Happy Birthday, Supergirl

My girl turns 12 today. Although, to be honest, we have been celebrating for several days. When you are 12, I'm learning, it's important to REALLY celebrate. 

This is going to be a good year for her. I can feel it - or maybe I just want it to be for both of us because I am not much for drama. She doesn't move schools for seventh grade, she has a nice group of friends, she is smart and able to manage her school work thus far and she is involved with several sports/other activities. Sounds good, right?

Here's the catch...this girl has a BIG heart. Remember in The Grinch that Stole Christmas when his heart grew three sizes that day? Audrey's heart is already that big. She is kind, compassionate, empathetic and very sensitive. Everything she feels is on a BIG level.  When she is joyful, she is bouncing off the walls, belly-laughing joyful. When she is mad she is scowl, run up the stairs and slam her door mad. I have heard her say "this is the best day of my life" a few times this summer. In the moment this is TOTALLY how she feels. I think her feelings are just bigger than average. We were watching America's Got Talent the other night and the judges' "X'd" an older man who was making music by doing different things with his hands. It was odd and I didn't blame them for not advancing him but Audrey was devastated. She burst in to tears immediately. I was just glad I had already told her she couldn't watch it until the end because it was getting too late. She wouldn't have been able to manage the next elimination round.

Most of the time I love that she feels on a greater level - she is a joy to be around and notices things, people, and situations that we might otherwise miss. She is always rooting for the underdog and looking for the person who could use an extra hug. What I worry about is that having a heart this big makes the getting hurt that much bigger. More heart to ache. She is a good judge of character but I worry that she will gravitate toward the wrong friend or, heaven help me, boy who won't have a heart that big and won't be careful with her. Is it wrong that I want to cover her in bubble wrap? 

She's 12, still goofy and most days loves her momma. The sleepless nights aren't setting in quite yet and I hope she hangs on to her innocent, sweet and kind nature for a long, long time. I don't wish her heart was smaller because it is so much of who she is BUT I am going to keep working on bubble wrap for a 5'6" 12-year-old. Happy Birthday my lovely Audrey. You are amazing.