Today you are seventeen.
SEVENTEEN. One night I was holding you in my arms for the first time, and when I blinked you were SEVENTEEN.
As I have watched you grow over the years, my heart becomes more and more full of love for you.
6 weeks
At 6 weeks you were sleeping through the night. You've always loved to sleep. I would sit and rock you for hours while you slept just so I could stare at your precious face. I could not wait until you were 6 weeks old, so I could take you to have your first professional picture made. Mama Gaile bought you this dress. She bought it before you were ever born. She was so excited, and told me the day she gave it to me she wanted you to wear it your first Sunday at church. You did. Complete with the matching socks and headband she bought to go with it.
10 weeks
This is your first Christmas picture. Even though you were only 3 months old that Christmas, you were lavished with gifts.
3 months
Look at that sweet face.
6 months
At 6 months you were sitting alone, and when you would fall over trying to reach for something, you would push as hard as you could with your feet trying to move yourself along the floor. When that didn't work, you would just roll yourself wherever you wanted to go.
Mama Gaile also bought this dress. The socks she bought to go with the dress you wore to church on your first Sunday still fit, so you wore them with this dress also. You even wore the same headband. This was your first Easter dress. I know your are horrified at all the ruffles.
6 months
Your future was so bright, you even had to wear shades at bedtime.
7 months
We went to visit Mama Gaile at work the first time you went trick-or-treating. She was so excited to show you off to all of her patients. And mommy and daddy were so excited to eat all of your candy for you.
9 months
As you grew, so did the size of bows I made you wear. And you became more and more precious to us with each passing moment. Just look at those sweet cheeks. Mercy.
11 months
Your second Christmas. You kept reaching for those bears, and we were barely able to keep you on that block long enough to snap this picture.
12 months
This picture was taken the night of your first birthday. The day you turned one you started walking. Notice the black eye. Your fell that afternoon at your birthday party on Mama Gaile's porch.
12 months
You have always been so happy. Looking at this picture I just want to scoop you up and kiss those sweet cheeks.
13 months
Daddy was for sure you would love soccer as much as he did.
15 months
The beginning of a beautiful friendship. Pop Pop bought him for you for Christmas. You had just ripped Pooh out of his box and threw the box on the ground. From this moment on he went everywhere with you. Everywhere.
18 months
I know, I know. Your hate this outfit. Every time you see this picture you point that out to me.
22 months
This was the first of several dress Grammy smocked for you.
2 years
Your second birthday party. Notice the underwear. And no, I didn't leave you in your pajamas that day. You just had to put them on as soon as you opened them. The gift opening was put on pause while you dressed yourself, and when you opened the underwear, they had to put on too. You did eventually learn they go under your pants.
2 years
Pop Pop and G.G. bought you this outfit. Guess where he bought it? : )
2 years
When we got home from having your 2 year picture made, You insisted I take your picture with Pooh.
2 1/2 years
Have I mentioned how precious you are, and how I love you more and more every day?
2 1/2 years
2/1/2 years
This is your first trip to the beach. You loved it. We were visiting uncle Skip and aunt Marilyn in VA Beach.
2 1/2 years
I'm not so sure why daddy thought it was a good idea for you to paint your nails by yourself on Pop Pop and G.G.'s white chair.
2 1/2 years
There once was a day you and daddy didn't butt heads so much.
3 years
This picture always makes me laugh. You were so over the picture taking, and when you were told to look in the mirror this is the face we got.
When I asked you to say cheese, this is what I got.
3 1/2
I love this picture.
3 1/2
Daddy was hopeful you would love soccer, but you spent more of your soccer "career" attached to daddy ... or standing in front of the goal holding the ball in a the middle of a game screaming, "Take my picture, Mommy!". Once soccer made you sweat, you wanted to quit. Sweating has never been your thing.
3 1/2
So, Mama Gaile tried to make you a singer.
4 years
I'm sure you'll have something to say about this outfit.
4 1/2
Your first school picture. Preschool actually. This picture looks like a mug shot to me. It better be your ONLY mug shot.
5 years
By looking at this picture, you would never imagine you could throw the huge temper tantrum you threw at your 5 birthday party because the other kids were picking up "your" candy that had fallen out of the pinata.
5 years
This is Mister Monkey. He was the class "pet" in kindergarten. When you were rewarded for good behavior you got to bring him home, and at the end of the night you (rather mommy) was supposed to journal what you did. Well, we lost Mister Monkey that night. After looking for two hours, including tracing our steps back to where we had eaten dinner and ran errands, we found him hiding behind the end table in the livingroom.
5 years
Your first time being a flower girl.
6 years
6 years
Your second time being a flower girl.
6 1/2
You've always loved being a big sister. Hannah might bug you sometimes, but you love her to pieces. Notice she's wearing the same pajamas you got for your second birthday.
6 1/2
This picture is full of so much love and joy. Mama Gaile loved you so, so much. This makes my eyes fill with tears and puts a smile on my face at the same time. I always wanted you to have the type of relationship with my Mama like I did with hers. I am so beyond thrilled you did.
7 years
One day you were 7, and it seems like when I woke up the next day we were buying your first car.
16 years
This picture cracks me up. You are so full of excitement, but look at Hannah's face.
16 years
Your junior year. Hard to believe you were once bald.
16 years
I've never seen two people butt heads the way as you and daddy often do. You are definitely just like him.
16 1/2
Now you are a senior. I have loved watching you grow and mature. When I looked into your sweet face for the first time, you were the most beautiful thing I had ever seen in my life. I thought my heart would burst with love. With each passing year you have become more and more beautiful. I love those blue eyes, and your smile lights up the room. But I love the beauty in your heart even more, Sara bear.
I love being your mom. I love how sometimes you still call me mommy. I love how you come home and give me a play by play of your day, and they way you share your heart with me. I love watching your love on other people. You have taught me so much. I find myself becoming full of fear wondering if I taught you well.
But then one day I walked into your room and discovered this.
I stood there cried. I realized in that moment I had no reason to fear. I have failed you as your mom. But Jesus will never fail you. Looking at what you have surrounded your mirror with I am certain you know that. I am so grateful you love Him, and your realize more and more every day your need for Him.
I pray you always run to Jesus. I pray you know He is all you need. That He is the only one who will NEVER, EVER fail you. As much as I love you, He loves you more.
Happy 17th birthday, sweet Sara bear. I will always love you from the tippy, tippy top of your head, to the tippy, tippy bottom of your toes.
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