Worth Repeating / 10

September 2016

9/18

Mommy: "You know what the worst part of being sick is? ... Not getting to really play with you and Brennan."
Emerson: "That's the WORST part?!"

"I'm just really sad for you...."

October 2016

10/12

"God's love is like a snake, because it's really long... and it never ends."

10/15

Revealing Mommy's pregnancy to Grandma:
"Brennan has a surprise for you. It has to do with the lump in mommy's tummy."

"I'm so excited that there's a baby in your tummy."

10/18

"I'm not scheduling it! I don't even have my own calendar!"

10/19

"Can I apologize? I'm sorry for my disobedience. Can I try again?"

"Mommy, I have to make my disobedience more comforting to you. I have to make you something."

10/31

With sticky residue on her shoe, dressed up as Cinderella on Halloween:
"I don't feel like a princess at all."

November 2016

11/1

"I just keep forgetting that it's November 1st! We haven't had this day in a very long time!"

11/8

Accompanying Mommy to vote in the presidential election:
"I can't wait to vote. When I vote, I'm going to vote for someone really special."

Brennan: "Mommy, nank ooo clean my poopy diahpuh."

Emerson, running laps around the couch, on lap 31:
"I'm going to do 100 and then if I don't make it, I'll take a break. I'm not going to stop until I do!"

11/26

"I don't really like to make a Christmas list, cause I like to just be surprised at what Santa gives me."

Worth Repeating / 09

June 2016

6/1


"Brennan has a stinky diaper. That's her scent-marker, so I know she's around."

6/2


Emerson: "How do you like my art, isn't it nice?"
Mommy: "Yes..."
Emerson: "No, you have to be really impressed like 'Oh! Good job, Emerson!"

6/16


"This is my only dream come true."

6/23


Mommy: "Emerson, are we seeing the animals or going to the playground?"
Emerson: "Either both. If you want to see some animals and then go to the playground, that's fine with me."

July 2016

7/12


"You look good, Mom! I mean, not AS good as I'm gonna look, but...."

7/18


Looking at an old photo of Daddy:
Emerson: "What's he wearing?"
Mommy: "That's from a game, called Headbands. You try to guess what's on your head."
Emerson: "I would know really quickly, cause I would say 'card'".

August 2016

8/11


"I'm sorry your head hurts, Mommy. I'll pray for you tonight. ... Brennan doesn't care."

8/15

"It's your anniversary, be niiiiiice."

Mommy: "Do you want to come help me fix supper?"
Emerson: "No, cuddling with mama is more important."

8/21


Mommy: "In 2020...I'll be ready."
Emerson: "For what?"
Mommy: "The Olympics. What sport could mommy do?"
Emerson: "Maybe stunning (?), cause lure really fast. Or, swimming. Cause you like to swim. Or...commercials. You can be in the commercials."

8/24


Mommy: "That's called the circle of life. When animals die, they're eaten by other creatures."
Emerson: "Well, we don't get eaten, you know where we get to be.... Living with God and Jesus in heaven."

Going behind tree in yard:
"Mommy, I'm going to have a moment with God..."

"You're my best friend, Grandma."

"I feel badly about what I said. I'm sorry, Mommy...."

8/25


Singing to Mommy at bedtime:
"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you. Your birthday is over, you have to go to sleeeeeep. Happy birthday to you. See? I made it into a lullaby."

Worth Repeating / 08

March 2016

3/12


"I gotta tell you, I slept SO peacefully. Like, I didn't hear nobody. I was so tired."

3/13


"I saw this and I thought of you cause you're da best mommy in da world."

3/18


Watching Mary Poppins, "We'll start with raspberry ice, and then some cake and tea....":

"That's not very healthy. They must be having dessert."

Mommy: "I am so lucky to be your mommy."
Emerson: "And I love being your child. But I'm ready to grow up...."

