fine young woman.
awww..that made me misty and I don't know her. Something about a photo retrospective. My oldest turns 19 in a couple weeks...they grow up so quickly.
Awww, it reminds me that my niece is 17 and almost ready for college. As an Army brat she's been a lot of places. Now we're blessed to have her "closer" to us.
Your daughter is stunning and looks SO happy. Tell her I said surfing is REALLY HARD WORK! I tried it when we were in Hawaii, 2 hours I was exhausted of course I'm not as young and strong as she is.
Happy Belated Birthday to your birthday girl!
What a really beautiful post. I could feel the love radiating from the screen, and as a mom, I get it. She IS beautiful and Happy Birthday to her!
Oh dear, they do grow up, don't they?
She is lovely.
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