Sweet Sixteen

I have the impulse to just say Whew, brush my hand across my brow and call it a day. Sixteen years! Sixteen years! Sixteen years! I don't even know what to say, so in keeping with the miracle of these here internets and this beautiful blogging community, I'm going to post a poem that Eric at I am a broken man/You can't break me posted as a comment here yesterday. Eric's beautiful and heroic son Segev shares a birthday with Sophie, so I wish him Happy Birthday as well.

Remember back to that day when Sophie was born,
when the universe feinted a cloth so
torn,
that the motions of life bittersweet took
form.
Praise! Beautiful hardship, tender girl, no longer sprite, beautiful curl.
Gaining, gaining, sweet success, of wishes of blossom
without duress.

Finally, I want to honor another beautiful birthday girl, Miss Katie Gerstenberger, who was born on the exact same day and same year as my Sophie. Katie passed away several years ago from cancer, but her mother Karen keeps her memory alive at her beautiful blog Gberger. Happy Birthday, dear and beautiful Katie. You are alive in my heart, your sweet face and smile a part of me.

I've written two posts about Sophie on her birthday on this blog, and if you'd like you can read them HERE and HERE. And here are some pictures of our birthday morning, a raucous celebration before school:

Not quite ready to get up

still sleepy and a little seizury (that's what happens when she wakes up)

listening to Grandma and Pop Pop sing Happy Birthday

Oliver is the official helper for present opening

Birthday breakfast: strawberries and Swedish pancakes

Happy Sweet Sixteen to Sophie!