Rachel is 18!!!

This has been a big year for our family in terms of milestones.  In April Hannah turned 16, in May Matt and I celebrated our 20th anniversary and in early November Emma turned 13.  We conclude the year with another big milestone...Rachel turning 18.  It sort of snuck up on me, really.  I mean wasn't it just yesterday that she was a cute chubby toddler?  A lot has transpired over the last 18 years.  Rachel has grown and changed in ways  I could never have predicted or imagined.  To say that it has been a roller coaster would be an understatement.  She was our first so naturally the learning curve was intense.  Through it all though, we have tried to love and nurture her so that she could grown in to a productive member of society.  It would also be nice if she had some good memories to look back on in the process.  So on her 18th birthday we did what we do best...made some memories. Although this is not necessarily her last birthday to be celebrated at home, it still felt bittersweet.  I tried to appreciate the moment a little more for its sweet simplicity.  Seeing her make her way out of bed in her jammies to inspect the balloons and flowers.  Finding Matt and me to give us a hug.  All of it.  Happy Birthday Ray Ray!