12
I took Zoe shopping last night. I had promised her a new outfit to wear on her birthday and by the time we finished homework and regular work and dinner, it was 7 pm.
She went through every rack of skirts, dresses, shirts, sweaters methodically. And then circled back and went through them again. I refrained from telling her to check the sales rack first and for the love of god HURRY UP because its already 8:15 on a school night, that’s totally not cool when you are trying to find your awesome birthday outfit.
When Zoe was 20 months old, I lost her in a store. For 20 minutes. They locked the front doors and the Code Adam recording was playing over the intercom and it was terrifying. One minute, we were standing in the shoe aisle and she was right there next to me and blink, she was gone.
My mom started to look down the aisles, asking people if they had seen a toddler in jeans and red shoes, and I ran to the front of the store to make sure she didn’t go out the doors. Zoe was the child that those leashes attached to backpacks were invented for, looking back I probably should have bought one and used it, she loved to run from us.
As my mother was frantically searching the sleepwear section that happened to be next to the shoe section, she saw Zoe’s little red sneakers sticking out from under a rack. When she pulled the robes back, Zoe said, “Hi Nana!” and we then we all had heart attacks.
Last night as we were shopping, I watched her and wondered how quickly we went from diapers and tiny red sneakers to earrings and sequin leggings and nail polish.
And blink, this is 12.
Happy Birthday to my best girl. I love you always.
Sally
When Steve ran away from a photographer in Kmart (so classy) at 2 years old, and I was frantically looking under every rack possible, the intercom came on to say “Will the mother of Steve DeLeon please report to customer service?” He had turned his own bad self in! Yikes. You have done such an amazing job with her and with your whole family. Way to go and happy birthday Zoe!
megan
why did this make me emotional. because a great writer is able to capture emotion perfectly in few words.
xoxox
Heather D
Happy birthday to Zoe! She’s a gorgeous girl, inside and out!
Heather D recently posted..Warm Kale, Butternut Squash and Farro Salad
Shannon
Happy Birthday to your girl. And please let her know that her curls are beautiful in that photo.
Shannon recently posted..Moments I Keep
Lori
Happy Birthday lil Z. You are an amazing young lady!
xoxo
Petunia Face
Shoosh, the image of the little red shoe and the photo of her now at 12–12! WTF? Why am I crying at work?
Happy birthday to your sweet girl.
Petunia Face recently posted..Une Femme d’un Certain Âge
Issa
It’s so strange how they get from wee things to these long gangly humans with a zillion ideas on what is what. I love it, but I have no clue how it happened.
Happy birthday to your best girl.
Issa recently posted..Finding the happy
MissCaron
Awwwwww. So sweet. Happy birthday pretty girl! God bless y’all!
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Katie
Happy Birthday to Zoe! It’s my birthday today, too, and I have a few friends with the same bday plus a niece. All awesome girls in my birthday club. Your post is so sweet. I have a 19 month old, and I’m so afraid that I’ll blink and he’ll be a teenager.
Katie recently posted..Kicking off 2013
tara
Happy Birthday Zoe! She is so gorgeous. You are such a great mom. The image of Zoe as a baby on a leash is hilarious. I’m sure she would’ve loved it (eye roll).
My birthday is Thursday. Capricorns are awesome.
tara recently posted..that awesome time i met my cake master idol
Andrea @bubblewrappd
Oh my heart.
Time freaking flies, even when it seems slow.
Birthdays always reminds me of that.
Happy birthday to your gorgeous girl!
Leslie
Zoe is phenomenally gorgeous and looks exactly like you. You should be more worried now than you were when she was 2.
Leslie recently posted..Sneakers and PBS, that’s how I roll
Jessica
Happy birthday, Zoe! Time really does fly, doesn’t it?
Jessica recently posted..Birthday dress
koreen
Oh wow. Is it just me or is she really getting that tall??? Good lord happy birthday, Zoe!
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Xae
Happy Birthday to Zoe!
Xae recently posted..I Think It’s Time To Tell You Something Personal
Kelly @ Turned up to ELEVEN!
this is so sweet. Happiest of happy birthdays Zoe!
I’m glad you were able to find those little red shoes such a short time ago. By the way where DOES the time go?
Chris
12!! Happy Birthday, indeed!! <3
Krëg
Wow, last birthday for a while that won’t have the word ‘teen’ in it.
I think my boys would be better suited to a giant hamster-ball; they could still grab things if they were merely leashed.
Happy B, Zoe!
Elaine
She’s so beautiful. Happy Birthday to her!! (and you…)
Elaine recently posted..My ONE Word
Sarah
A very happy (belated) birthday to Miss Zoe. One hard-core, diabetes fighting machine!
Sarah recently posted..It’s the Little Things
BusyDad
I’m so glad social media exists, so I can claim I wished Zoe happy birthday on time. Also, Fury did the same thing. I hated that.
BusyDad recently posted..The subtle art of manipul– nuturing
Rachel
Happy Birthday, Miss Zoe!! You are so beautiful and quite an inspiration!! I hope this is the best year for you!! Also, go easy on your mama. She did bring you into this world
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