3/23


Mommy: "Emerson, will you pick up that grape-something off of the floor?"
Emerson: "Stem. It's called a stem. Apples have stems...grapes have stems...."


3/24
Mommy: "Isn't it fun to think about what you might choose to do someday? You might in the band or be the twirler or play a sport or something else!"
Emerson: "Well, I really want to do both."

3/29


"When I was a baby I knew about God, cause I was still in His hands."

3/31


"I really wanted to watch tv before bed, but I got distracted by the iPad!"

April 2016

4/1


Handing Emerson Cream of Wheat, cautiously warning about temperature:
Mommy: "Careful, it's hot...."
Emerson: "That's why it's called hot cereal."

4/20

Emerson: "I'm thinking about Daddy."
Mommy: "You'll feel safer once he's home, won't you?"
Emerson: "Yeah." (Smiling, but fighting tears and emotional.) "He's super strong!"

4/22


Mommy: "Someday you may choose to ask Jesus to live in your heart forever."
Emerson: "Well, I think Jesus already lives in my heart."

4/28


"Dear Mommy, I love when you say 'I love you'. Or 'I love you, Brennan'. It doesn't really matter. But don't forget that I was your baby. Love, Emerson"

May 2016

5/4


Interrupting mid-prayer at bedtime:
"And pray about Jesus, that God sent Him to the world, and made it beautiful, and He washed our sins away."

5/10


"You're the best mommy in the world. God made you just the way I like you."

5/16


"And thank you, God, that you didn't put us on the earth by ourselves, but you gave us Jesus."

"Mommy, pray for my disobedience."

5/22


"Mommy, I love you. And I love when you read the Bible to me."

Worth Repeating / 07

December 2015

12/1

"This is what Grandpa was talking about! Joy to the world!"

"No, Brennan, no! This is exactly what I didn't want to happen. Now I'm going somewhere that you can't find me."

12/3


"I'm not afraid because I trust in God. God, and David, beat the bad guys. He's the good guy. He's the King, of the Lord. He wants to live in our heart."

12/4


"Sorry I sleeped in your bed. I just wanted to be with you. I promise, tomorrow I'll sleep in my bed."

12/8


Mommy, feeling envious and lonely (and clearly, dramatic): "I don't have friends or an office party...."
Emerson: "Mom, I'll have a party with you."

12/10


"Well, he loves treats but a treat wouldn't fit in a present. Ooh! He could have a bear just like me!"

12/16


"Mom, why do you work so hard on things? Why do you have so much to do?"

12/18


Emerson: "Is it hard work being a mommy?"
Mommy: "Yes, but it's the very best kind of work. There's nothing I'd rather do."
Emerson: "Without you, I wouldn't be Emerson. Which, it is. Without you, I wouldn't be here!"

12/23


"This is the life. Fresh air, fresh van. I'm happy."

12/24


"Dear Je- I'm going to do it a little different.... Dear Jesus, I hope everything goes well in Bethlehem. We love you. In Jesus name, Amen."

12/27


Emerson, having a serious conversation with 'Siri', on Daddy's phone:
"I'm not Robert! I'm Emerson. E M E R S O N, Emerson."
"Why do giraffes have long necks? Why do elephants have long trunks?"
"Siri, do you have high heels?"

12/28


Emerson, regarding Brennan: "She has more energy than I do!"
Mommy: "Yeah, that's what happens when you get older. Now you know how Daddy and I feel!"
Emerson: "Yeah. Happy."

12/30


Calls Mom to room after bedtime:
"Today was a super great day. I just wanted to tell you that."

January 2016

1/4


Emerson: "Do you need company or privacy?"
Mommy: "Either one."
Emerson: "Well, I'll give you privacy cause I think that's the most kindest thing to do, so...."

1/11


"Mommy, you're just the sweetest mommy I've ever seen. You're not silly. You're not mad. You're just the sweetest mommy ever."

