Happy Day!

Today is the anniversary of my most life-changing event, the birth of my first child. In celebration of May 3 1986, this one’s for you, my girl. You mean the world to me, and these are just a few of the reasons why:

• You made me the one thing I wanted most in life, to be a mom.
• You were the cutest baby in the nursery – I know there is plenty of competition for this title, but you really are the winner.
• You were such a good baby, you made me feel like I had the whole motherhood thing down. Thank you for that! The feeling lasted until your brother was born.
• You loved American Girl dolls, which meant that I got to love them too.
• You coaxed and coached your brother to perform with you an impromptu rendition of Romeo and Juliet for Dad and me on our 13th wedding anniversary.
• You make a mean batch of chocolate chip cookies.
• Though your longshoreman’s vocabulary mortified me, your crew career always made me proud.
• You are always on time.
• You believe in the 7 Ps. 
• You are fiercely independent.
• You can be tender-hearted and tough as nails.
• You have hair that I envy.
• You love to sing – loud and proud.
• You have the Wilson pet thing going on – in spades!
• Your birthday always reminds me of springtime and sunshine and lilacs.
• You love to ski.
• You let me help you move into all of your college apartments.
• You shop with me.
• You love love love college football.
• You are loyal and thoughtful and smart and funny.
• You are the best travel companion – cross-state, cross-country, cross-Europe – I’d go anywhere with you.
• You cry at good-byes.
• When you studied athletic training, you always answered our sports injury and rehab questions.
• Now that you’re a nurse, you always answer our health-related questions.
• You come to chemo sessions and doctor visits and remind me how best to take care of myself.
• You offered to cut off your hair to make a wig for me.

Somewhere along the line, I must have done something right to have been blessed with you as my daughter. Happy Birthday, My Girl! Love you big time!