Emma Kate's Birthday Interview - Four

What is your favorite color?  Pink

What is your favorite toy?  My Snow White doll

What is your favorite fruit?  Brownies (Whatever, we'll revisit the food groups later)

What is your favorite tv show?  Dr shows and Fresh Beat Band

What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch?  Cheese Sandwich

What is your favorite outfit?  Cheerleader shorts and tank top

What is your favorite game?  Candy Land

What is your favorite snack?  Brownies

What is your favorite animal?  Cats

What is your favorite song?  "Set Fire to the Rain"

What is your favorite book?  Is Your Mama a Llama?

Who is your best friend?  "Gwace"

What is your favorite cereal?  Lucky Charms, but just the marshmallows

What is your favorite thing to do outside?  Swim

What is your favorite drink?  Milk

What is your favorite holiday?  Christmas

What do you take to bed at night?  Nothing

What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?  Cinnamon rolls

What do you want for dinner on your birthday?  Spaghetti

What do you want to be when you grow up?  A mama

Emma Kate - Four

October 2, 2012

Dear Emma Kate,

Oh, my precious, cuddly, Emma Katherine.  You did it!  You reached "fow-uh" years old!  You had your princess party that was pink, and purple, and sparkly, and included all your favorite things: Snow White, spaghetti, brownies, and presents.  I was so proud when you remembered to say thank you to your guests.  That is just one way that you are mature for your age.  Now, don't get me wrong, you love to pitch a good fit, and you can hold your own in a whining contest.  But, during those times, I have to remind myself that it's normal four year old behavior, or maybe I just pray it's normal.

What a year this has been for you.  Your sass has been brought to the forefront.  I think it's safe to say that no one will run over you.  I just know in my heart of hearts though, that trait will pay off in the long run.  My mama's heart wants to believe that when you are in fourth grade, or seventh, or tenth, that your sass will see you through to stand up to peer pressure and make good choices.

This year, you went to the beach for the first time, attended your first cheer camp, learned how to swim without floaties, and started preschool!  You are soaking in all you can learn at school, and even love to read along with Grace as she practices her kindergarten reading.  You love school and want to know why you can't go every day like Grace.  You love pink, sleeping in my bed, Adele, flip flops, and lip gloss.

Your best friend is your sister.  You two fight hard and love hard.  You aren't quite yourself when she's not around.   And, you are protector of your brother.  You make sure he doesn't climb where he isn't supposed to and make sure I thoroughly apply his diaper cream.

Precious Girl, you are one of a kind.  You know how to push my buttons - the ones that make me growl and the ones that make me melt.  You are opinionated, hilarious, and an awesome little helper.  You love to help in the kitchen cooking and doing dishes.  You are a super washcloth folder and diaper getter.  You are the spitting image of your daddy.  Your capable little hands amaze me.  Your not so quiet singing voice is music to my ears. Your smile can light up a room. Your laugh is infectious.

I hope you love being four and all the experiences this year brings to you.  I hope you never change, that you never stop being "you".

I love you a bushel and a peck,
Mama

Reece - ONE

August 21, 2012

Dear Reece,

This morning, as I greeted you with a "Happy Birthday, Baby Boy", it seemed surreal.  365 days ago, you joined us.  365 days doesn't even seem possible.  365 minutes, maybe.  365 blinks, more likely.  But 365 days?  Surreal.

365 days ago, I didn't know how much I would enjoy having a little boy.  365 days ago, I had never bought out toy trucks to adorn our family room.  I had never picked out a bib reading "Little Man".  365 days ago, I didn't know, couldn't have dreamed how incomplete our family was without our baby boy.

I suppose this whirlwind year is only fitting after the way you came into the world.  It seems that starting with your 3 week early entrance that you have been itching to go places, get things done.  You have gone from still little peanut to a busy, moving and shaking little boy.  Once you figured out how to crawl, it was only a matter of weeks before you began pulling up, cruising, walking, climbing, and running!

You are adding words to your vocabulary almost daily.  At 12 months, you can say Mama (swoon), bite, bye bye, baby, dada, ball, nurse (nuh), and hey.  You make truck noises, dog sounds, and horse sounds.  You love animals, balls, bugs, being outside, and anything that goes!

You are funny; you love to dance (and have quite a few moves) and are oh so mischievous!  We often find you in the trash, playing in the toilet, eating bugs or dirt, climbing on anything and everything, and squealing as you get caught.

You also love to eat.  There is nothing that we know of that you do not like to eat - and lots of it! Your favorites are biscuits and gravy, potatoes, and ice cream.  You are Daddy's buddy as soon as he walks in the door after work because he takes you to the kitchen for a snack.

You have spent 365 days learning, growing, and changing.  We have spent 365 days becoming more smitten with you.  Your sisters love you like you are their own baby.  They want to hold you, even though you don't sit as still for them as you used to, tickle you, and play with you.  And, I can practically see their hearts swell when you "give them love".

Daily, I thank God for you; thank Him for choosing me to be your mama.  You are a precious little boy who has brought so much to our family.  Just a mere 365 days ago, we were singing "Little Boy Blue" to you in my tummy.  This weekend, as we sing a different song to you, what once was a blind love for this little being we had yet to see, yet to know, is now love and adoration for our son, our little brother. What a fast, busy, hard, wonderful, blissful year this has been.  I can't wait to see what your next year has in store for us!

Happy first birthday, Baby Boy.

Love,
Mama