Talking about Heaven before bed....
Emerson: "Do you go on clouds? Or a rocket ship?"
Mommy: "We don't take a rocket ship. I don't understand it all, either. But, when we die, our soul...part of our heart and our mind...goes to be with God. Let's keep praying.... God, I pray that you'll continue to guide Emerson's heart and mind as she asks questions about You..."
Emerson: "No, I'll pray now.... Lord, we pray that I'll know how to get to heaven. In Jesus' name, Amen."

1/13


Putting on socks:
"No, I can do it all my myself. Cause I'm the big girl. I make the choices but you make the rules."

1/16


"My God is so great, so strong and so mighty.... Let's make that our prayer. (Singing at supper table) Amen."

"Thank you for making our supper. I don't really like quesadillas, but thank you for making them!"

1/30


Mommy: "We can cast our burdens on Jesus. That means, give God the things that worry us."
Emerson: "I want to do that right now. About giants, because I worry about them outside, too. Jesus, please help me not worry about giants anymore. Amen. Here you go, Jesus."
Mommy: "Doesn't that feel good?!"
Emerson, with a big smile: "Mm-hmm."

February 2016


2/8


"Is it on Neck-flix? I can't really say Neck-flix. It's kind of a hard word for children to say."

2/10


"Did you know that H2O is water?"

2/13


"I'm so glad when God made this church."

2/14


Mommy: "Look at the sky! It looks mysterious."
Emerson: "Yeah. And ominous."

2/18


Mommy: "Aren't you tired from all that exercise?"
Emerson: "No, cause remember God made us to keep going!"

2/15


"Brennan, I love you. And you say, 'I love Daddy.' I love you, Brennan."

"My Friends"

Emerson ran excitedly to the sandbox at the softball fields. There were a couple of older girls playing there, likely six or seven years old. After introducing herself to them, and asking them to play with her, she looked over at me, giving a confident "thumbs-up". My heart practically burst with pride.

I watched them play. The group grew throughout the evening as they built castles, chased one another, made "sand angels", and dug in the sand. Emerson was happy and carefree and everything a three year old should be.

We talked about her time later that evening. Over and over again, she talked about "my friends".

She could not, I'm quite sure, have told me their names. She knew they were older. She could recount the games they played. It never seemed to dawn on her that she may never see them again, and their relationship would likely never amount to more than the play they shared on that summer evening in June. Nevertheless, they were her "friends".

I admire her for that. Without knowing anything else about those children, the fact that they played together made them her friends. Why shouldn't they be?

I find myself, for whatever reason, more inclined to see other people...other women...as competition (in what?), as a threat (to what?), or as a challenge (for what?) than I am apt to see them as potential friends.

When did that happen? How did that happen? And how in the world do I change that? Because I don't think it's healthy. It's certainly not Christ-like, and it isn't the example I want to set for my girls.

Then again, on that night, Emerson was the example. She showed love, she demonstrated kindness, and she reminded me that the world is full of "my friends"...most of whom I just haven't met yet.

Brennan: 18 & 19 Months

May 2, 2016

Sweet Brennan, I cannot tell you how many times I have wanted to sit down and write a monthly update for you. Actually, I have quickly-written notes from several months ago that never made it into blog-form that I will try to decipher in order to recall the details I was trying to capture...but I know I won't be able to remember all of them. It bums me out already that I have not written more specific details of these early months of your life. There is no shortage of photos, though, and I hope the pictures tell the story. The happy, happy story of this life we are getting to enjoy with you. (This age of social media, I tell you! A girl has to pick her medium! There are only so many hours of the day!) Truly, though, I am sorry for not making more of an effort to document these things for you, and for myself. But, grace is greater than guilt, and that is a lesson that your mommy is learning and clinging to.

