Danielita.

To everyone else, she's Daniela. To me and our family, she's Danielita. Kevin will call her that in public sometimes and she will ignore him as any 17 almost 18 year old would do.

18 years old. I just stopped in thought. I am thinking about the moment we learned that you were on the way. Before I share that story, let me say that I prayed for my little sister for YEARS and I begged my parents for a little sister every Christmas and it was my wish every time I blew out my birthday candle. You see, I don't know if this has anything to do with it, but I was a HUGE Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen fan growing up and I wanted that sisterly connection so bad. Having a brother was cool and all that, but there's nothing like that sisterly bond (I love you, Tono). Then, one day, at the Merced Mall Food Court while my brother and I were about to enjoy our chicken sandwiches our mother shared the most joyous news and you know how I just stopped in thought about 2 minutes ago? The same thing happened to me during that moment back in 1999 when my mom told us she was pregnant. Then, I prayed for every second since that moment asking God to PLEASE send us a little girl. I know I had nothing to do with that and Daniela was probably a girl before sending those prayers, but I got my little sister and my heart has been so full since her arrival. You see that moment doesn't feel like it was more than 18 years ago. Just thinking about that moment pulls on my heartstrings in the best way possible and it honestly feels like it was just yesterday.

My sister was and still is the very expressive type. You can tell what she is thinking or feeling just by looking at her eyes. At One, she ruled our home. Oh, and once she started walking, goodbye freedom. I didn't lose my freedom when Emma started walking a few months ago, I lost it about 17 years ago the day Danielita learned to walk. She was our shadow and wanted to do everything that our brother and I did. At Two, I started teaching her every Disney song, Backstreet Boy song or Spice Girl song there is and we would dance to their music every weekend. At Three and Four, she would be my little hostess whenever my friends would come to our house. I was always surprised at how well she would fit in any group. I mean my friends and I were 11 years older than her and she would be able to hold a conversation just as well. At age Five, she would come home and share what she would learn at school and I loved how she would explain everything to me. I love her love for learning till this day. As she moved on to middle school, I started to realize that she passed my grade point average a long time ago and she was only in 8th grade. Then, High School happened and her love for fashion became more noticeable. She is my professional make-up artist and go to stylist. She has the confidence that I wish I had at her age.

18 years later and there hasn't been a day that I don't thank God for sending my family my sister. I finally have that one person who knows what I am thinking without even saying anything. I finally have that one person who can finish the rest of my sentences on accident. I finally have that one person I can share everything with and laugh and cry and sing Backstreet Boys with. I have been so lucky to have been a big sister to my Danielita. On her 18th birthday, words cannot express how much I love you.

With love,
Wawa