I know I’ve been doing a lot of bragging on here lately, but I’ve got one more day of it.  This time itz about my seester, Stephanie.  She turns the big 3-0 today.  I could brag on about her forever, but I’ll give you all just the highlights.  Where do I start?

She’s freakin’ amazing.  You see, we have really strong women in my family beginning with my great-Grandma Rose.  Then my Mama and my mom.  Next in line is Stephanie and she has definitely emulated the preceding women.  At the young age of 30, she is already a loving mom to her two ridiculously adorable kiddos, she has her master’s degree in mathematics and teaching certificate, she began her own photography business that is so unbelievably successful and growing by the minute, but most of all she has been my big seester and my best friend every second of every day of my life.

Stephanie and I had a very typical seesterly relationship when we were younger.  We played, she bossed me around, we fought, we made up, we teamed up against our brothers and parents, and we had sleepovers in each others rooms.  As we both got older, she taught me important lessons such as driving (nope – definitely didn’t teach me that one, thank goodness!) how to shave my legs, wear makeup, and dye my hair with an entire bottle of sun-in.  “No just a little more.  This will look really good, I promise.” 

While my mom may not have agreed with all of Stephanie’s lessons, I’m pretty sure she’ll attest that the vast majority lead me in the right direction.  Stephanie has ALWAYS been there for me.  Without a doubt, no matter what time in the day/night, how busy she is, whatever the reason, I can always count on her.  She completely exceeds the typical seesterly duties and constantly goes over and beyond to make sure I (and everyone around her) is happy.  Stephanie even set up an entire red-carpet for my bachelorette party so we and the girls could do some fun posing as our night began.

Now, it is pretty clutch that Stephanie is a photographer.  She has taken a billion pictures of me (and Jonny), including my blog header, engagement pictures, bachelorette/bridal shower pictures, New Years cards, and just basically anytime we get together I am guaranteed a quality picture.    But itz really more than that.  Stephanie becoming the professional photographer captures who she is for so many reasons.

First of all, if you haven’t already, go and look at her pictures.  They are breath-taking and her almost 3,000 fans in less than a year on Facebook are just one way to prove it.  Second of all, her “about me” on her photography site ends with: …I believe children make people smile.  I love my life.  And I love being able to capture how much you love yours.  If that doesn’t capture her in a nutshell, I don’t know what does. Stephanie is always full of life and her laugh is often referred to as contagious.  If you’re in the same state as us, you’ll probably be able to hear her laugh.

Lastly, Stephanie is a freakin’ genius.  Seriously.  Not only has she taught herself the art of photographing newborns (and being named St. Louis’ Best Family Photographer!), she began her own business, website, marketing, she’s done it all on her own.  If she doesn’t know something, she’ll figure it out and it won’t take her long.

When I was younger, I always snuck into her room to steal her clothes.  Sometimes Often this resulted in a big fight when I was caught, but now her intelligence is shown once again as she likes to borrow my clothes and copy my workouts and my recipes.  She even pretends to be a hippie and throw up the peace sign like me.

Stephanie, happy 30th birthday!  I love you! xoxo

And the rest of you, I hope you have a seester in your life.  If not by blood, by mere friendship just as Stephanie has given and continues to give me.  Who would you say is your seester?