17!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Havana is now 17! One more year until she reaches that milestone adulthood birthday. And while she is in her last year of childhood, Havana still remains my baby girl, and she always will. I see the growth and maturity over the past year and yet there are times when I still see that sweet little girl ever present.

This past year has seen many changes in Havana's life. One of the biggest changes was her big sister and best friend going to college. The two of them are like Yin and Yang. They may argue at times and frustrate each other, but at the end of the day, they truly are the best of friends. Almost every day they would talk on the phone and FaceTime, checking in with each other about ideas and opinions. Havana is not always the most communicative about her feelings, but I know for sure she missed her sister terribly. Havana may have also enjoyed being the only child in the house but having big sister gone that was a big deal. Havana flew up twice this year to spend the weekend with her sister in her dorms and hanging out like a college student.

Havana started and completed her Junior year of High School, which is the hardest year of childhood academic education. Havana was pushed and challenged, and she came out triumphant. There were many learning curves and growing edges, but Havana's stubbornness can sometimes be her hidden force and she persevered and she had many good experiences including being her editor of the schools art magazine.

Havana and I returned to Uganda earlier this year. We also visited Rwanda, where we both had some powerful learning experiences. Havana is a great traveler and it's wonderful to see her heart and mind wide open in those settings that are so different from the ones we live in every day. She makes friends with adults and kids alike, and our sense of humor is always present. Havana remains a thoughtful and very sensitive human being with a very evolved soul. And at the same time, she is still that tender child who is still growing up and navigating this very uncertain world.

Havana has taken to Photography. Like her sister and her mother before her, Havana has an artistic eye when it comes to the lens. It's been a joy watching her take photographs and print them. I am not biased because I'm her mom. Baby girl has real talent.

Havana continues to show her talent in the kitchen from time to time. Not so much cooking but baking. She loves to bake things and she does it quite well.

Being in high school as a teenager is a challenging time and that was no different for Havana. Navigating amongst your peers, learning to settle into yourself is not easy task. That, along with all of the craziness of the world and social media, it's hard being a teenager these days. I witnessed Havana struggle in some of these areas but again she perseveres. She has a very sweet, supportive and creative set of friends. Not unlike herself, they live a tad outside the box. Creative, unique, artistic, honest. It relieves my mama's mind that Havana has the group of friends she does.

A very big milestone this year was Havana learning to drive, taking and passing her driving test. There were many bumps and delays along the way but now she is driving. Sort of. She has only driven once since she took the test several weeks ago but she get there. Don and I'd days of driving to/from school are done! Havana is on her own.

For her birthday this year, Havana thoughtfully organized and planned a birthday party for herself in Kennedy Grove. A place we have had many past birthdays. The parents were not invited. Which was okay. Havana is individuating and she needs that space to blossom and shine on her own. She doesn't need her hovering mom trying to step in and help. She did a fantastic job. I was just thankful Amara took photos for me to see the fun.

Seventeen starts today and I wish for Havana continued confidence in who she is, strength to overcome doubt, on-going joy and humor and a lot of love, from both self and others.

Happy Birthday to my Baby Girl.