New Year's Girl

Katie is the most interesting person I have ever met. 

She has gone from a serious baby to a precocious and sweet toddler to a charming little girl and now, a quirky and fun and fantastic twelve year old. 

Twelve's years old, today. My New Year's Girl. 

On New Year's Eve every year since she's been born, we have kissed her and told her happy birthday at the drop of the ball. She is the beginning of our family, the beginning of everything, and her birthday means hope and light and opportunity. The opportunity to do good things; the opportunity to be a better person. Redemption. Renewal. She brought me to life.

Last night at a quarter to midnight, she tore herself away from the television and the computer and the handheld devices. She ran downstairs in her shorts and her Abe Froman - Sausage King of Chicago t-shirt, her robe and slippers. She ran back up and added a crocheted Yogi Bear hat and MagiQuest belt where she had stuck - instead of the wand - a pen featuring a wolf's head and arms that punch. 

That outfit, somehow, is everything I love about Katie. 

She popped the bottle of Martinelli's and we all held high our skeleton Halloween goblets and counted down together - 10...9...8...

And then we toasted our daughter, who is the very best thing that has ever happened in my life. 

Happy birthday, New Year's Girl.