Your tenth birthday

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 Audrey,

You and I have made it ten years together through this thing called life, and it has been so wildly entertaining. You are so excited for your big party tonight. I watched you greet the restaurant GM last night, shake his hand, look him in the eyes, smile, and thank him for allowing you to host your birthday dinner in his restaurant. For a moment, my eyes welled with tears because I had never seen you do that before. Maybe the next time will be another birthday, or a graduation dinner, or maybe your wedding venue. I never thought I’d get to witness moments like that so soon. I am so thankful. Thank you for being you.

You are incredibly strong and resilient. There isn’t much you don’t believe you’re capable of, and I hope that never, ever changes. You are beautiful and wise, with such a kind heart. You see the best in everyone, and I hope that never goes away. What a gift it is that you are so kind and good, and yet still young enough to be naive. You don’t know everything, but you want to know everything. You are always curious and eager to learn more.

You are almost as tall as your Mimi now, just inches away from my eyesight, which is a good and bad thing for you. You still have green eyes and beautiful blonde highlights. Everyone told me you’d lose them by two, or that they’d change by eight, and yet here we are. Somehow it just keeps getting blonder by the minute. The base is darker, like dishwater, and the top looks highlighted like I paid for it.

You still have no cellphone, no fake nails, and no real makeup, but you do have an American Girl under the Christmas tree, and that’s exactly the way I like it. I love that you’ve played with dolls for ten years. This may be your last American Girl year. They have been rich, full years, blessed by your generous cousins. I hope they know the gift they shared when they gave those dolls, and I hope you know the gift you have in them.

You got your first solo music video, went on your first tour cruise, and took your baby brother to Disneyland and California Adventure for the first time this summer. You also saw Beyoncé and the Jonas Brothers this year. Your year has been packed with incredible experiences at just nine years old.

You are the very best thing that has ever happened to us. You were our first, and we lived all of our parenting fears and firsts with you. You have been such an amazing firstborn.

You still have Penelope and Sam in your life, and they are both so, so kind. I hope they are your Miranda and Gordo until the end of time.

I love you to the moon and back, sis.
Your mama.

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