• You are currently wearing 18 and 24 month clothing. You would probably fit into some 2T styles, but I just cannot allow it. Not yet.... At your last doctor's appointment, you were in the 85th percentile, I believe, for height and weight. You're just right.
• At one point, Emerson was regularly asking for pieces of gum, which she received and you did not. You have associated "gum" with a treat of any kind, and you will frequently reach in the kitchen cabinet and try to pull out "gum-ma" for yourself. You (and your sister...and your mom) really love treats!
• You are still waking up at least once in the middle of the night, and for a couple of months upon awakening, you would call to me in a short, disgruntled, and determined tone of voice. "Mommy! Mommy!" As if mad at me for having the audacity to not be in your room when you awoke. The moment I walk through the door, however, you immediately change your tone and greet me with a "hiiiiii! ... hiiiiii!" Cheerful, high-pitched, and pleasant. How can I possibly be frustrated to have been awakened with such a perky greeting?!
• You continue to be Emerson's shadow, repeating her movements and following her lead. I am so thankful that she is the example you have to follow. I don't want you to become her, and I don't get the impression that you want to be her, either. It's as if you are determined to be your own person, and you are using all of the resources you have available to you to figure out this thing called "life". You do so love your big sister, though! And, she loves you more than you yet know.
• You call Emerson "Eye-yah", and it has become increasingly easy to tell when you are calling her by name, or trying to get her attention. I love that.
• You love your books, and consistently choose your "Elmo" search-and-find book, "Bob the Builder" opposites board book ("Baaa, Da Bah-Da!" you sing as you pick it up), "Bobo", and "Duck and Goose". You are so proud to know those books well.
• You enjoy television, and are able to ask for "Sophia the First" ("Iii-aww!"), "Zoboo" ("Ah-bo!"), and dear old "Daniel Tiger" ("Die-yah").
• Your hair is really starting to grow, and has become increasingly blonde. So beautiful.
• You have a "look" and a pout that is quite serious. You furrow your brow and really put on a show. More than anything, I think you're proud to know how to make your face look that way.
• When you swing in the backyard, you lean your head back, close your eyes, and make the most delighted face. I can only imagine what you're thinking, but you just radiate joy in that moment, and I love the delight you take in it.
• Fighting the car seat has really taken hold in the past month. You have consistently enjoyed riding in the car seat, and even now (once we hold you down and force the seat upon you) you seem to enjoy car rides, but goodness...it's been a willful struggle lately!
• "App-uh!" (apple) 
• "Guy-de? Guy-de?" ("Outside?" OR, a request to nurse on the other side...depending on context.)
• You recover quite quickly from frustration or hurt or disappointment.
• "Yeah-yeah." ("Thank you!") You are so very polite, and love saying thanks. Actually, until you are acknowledged, you continue to express your gratitude in an increasingly loud manner until you know you have been heard.
• "Ah-you." ("Love you.")
• "Ah dooo!" ("I do!")
• "I knowwww!"
• "Doo-se?!" ("Juice?!")
• "Ah-bah!" ("Amen!") You love to pray and bow your head at the dinner table, reach for my hand and Emerson's, and wait patiently for the "Amen". Often, you'll clap and cheer once we've concluded. You know it's something special that we're doing, and you are so proud to participate. How much the Lord must smile to see your joy in talking to Him!
• You love your yellow blanket! It was on the back of the recliner in your room in the early days of your life, and as we sat there to nurse, it must have unknowingly become a comfort. You now find it at nap time and bedtime and love to cuddle with it as you nurse and when you wake. Adorable.
• At bedtime, you generously offer hugs and kisses to Daddy and Emerson, and sometimes Royal, and those genuine end-of-day shows of affection melt my heart.

I love you so dearly, Precious. We are making so many treasured memories together, and I am loving every moment of watching you grow. Each season with you has been a blessed one! 

You are full of life and personality, confidence and energy. 

You have such a special place in this family of ours, and you fit in so perfectly. I hope you always know what a gift you are to me, Brennan Elizabeth, and what a gift you are to this world. I love you.

