My baby is 40 !

Today marks my little chickadee's 40th birthday.   (Yes, I can admit to having a 40 year old daughter, although I myself am still only 29!)

My daughter entered the world at 1:16 pm on this date back in 1975, and what a terrific addition to this world she has proven to be.

She has become a truly marvelous young woman of whom I am extremely proud.

She is a terrific daughter and a fabulous mother.

But most of all, my daughter has become a wonderful friend.

She was an early talker, and has been bending my ear non-stop ever since.  In her early years, I can remember wishing she had never learned to talk, she did so much of it!  Now, I look forward to her telephone calls, and miss the days that we can't fit one in. (The calls don't happen nearly often enough now, what with texting being such a popular mode of correspondence.)  One would think we'd run out of things to talk about but somehow, that never seems to happen.

She was an adorable toddler ...

... who blossomed into a truly stunning young lady ...

... and matured into a beautiful woman, inside and out.

She fills my heart with love and pride.
Happy 40th birthday Natalie, my beauty queen daughter!