Sweet 16!

 16 years ago I was waiting for my first baby to arrive, and tomorrow I will watch as she drives herself to school in her own car.  It is hard to fathom that 16 years have passed, and that we have watched that baby grow up into an awesome, young woman.  

Izzy has spent her 16th year of life working hard, and studying hard.  She continues to be a great student who cares about her grades and  is always interested in learning new things.  She has been babysitting to earn money so that she can embark upon another trip to Europe with school.  She has embraced our new kitties and has a love for them that I never saw with our last cats.  She has created the perfect reading nest under her loft bed, and already has plans for her new bedroom in the basement, when it gets completed.  She has recently picked up tennis and is playing JV with her good friend.  After her first match she told me, "We weren't the worst losers."  I am so proud of her for trying something new and dedicating herself to getting better at something that interests and engages her mind, and body.  

Izzy continues to be a voracious reader; frequenting the library a couple times a week to pick up and return books.  She hopes to someday work for the library.  She finds bookstores and libraries to be her happy places.  On a recent trip to Philly we were able to visit both, and she was ecstatic.  

Izzy is thoughtful and kind, she is most comfortable around little kids and adults.  She is fiercely independent and is still a vegetarian, and a picky one at that!  This year will bring her a new sense of independence and she tells me that she is most excited about driving so that she doesn't have to inconvenience her dad and me!  

We once again celebrate this birthday with bittersweet memories of the baby that she was and wishes for the young lady that she is becoming.  Happy Birthday peanut!  We love you and hope that you have the best year yet, full of mango, books, safe car rides, first big concerts (Hozier), adventuring in Europe, ice cream, kitty snuggles, good music, and lots of new experiences.