Bumpkin

Mildred Elise turned 13 years old in August.  This baffles me, because I still feel about 12 years old some days, and here we are with a lovely daughter who is clearly no longer a baby.

She's as unlike me at 13 as possible.  I was gangly and awkward, hyper and loud.  Mildred is quiet and confident and thoughtful.  While I loved to read, I also climbed trees, scampered around like a madcap, and complained when my mother tried to teach me needlework, but Mildred has always been an old soul.  She curls on the couch, a pile of books on one side and a pile of yarn on the other, and teaches herself new knitting stitches while listening to The Lord of the Rings. 

  

She's often a wonder to me and such a joy.  I delight to see her grow and stretch into a young lady, one who retains the self she's always been but yet, somehow, different.  A familiar newness.

There is something odd and wonderful about watching one's children flourish in places one never lingered, to thrive in ways one never did.  I can't wait to see what the next years have in store.

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My friend Talitha made Millie a birthday cape that floats and billows just like a cape should.  Thanks, Titi, for requesting pictures.  Millie usually dislikes being the subject of the lens, but she agreed readily for your sake.  (!)  Good form. 

Titi even included the perfect clasp for such a cape.

This is Millie, losing patience and going inside to eat birthday candy.

And this is Ezekiel, stealing her cape.