i don't know about you, but i'm feeling 22

well, actually that's not true.  I'M not feeling 22.  the old lady is.  because it's her birthday.  today.

it's kinda crazy to think that she's gone from this:

to this:

in pretty much the blink of an eye.  and oh, the fun we have together...

you know, it's funny - as i went looking for photos to share i realized something: she likes to hold stuff in pictures.

 she likes to model stuff for me, too.

 oh, and then there was the time when she was an actual model:

and all of the photos where she's just...the old lady.

it's really odd to think that i have a child who's actually not a child anymore, but a full-grown adult.  as parents, i don't really think our job is ever done with raising our kids...but it's really interesting to see how our roles change and grow and shrink and shift as those kids get older and start figuring out their own way around the world.  and so i suppose that while i am still her mom, it's totally okay for the two of us to be friends now too.  you know what i mean, right?  like, when they're still in those formative years you're supposed to be their parent and not their friend.  they're hopefully looking up to you to help guide through tough situations and understand how things work.  but i have to say, there are often times when our roles are reversed - i'm the one asking her opinion on things.  waiting to hear what she thinks before i make a decision.  looking to her to help me when i'm not sure of what to do.  and it's pretty awesome, i must say.  she's grown up to be a smart, strong, independent woman with her own ideas of how things should go, what would make the world a better place, how to help her sister navigate through childhood.  i didn't just become a mother by having her...i've become a better person overall because of her.  she really is my best girlfriend, the one i go to first when i need help or when i have news to share.  i love her so much.

i'm excited to see what the future has in store for her.  she's still in that weird stage of life where she's trying to figure it all out and decide what she wants to do with herself, and that's okay.  i know she's going to find her path in her own time, and in her typical old lady way.  in the meantime, it's just fun to sit back and wait and watch to see what happens.

one last thing - you never know what you're gonna find when you go back and look at pictures on your phone.  there's a whole lotta stealth selfies on mine...

 happy birthday, love.  let's get out there and celebrate you!