In all the chaos of the last week, this summer, this year(!), Tess started her senior year of high school. I know everyone says it but I really truly can’t believe my little squeak, my Fifi, is in her final year of school. Her final year at home. Because. Make no mistake, this one is ready to fly the nest & conquer the world.

I can still remember the ice-cold snowy day in Minnesota, more than 16 years ago, when I found out I was having a girl. A daughter. Dave was at the office, because, we had four boys. Who needed to see another ultrasound? All that mattered is that we have a healthy boy and with four healthy boys under our belt, we were pretty sure it was another healthy boy.

My mom was visiting from California, she braved the icy weather to come with me. But when the tech said only parents, she stayed in the waiting room with baby Cole. I went back, lifted my shirt, and babbled away. After taking all the required measurements, she asked:

“Do you want to know the sex?”. Of course. Why not?
“It’s a girl.”

A girl. I made her check & double check. There is nothing before, or after, that’s silenced me like those three words: It’s. A. Girl.

What was I going to do with a girl? I had boys down pat. I had boy hand-me-downs. Blue clothes galore. Cars. Legos. Army guys. I didn’t even like pink!

I came out into the waiting room. Shock visible on my face. My mom’s face immediately mirrored mine, followed by worry.

“Is everything okay?”
“Mam, it’s a girl.”

We just stared at each other, in that cold, grey, sterile waiting room somewhere in Minnesota and then we got the giggles. Hysterical, giggly giggles. A girl! I was getting a daughter!

Fast forward to today & I have not just a daughter, but a mini me.  I have a quirky, talented, warm, loving, fantabulous, beautiful girl I love with all my heart. A girl that has plans, ambition, desire, and the confidence to go out and accomplish all the things.

Tess is adventurous. Beautiful. Fierce. Loyal. Smart. Terrible at math. An artist. A traveller. Shy and out-going. Willing to try all the things. In fact, she has a new sport. On the first day of school she came home and said:

“I joined the golf team.” Golf. Golf? Okay. Golf it is! Go Panthers!