Brennan: 12 Months

October 2, 2015

• Putting finger in mouth while nursing
• Personality, knowing glances and smiles
• Uh-mmm
• Done, again, woof woof, daddy, squirrel, dog, oww-guide (outside)
• Little tantrums
• Playing in Emerson's bed
• Enjoying light switches
• Shoes

Worth Repeating / 06

September 2015

9/2

Mommy: "We're on the highway!"
Emerson: "Actually, this is the low-way."

9/3

Emerson: "Where is the giraffe?"
Mommy: "What about your treasure box...?"
Emerson: "It's right there. That's not hard to find."

9/9

"You're mine."

Emerson: "What's wrong with Brennan?"
Mommy: "She doesn't want to go to bed...."
Emerson: "Yeah. But I do!"

9/10

Dear Santa
I love you.
I want a princess dress just like the big sister on Frozen.
Love, Emerson


9/15

Asking Emerson to leave Brennan's room:
"But there was llama drama in there. There's llama dramas everywhere.... Only one room has no llama drama so that's why I came in here."

9/21

Mommy: "That isn't a choice."
Emerson: "Yes it is. It's what I chose. So, it's a choice."

9/22

Daddy, singing: "You can't always get what you want, but you get what you need!"
Emerson: "And you don't complain!"

9/23

"I have a LOT of energy. Like, I have a really full tummy of energy. So I have to get it out by gymnast-icing! And then, I'll never play again."

"Grandma, now I want to be a bride... walking down the path... with a baby in my tummy."

Emerson: "Say, 'Emerson will come home in a little while. I will be be back in a little while. I'm going to be back in just a little while, Brennan.'"

9/28

"Look, Mom, I'm a flower starting to bloom!"

"The squirrel is gathering up food to store in the winter. And we need to store...in our heart. That's what the Bible tells us. To store in our heart!"

"I try what I can!"

"Is God a little God or a big God?"

9/29

"Does God have a wand?"

9/30

"You're tougher than that."

October 2015

10/22

"Mom, I'm glad you're putting makeup on, but you're here and Brennan is on the bathroom stool."

10/23

Mommy: "I haven't been able to find a ballet class for you yet."
Emerson: "Yeah, so I'll wait till I'm four.... Or maybe I could just buy you a new computer so you can find a three year old class."

10/24

"Dad, do you wanna go watch football while we eat our cereal? Cause, you really like football, and I do, too, so maybe we should!"

10/26

Mommy, regarding Daddy's search for a Halloween costume: "They don't have the wig he needs."
Emerson: "Well, he can go to Pinterest."

"God laughs at our jokes."

10/28

Emerson: "Mom, you know what you are?"
Mommy: "What?"
Emerson: "You're a sweet, loving mom."

November 2015

11/1

Mommy: "You won't always be a little girl. You'll grow into a woman."
Emerson: "Yeah! My brain will say 'I've had enough of this!'"

Mommy: "You know what sounds good? A nap."
Emerson: "Okay. Dad, can you handle us?"

Mommy: "Is your banana good?"
Emerson: "Yeah. Compliments to the chef."

11/7
Dear Santa,
I want an Elsa doll and an Anna doll and a pink dress, that is all I want.
Dear, Emerson

11/9

Mommy: "You're really working hard on that!"
Emerson: "It's what I do.... I'm master piecing."

11/12
"Everywhere I go, there is God. All around."

11/21
"It's snowing!!!!!!"

"You give me a lot to do. So, next time, you do my job for me."

Mommy: "Mommies get tired, too."
Emerson: "Sometimes. Not a lot of times."

11/29

"I was in my room, worshipping Jesus."

