I would just like to say thank you.

I know that growing up as the older sibling isn't easy. You are the trial and error child for mom and dad. You're the first born. They weren't sure how to care for a slimy, fresh born, crying baby. You, however, were now in existence and they had to figure it out....and hyper-speed fast. They hovered over you, watched your small chest rise and fall with each breath you took. They probably took you to the emergency room more often than they should have when you fell because they were scared you were more injured than you actually were. Mom and dad tried their best with you, and because of you they did even better for me. When I came along, not only were mom and dad hovering over my crib, so were you.

(R.I.P. Grandma, we love you!)

You protected me with everything you had. Like the older sibling you reserved the right to pick on me, and completely shut down anyone else who tried. You interrogated any (and every) boy who was ever a prospect to make sure that his application to date me would be suitable - even though you always said they never were. You always wanted to teach me things before school did. You were the one who taught me everything from writing in cursive to multiplying numbers together (throw back to when one of my teachers asked me where I knew how to write cursive and told me to tell you to stop teaching me). I remember when I was just starting to learn how to ride a bike and you tried to teach me, like any good older sibling would. Even though I think the real reason you spent so much time teaching me was that you didn't want my training wheels cramping your style, you were still the awesome older sibling teaching me something new. I'm still mad that you let go even though you said you wouldn't - I'm sure mom and dad are still mad I crashed into the garage and left a dent that still isn't fixed.

Similar to all older siblings, you loved to trick me and scare me. I remember when you told me the reason you had the top bunk was because the monsters under my bed couldn't get up there...and you didn't want to be the one to get eaten. Since you were my older sibling, the foolish younger sibling completely believed you and was scared out of my wits for weeks. Growing up as the younger sibling, sometimes I felt as though I was growing up in your shadow; that can't be too uncommon for younger siblings. The only major issue I had with that was how much we looked alike growing up. We looked so much alike that my teachers would call me "Kim" and "Kimmy" because they had you as a student before. By the end of the school year, most of them didn't know my name, that was really irritating. First day of class: "are you...Kimmy's little sister?" Last day of class: "Okay Kimmy come to the board and show us how you did that." It was a trend.

You were the first one to establish fashion trends and I would always follow. When you left for college, any clothes you left behind ultimately became my clothes. There was a lot that we did together, and there was a lot we fought about. You've never failed to be there for me in my time of need. When I needed advice, you were there. When I needed help, you were there. You were the person I confided in because you're my older sister. I'll always want to be like you. You'll always be the person that I look up to. The one to show me your mistakes, and how to not make the same ones.

You watched me grow up and become the woman that I am today. You were there for my first homecoming. You were there for my first boyfriend. You were there for my first everything. For that, I'll always be thankful for my No. 1 fan.

So thank you butt munch. Thanks for being the test child, my biggest supporter, my personal in-house doctor, my tutor, my No. 1 fan, my protector, my teacher, and my older sister.

And just know, that I love you more than you know. (P.S. if you're reading this I need to borrow some dresses for recruitment in the fall, do you think that you can hook ya sister up?) Looooooooove yoooooooooou:)))