12 means she can officially wear real heals. She had the option to start wearing makeup but she passed for now. Sigh…with the heels she is way taller than me if I’m barefoot.

Corra latched on to the idea of a “Golden Birthday.” That’s where the age you turn is the same as your birthday day. At first she didn’t want a friend birthday party but last minute she changed her mind. All she wanted was everything gold and a movie night. Once she landed on watching “Harry Potter #3” naturally the cake had to be a golden snitch. This was my second attempt and I simplified life by buying half sphere cake pans instead of carving stacked square cakes. It was her favorite cake (Red Velvet) and the pack of ravenous twelve year olds yummed it up…there is no greater stamp of approval.

She got Lego sets and books and The Shoes. She also grew 4-5 inches (I kid you not). But there was a very real shift this past year and watching her become more young lady and less little girl is just delightful. Corra is starting to be old enough to pretend to be embarrassed by stuff we say, but nowhere close to outgrowing just coming and standing by me for a hug. She is still confused by middle-schoolers and this big wide world…she keeps asking all the questions though, and we are slowly figuring it all out. I love this baby more every year.