Brennan: 15 & 16 Months

January 2, 2016

• More, Royal, mama, up, bye, hello, water, bird, yeah yeah, now
• Sleeping in bed, crib, fighting it
• Playing with Emerson, watching her like a shadow
• Spinning lately
• Wants to be part of action
• Open mouth nodding
• Hug "uck"
• Hearing M&M jar
• Gone, done
• Blanket to bed, handing me pillow
• Nighttime kisses and bye bye
• Verbalizing Grandma, Grandpa
• Words more identifiable
• Pulling hair
• Growing hair
• No bows
• Cuddles at church
• Nap unpredictability
• Climbing
• Shyness
• Drawing on Etch-a-Sketch
• Right-handed
• Chalk on wall
• Hey, you!
• Uh-oh
• Poo poo? Yeah
• Noooo
• Reading "Bobo"
• Giving hugs and kisses
• Pointing to face parts
• Voice intonation
• Loves being outside
• Hunger comes and goes

Worth Repeating / 05

June 2015

6/5


"Mom, you're a good mom, Mom."

Emerson: "Mom, you're a good mom, to figure out what babies like to eat."
Mommy: "You know what I think? I think you'll be a good mommy someday."
Emerson: (smile) "And you'll be a good grandma."

6/8


"I don't really like girls very much but I like boys SO much."

Mommy: "You're doing a good job walking Royal."
Emerson: "Thank you. I just love to walk dogs."

6/10


Emerson: "Why aren't you feeding her?"
Mommy: "Well, I'm cutting the chicken and raw chicken has lots of germs, so I don't want to touch her food."
Emerson: "Well, you're not using your uh-ver hand."

6/12

Discussing dress shoes:
"I put them on to be faaaaaannncy enough, to be fancy for the day."

Emerson: "I didn't know I would be mommy."
Mommy: "Someday!"
Emerson: "And I didn't know you would be grandma."
Mommy: "Someday!"
Emerson: "But...who will be Emeh-teh?"

6/18

Mommy: "You did not eat much. Do you want some turkey?"
Emerson: "Or black beans?"
Mommy: "Yeah, that's a great choice! Do you want some black beans?"
Emerson: "Nope!"

6/29

"Can I have just a little bit of sprinkles now?"

"You're ruining my cake!"

"Thank you for your hard work for my party."

"And I love you for making my party so special."

6/30

"Mom, come look at the llama drama. Royal is with the llama drama. He's brave."

"It's fun that we have these stickers. Do you know what's more funner? You."

6/2

"Am I still three?"


July 2015

7/2

Mommy: "It's Mommy and Daddy's job to help you learn to be obedient."
Emerson: "Okayyyyy. I forgive you."

7/3

"No, don't eat the popcorn. It's only for Daddy and me."

7/9

"Let's do it my way."

7/14

"And we have to write a thank-you note for Daddy! Because he is so special to me. Not because he gave me a present, but because he loves me."

7/18

Mommy: (regarding Brennan playing nearby) "She's safe, Emerson."
Emerson: "I just don't want her to embarrass herself."

Mommy: (regarding cherry tomatoes from the garden) "Don't they taste like candy? It's so neat that God does that!"
Emerson: "Thank you, God, for the candy!"

7/23

Mommy: "Tomorrow is zoo class day!"
Emerson: "With you?!"
Mommy: "Yep!"
Emerson: "Oh, that just warms my heart."

7/26

Emerson: "Will you share your pancakes with me?"
Mommy: "Yes, babe."
Emerson: "Okay. Because, we share with our friends."

"She was so cute sleeping in her bed!" (talking about Brennan)

7/27

"Um, Mommy, one more thing. Can you give me a kiss and a hug, because we didn't do that."

Emerson: "I wish we had doughnuts."
Mommy: "Well, maybe in Florida we could have doughnuts."
Emerson: "Well, in Florida, we're going to have fish. So, probably not doughnuts because we're going to have fish."


August 2015

8/3

"I'm hungry. I'm thirsty. I'm sleepy."

