She’ll always be four years old in my mind. When I think back to my younger sister, Zoe Belle, I picture her curly hair as she balanced herself between my two legs, as if hiding between two trees. I distinctly remember her doing this as I made my way to Winter Formal my sophomore year of high school. Zoë squeezed herself in between my legs and pushed her back into the black velvet of my dress (gimme a break, Internet, velvet was cool in the mid-nineties!). I can’t figure out why, exactly, that is the image I think of when I think of my baby sister, but it is. And I love it.

Ten years later, the little girl with curly hair celebrated her 14th birthday yesterday. It made me so happy to see her jump in the massive bounce-house with her friends and swim the afternoon away, only to be followed by coconut cake and brightly colored cupcakes.

Zoe, happy birthday and I love you. I know I can be hard on you—Let’s go running…Why don’t you have straight A’s…Walk uprightly—but please know I simply adore you and I’m proud to call you my sister. I hope to forever hold your hand, squeeze you tightly, and kiss you on your forehead! Love, me.

Per Zoe's request, she wanted a collage of birthday details posted on my blog. Geesh…I think I've created a monster! 🙂