Well it's been a while between birthday reports, but as I sit here in bed reminiscing not-so-fondly of the decent amount of pain I was in at this time sixteen years ago with no end in sight, I'm also reminding myself of all the twists and turns along the way to sixteen.
How you were such an easy baby. You slept through at 9 weeks and I must have checked you at least a dozen times to see if you were still breathing and still OK... but you proved to me then and you still prove to me now that you don't need much pushing to get to where you need to be, you're very happy to move there at your own pace, which is usually in a hurry.
I'm thankful for your independent soul. Your self-assured and wise way you navigate through tough situations. Sure, you have mini-freak outs and you question yourself but overall you just know yourself. You just don't understand what a gift that is. There are adults I know that don't know themselves as much as you do at just sixteen. It's pretty wondrous really.
You're also stubborn and will fight for the last word, talk over people to get your way and find it hard to say sorry sincerely - but at the same time you're incredibly generous, will put yourself out to help someone who needs it and reflect upon things with genuine regret and learn from your mistakes. It's a mass of contradictions but it's you working life out.
I had a dream last week that you fell pregnant and I woke up in a genuine distressed panic and in the dream your Dad said 'but we love babies' and I was like 'Noooo. No. No. No. No. NO. She has PLANS. She's going to travel, she wants to live a full life first, she's got things to DO.'
When I told you about this dream you giggled and then became concerned for my distress and came over and gave me a hug and a kiss and said 'Don't worry about it Marmite, I would never do that to you'. To which I said 'Don't worry about me, don't do that to YOU'.
I guess that dream was a bit of my adjusting to you growing up and making your own choices and my dreams for you to have a full life like you want.
You have a good head on those shoulders, and I appreciate how open you are about your thoughts, feelings, what's going on in your life and your concerns. To me this is a gift you give me. I in return give you my implicit trust because I have no reason to not trust you until you breach that trust and so far so good :)
Anyhow, birthday parties still leave me exhausted and yours was tiring but I loved that we made some of your ol' favourites lolly bobble bliss bombs, rocky road and a new favourite amongst your friends warm pizza dip. Today for your actual birthday the repeated request of Victoria Sponge was adhered to and delivered :). I hope even when you're a grown up I can still make you some of your favourites...
But I'm not writing off the rest of your childhood and time at home just yet. I'm savouring these last years with you with us and Covid-19 for all it's tragedy, has given us many gifts - more family time and I love that we're the 'fab-five' again rather than people who all live and eat together sometimes in between rushing off to this and that. It's been wonderful.
Anyhow, I don't want to ramble on, but I wanted to mark this occasion with something that would at least mean something to me. Happy birthday my 5ft 11 Amazonian baby. I celebrate you today and always.
For posterity I also decided to add pics from your birthdays since 11... don't hate me..
11th - Dinner at Shangri-La Sydney
Last birthday in primary school - 12 - Victoria Sponge makes another appearance like it did at 8..
Happy birthday Teenager and first year of high school. Yes, it's Victoria Sponge!
Fourteen, I couldn't get a pic of you with your cake without your phone in it, but it was a sponge cake with buttercream...!
15th birthday, Dark Chocolate cake with dark chocolate ganache..
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