Here's Lookin At You Kid

Today is a big day at our house- it's Caroline's tenth birthday and she has declared herself a pre-teen. If there is one thing we have learned over the last ten years, it's not to argue with her when she's made up her mind. She was not an easy baby, she was high-maintenance and always will be. However, she is a delightful and easy "pre-teen". Take a look back with me-

Ready to leave the hospital, she was literally born beautiful. She has always been pretty and we have been proud to witness just how beautiful she is on the inside, too.

For a brief time in preschool she was a bit shy, though there were no traces of that during her baby or toddler years. And that time has definitely passed us by now, LOL!

I remember the day I took this picture, Caroline was always busy, always needing something to do. I opened up her accessories drawer, most likely out of sheer exhaustion, and she tried on everything in there, one at a time. She had more accessories than I did, and she still does.

Her first birthday! Little did we know this would be the last time Caroline would actually eat! She eats like a bird. A really small bird. That doesn't like food. She declared sometime between age 2 and 3 that she "did NOT eat meat" and she has kept that word except for a few stray chicken strips here and there over the last year. We have never known why she became a toddler vegetarian.

Caroline has always been in her element on Halloween, shown here on her 2nd one. The drama, the pretending, the candy!!! Her love for drama only surpassed by her love for chocolate.

You notice redness around her mouth? That's not juice. That's the "sucker" ring. "Sucker" was Caroline's own name for a pacifier. She had a "sucker" in her mouth ALL.THE.TIME. Never without it, I carried multiples, everywhere. She finally gave it up right before her third birthday. But she was a glamor girl, she took it out willingly for pictures.

Here she is on her second Christmas- this is the year she made it known she didn't care for Santa. I dolled her all up and took her to HEB to have her picture taken with Santa. She screamed throughout the entire store and would not even let me get groceries. She literally screamed until we walked out the door where she promptly stopped. I went home and told Casey we wouldn't be having anymore children.

Ah, here she is right before her second birthday party. This was a delightful time when her personality really began to shine. She had a tea party complete with tea pot cookies and a cake with fresh flowers on top. And Willie Nelson, known only as Widdy to Caroline was playing in the background per her request. And yes, I am completely serious.

She was a pea for Halloween and had such a good time running amuck in Daddy's restaurant. The waitresses always ooohed and ahhed over her and she ate it up. She loves to be the center of attention and she is good at it.

Caroline has a wicked sense of style. We weren't surprised in the least when she announced a couple of years ago that she would be attending FIDAM, the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. She would be a great designer and women all over the world would benefit. I tend to believe that she will probably opt to do something a bit more noble but trust me when I say your closet will be missing out if she does.

She's got attitude for days and she is totally comfortable with it. Though she is learning to tone it down when appropriate, the kid's got spunk. She'll stand up for herself and her friends. And she'll stand up for her brother time and again. We didn't know it at the beginning but that was a God given gift and we are all grateful for it.

Always on the go, at her third birthday she promptly jumped on her new Radio Flyer tricycle and took off. She is still on the go. She would sign up for every activity we would allow and she would probably drive herself there if she thought she could get away with it.

Caroline loves her brother. She's fiercely protective but she loves him enough to fight with him just like any big sister would. Most of the time they are two peas in a pod and quite happy to be together.

Ah, Caroline's 4th Halloween when her creative abilities truly began to show. The costume was her concept, my very rudimentary design. She called herself a Wacky Witch. The kitty in her hand she named Zipper the Kitty Cat, carefully pronouncing every "T" crisply. It is a precious memory for us.

Drama anyone? I am not sure one has to say more. Drama Queen doesn't quite get it. Is she dramatic, yeah just a little bit.

Here she is- beautiful isn't she?- in the "picture chairs" at the Hyatt. Caroline loves to travel and has always traveled well, even as a baby. Though she, much like her Mom, prefers hotels where "the boys bring food to your room". She announced this when she was 5.

Here she is at her 6th birthday party. Caroline is and always has been a most gracious recipient. She loves gifts and most everything she receives is "just what I always wanted"

Caroline is a lot of fun. Certainly, the "life of the party". And never afraid to embarrass herself a little bit for a laugh. Like this picture from Kindergarten showing off her green tongue.

She's prissy. There are mirrors and purses and perfumes and headbands for miles and miles. She likes to look good. And you know what, if I looked as good as she does, so would I.

Caroline is very talented. She has many talents and we are proud of them all but she is a fabulous dancer and performer. Here she is as a tiny angel in the Nutcracker, and she is stunning.

And as far as she is concerned, life is a stage.

But she isn't just a pretty face. She can make you giggle like crazy especially if she starts first. Her laugh is fabulous and quite contagious.

Never afraid to take a risk, she is always true to herself. She is her own person and stays true to that. I cannot imagine a better quality in a daughter. Caroline will not be following the pack due to peer pressure. She may be the girl with a pink mohawk but I can live with that, if she can.

Caroline is a hard worker, just one of the many qualities she got from her daddy. She is more than willingly to work hard for what she wants. Here she is in the coveted "dying mouse" role in the Nutcracker.

Caroline is kind and thoughtful. She's logical and smart.

She's messy. Sometimes really messy.

She's stubborn and strong willed. She knows what she wants and she goes after it passionately.

She is stylish and super talented.

She's fun. And goofy. Silly, too.


She is gorgeous inside and out. A beautiful girl with a big heart.

You are a huge blessing to our family Carolina, we love you! Happy 10th Birthday my little pre-teen.