Dear Emmalee

Dear Emmalee,

The day you joined our family started just the same way Ryan's first day did...back labor!

But, just like Ryan, you were so worth it.

When we found out we were having a girl, I wasn't sure if you'd be a tomboy since you would be surrounded by so many boys or if you'd be a girly-girl just to spite all of the boys.

We seem to have received the best of both worlds in you...you are one tough little thing with very little fear of anything (except shots, heights, and spiders) with just enough girly-girl added in. You love the color pink, dressing up, doing your hair, and playing with

your dolls. The things that come out of your mouth...sometimes they cause immediate laughter and other times they cause me to stop and wonder where in the world you heard such a thing. You pick things up so quickly and pop them back into conversations at the most interesting times. You never cry, unless you're hurt really bad or if you cause someone else either physical pain or hurt their feelings. You love school...you've made lots of friends, tell us that you are in love with a boy named Sean (because one time, you had only two candy pumpkins and he had four. He gave you one of his, and that was that.), and you honestly cannot believe that your teacher has a husband and a home (she doesn't live at school?).

~~~

Your favorites are reading stories, listening to songs and stories on your CDs, cooking, washing dishes (seriously!), coloring, drawing, playing with your Petshop/Barbies/Polly Pockets/Play Kitchen/Stuffed Animals/Etc., going for walks and bike rides, collecting leaves, going to the mall, making things from paper and fabric, and exploring.

~~~

I love your personality. I never understood how someone's eyes could sparkle until

I met you. When you laugh, you laugh with your everything...that deep belly laugh that spreads to everyone else in the room. Your imagination is amazing. You can play very contentedly all on your own with your toys for hours...playacting the entire time. I love to listen in on the conversations you have with your toys. When your brother is being nice to you, you love to play with him. Sometimes, when you get in trouble by me or Daddy, you'll turn to Ryan for comfort. Then, you'll both look over your shoulder at us like it's all our fault and it's the two of you against the world. I honestly don't mind when this happens because it shows that the two of you can stick together and support each other.

~~~

Emma, I love you and know that we are so blessed to have the priviledge of

being your family...of watching you learn and grow as a person. Today, you turn six. You're not our little baby or toddler anymore. You are your own little person with your own thoughts and feelings. But I love that you still fit in my lap, that you ask me to sing "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star," "Tell Me the Story of Jesus," and "Mathew, Mark, Luke and John" every night while rubbing your back, that you still call me Mommy and your hand is still so little compared to mine.

~~~

{Happy Birthday, Sweet Girl!}