4 748.

That is the number of days that you, my dear Addison, have brought a smile to our faces, love to our days, laughter to our lives, and thankfulness to our hearts.

I can not believe that are 13 years old today. That happened so quickly. When I close my eyes…

I see this little tiny precious baby girl all wrapped in pink getting cooed over and petted by her big brothers and her Grandmama in the hospital room with a pink doll by your side…

I see your big smiles and the light in your eyes, I hear your belly giggle

 I see you in Texas playing in front of our house with your hair up in pigtails, carrying around your pink ball, following the boys, trying to keep up, calling Nikita to come and help you, watching Madeline, climbing the slide with Momo, learning how to tie your shoe…

I see you playing in the snow in Colorado, seeing you beam when you were able to sound out words, watching you get married to your invisible husband, swimming with Sarah, in your Awana cubby vest, playing at Focus in the family, teaching you how to swim…..

I see you in the back seat of the car in DC, showing everyone where that good ice-cream shop is down in Old Town, spending time choosing what toys you’ll take with you, teddy in your backpack….

I see you in Uzbekistan with the Garner Girls and Sasha, giving hugs to Ms Gulya, catching your first  fish, playing the piano,  crying over squatty’s, learning Russian, getting Kit…

I see your frustration when we keep teasing you about the WC, your determination when you join the No Whiners club, your love of reading, you marking the AG catalog and VF catalog for all  the things you’d love, you dressed up like Robins daughter or playing LOTR, I see your tears every time you have had to say good-bye…

I see the anticipation in your eyes as we rocked up on Grandmamas door to surprise everyone coming home early, watching you play with your cousins, in the car, packing your treasures….

I see the excitement when you saw the first kangaroo, the penguins and the Cocky, playing the violin, performing with CYM, snorkeling next to me on the reef, playing Little House, at Redwall days, always with a pack of girls around, skyping Ian, crying when you were not old enough to hold the koala, singing on stage…

I see you sleeping next to me while daddy was gone, making cakes for the charity, playing with Ian, Bella, Trey, Sierra and River, swimming in our pool, singing at voice lessons, playing games on skype with Franny, the thrill of taking you to AGP in LA with those Briens, in the back seat of the car driving cross country as we reconnected with old friends, packing your favorite things to bring with you, Elsie Dinsmore, getting your pocket knife from Papa…

I see us sitting side by side enjoying Gilmore Girls, Psych and Monk, having pizza and movie nights, watching LOTRs, listening to books on tape, laughing, chatting, learning, going to Grandma Jodys house for lunch...

I see you in Ghana exploring the country with me, spotting elephants, auditioning for the panto, in the car trekking across the country, playing with Emily and Sarah, reading your stories, hearing you sing, scrapbooking….

I see a 13 year old girl that is just as much of a delight now as she was the day she was born and every day since. 

I cannot wait to see what your future holds… but I will be savoring each day along the way!

I love you my sweet baby girl!

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Posted by shannon

Crying now!!! Love you both, and glad we got to share a portion of those 13 years! Love our forever friends!

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Posted by Gma & Gpa CORY

Happy Birthday ADDY. I remember when U visited us & GGma & Showed her how you could dance. She talked about that for months. I'm sure she is telling GGpa Cory all about U & how proud she was of your family. We love you.

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Posted by Mom & Dad

Good Job Sissy, Your little lady is growing up and so darn fast......
She sure brings a smile to my heart. Such a blessing. This reminded me of ....Well do you remember when you went to stay with Jeff & Nan, that was the most difficult day, I could not compose my self, It was so hard and you could not understanding.( pass the kleenex please).

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