She’s ten today.

This is the kid who made me breakfast this past week without being asked.

Who cares for her baby brother without a second thought, a special bond they’ve had since his birth.

She is a graceful dancer, a thoughtful and caring person. When things going smoothly at home, it’s often related to her – an idea she had to keep everyone occupied, or because she helped prepare a meal or snack. She is one of just a couple kids in our house who cleans up without being asked, and is a quiet and capable helper.

This is a kid who needs her alone time and often retreats to her room to play or read.

She’s expressive. She’s the one who often best knows how to read people, intuiting what they want or need.

She’s grown up this year, gaining maturity and starting to look and act like a Big Kid. Really, she’s the one who made us a Big Family and put us out of our depth in the first place, then helped us realize that we could, in fact, do this. She continues to be the grease on the wheels, the quiet force that keeps things moving.

We love her so much.