the birthday girl

Last week we celebrated Kate's 13th birthday. 

13! When did that happen?

I distinctly remember sitting on my bed, folding the newborn clothes my baby Kate had outgrown.  Brian found me surrounded by tiny onesies and sleepers with tears wet on my cheeks.  He was surprised to see me crying.  Shakily, I exclaimed that our baby was growing up too fast.

He  soothed,"Don't cry...she doesn't even have teeth yet."

Well, she surely has teeth now...and braces and a cell phone, a sense of humor and a sense of style, crushes on boys, perfume and mascara.  She carts around a school ID card and wrote two articles for the school newspaper.  She is perfecting "On My Own" on the piano and reads thick books.

She is still growing up too fast, but, oh my, she is doing it beautifully.