8/4

Emerson: "Isn't this fun, Rachel?"
Aunt Rachel: "Yeah, it is!"
Emerson: "This is what it's all about. Having fun at the beach. This is what it's all about. ... Burying people in sand. This is what it's all about."

8/8

Mommy: "What music do you want to listen to?"
Emerson: "I don't know. Just some of my favorite jams."

8/9

Mommy: "There's no place like home, is there? I think home is the best, do you?"
Emerson: "Yeah. But the beach is the really, really best."

8/17

"De-ah God, thank you for this day and help Daddy to be safe in Car-o-li-na and help me wear my orange and white striped dress and help Daddy come tomorrow, and bless our hearts, Amen."

"I just wanted to be snuggle as a bug in there."

8/21

Emerson: "Don't sing that song. I'm tired of it and it's getting in my head."
(Mom chuckles)
Emerson: "What's so funny?"
Mommy: "You. You're cute as a button."
Emerson: "No I'm not."
Mommy: "You're not?"
Emerson: "No!"


Mommy: "I love being your mommy."
Emerson: "I love being your Emerson."

8/23

Emerson: "It's a beautiful day!"
Mommy: "It's rainy and dreary."
Emerson: "Yeah, but it's still beautiful."

Emerson: "When I'm bigger, I'll have a baby in my tummy."
Mommy: "You have to be much older, and be married to a husband who loves you very, very much."
Emerson: "Maybe Grandpa can marry me."

8/27

"Dear Lord, help Isaac to feel better with medicine so he can feel better and play with me and so he can go anywhere, and help Grandma and Grandpa stay safe in Bolivar, and help his mother and father be brave at the hospital, and bless our hearts, Amen."

Mommy: "God gives you strength to do all things!"
Emerson: "Like to run?"
Mommy: "Yep!"
Emerson: "And to jump...for joy!"

8/28

"When Daddy gets home, I'm not going to let him go, cause I missed him so much!"

Three. (And a half.)

On this, Emerson's three-and-a-half-year-old birthday, it seems like as good a time as any to post the blog that I drafted, yet failed to post, on her actual third birthday. ('As good a time as any', except for when I actually meant for it to be posted, that is. Oh, well.)

Emerson Blair,

Tomorrow you will be three. THREE. It seems to suit you well. You've been so excited for your birthday, practicing holding up three fingers by pushing two of them down, so proud of yourself for figuring out how to make it happen.

I don't feel like I documented your time as a two year old very well...not as well as I would've liked, anyway. The truth is, you grew and changed so quickly, it was hard to keep up with everything you did and said. Emerson, "two-year-old you" was a delight. You have blossomed in the past year, and your personality is so beautiful.

You are growing in your affection, giving hugs and kisses and "I love you mama."
You ask thoughtful, intentional questions.
You are cautious and a study-er, taking time to familiarize yourself with situations and people before jumping in.
You are tender-hearted.
You are so very perceptive to situations and conversations.
Your vocabulary amazes me.
You are a natural big sister. You were from the first moment you met Brennan.

Right now, you love to pretend.
You love rhyming words and jokes and songs.
You love making up words and being silly.
You love to make your sister laugh (and you make her laugh more than anyone).
You love to dance in your room with your ballet slippers and lullaby CD.
You love to dig for worms in the front flower bed.
You want most of your drinks to have a "lid and a straw", that you want to bend yourself.
You want me to carry you to bed, after you've turned on your music by yourself, and we pray, have a drink of milk and water, and then a lullaby, and then I have to turn on your fan. You are a creature of habit. And, order.
You have your own dance, with your wrist waving by your head, eyes closed, and a little grin.
You love Friday movie night and "Veggie Tales". Our family dance parties have been a lot of fun to the Veggie Tales soundtrack.

I'm happy that you're growing up. Every year has just been more and more fun, and I cannot wait to get to know three-year-old you.

Love,
Mommy

As it so happens, three-year-old Emerson is incredible. What a happy six months this has been been. The fun continues...!