I didn't forget your birthday, it was just very hard for me to write this, that's why it took so long for me to finally finish typing this so long after your birthday. You are my baby sister and it isn't easy talking about you being older cause all I see is that little baby screaming her head in the nursery. I am so blessed that you are a her because I got steak out of it (that's a completely different story). Since there is such an age gap, I became your second mom, regardless it was going to happen anyway because I'm pretty sure that's the big sister I would have become regardless of when you were born. While most likely you hate this sometimes and wish I could just be an older sister, too bad!

So on this huge occasion of your 10th birthday, let me just tell you how much I love you and wish so badly that we could be closer distance-wise because I am missing you grow up and it hurts me to come home and see you be older and bigger.

The day I found out mom was having you was a highly emotional, confusing and slightly overwhelming time. I was finally going to receive the younger sibling I had always wanted because ever since I could talk, I kept asking for a younger sibling (so I've been told). I certainly never thought that when I received that fateful birthday gift that a shirt would be inside it, with pink puffy paint with the words "BIG SISTER" on it. I dreamed of that day but had long given up on ever seeing it happen, let alone on my 9th birthday.

On your birthday, finally double digits, I can finally say, you are old! Come on I had to be mean at some point and you just knew it was coming, too bad this time, I wasn't there to smash your face in the cake; always with love of course. Plus I didn't get to say Happy Birthday multiple times that day unfortunately, so I'll make up for it next year!

Please don't lose the playful, adorable and cute side of yourself, I can't say never grow up or ask time to slow down because you've already grown up so much already that all I can do is ask for time to be good to you and be there to help guide you through your teen years and beyond, looking forward to the beyond part cause as of now those teen years are going to be interesting and long.

I would have said don't ever grow up but I have to let you. I have to watch you fall down and I can't pick you up because you learned to do that on your own (plus of course I have to get in a good laugh first, as long as no serious injury occurred); I can't teach you how to ride your bike, because you know how to; I can't teach you how to paint your nails, not that you'd listen but you know how to do a pretty decent job; I can't be there to tell you good morning every morning cause we aren't morning people and you are so far away that I'm not there to cuddle with you. Anyway wiping tears away, you've accomplished a lot in your ten years of life and I can't wait to see what the next ten will bring.

By the way, you are far too young to date, I don't condone it at all, you are far to young and yes this is about your birthday but you are 10 adding to that NO PHONE back to earlier topic, good luck to that guy whenever you do start dating, not good luck to you, good luck to him cause he is going to have to be awfully special to deal with me, the big sister constantly watching yalls every move! I have to add humor, if I didn't I'd be a puddle on the floor from my baby sister turning a decade.

Happy 10th Birthday!

With all my love a Bushel and a Peck,

From the Bee, the Babysitter in other words your big sister, Elizabeth