The Night Before Kindergarten

Wasn't this yesterday?  We were counting the days til you came . . . .. after a horrible spinal, 11 days of painful breastfeeding (but we pulled through and ended up breastfeeding for a full year), and many sleepless nights we settled into routine for a family of four.

When you started walking you were into everything . . . . so much more than Reese would dream of doing.  You would put your little foot on the top of the cabinets just enough to pull yourself up on the cabinets.  You climbed out of your crib at a mere 10 months old.

We celebrated your first birthday with lots of pink!  The first granddaughter after three boys!

A little out of order, but I loved your cute piggy tails!

Fast forward from your first year to this past year.  Wow, how time flies! You are still a girly girl.  You and Grandma put this ensemble together at the beach.  I think you convinced her to buy it for you.  After three grandsons she was happy to oblige!

Mommy and Emma enjoying our favorite place on earth---the beach.

What I admire most about you Emma is your ability to try new things.  You are not afraid to fail.  You are fearless!

See?  You always come up smiling!!

This year one of your friends had a "spa party"! After playing with your brother all the time, you are usually game for anything to do with your friends.  You loved the chocolate facials!

You in your Easter best.

Your best friend, well . . . . . your best furry friend at least!

Running the cash register at the grocery store---you loved it!

Here you are watching someone open a gift you picked out yourself for them at Christmas.  You love giving gifts to other people.

Thanksgiving---you are helping Daddy make his prized mashed potatoes! We expect them every year!

Your five year old pictures

Enjoying a basketball game with Daddy

The princess is all tuckered out at Disney!

Drinking some cocoa at Disney with Santa's helpers!

You love to have your face painted!

Trying out the kayak on the river! 

You love to kayak with me or ride the jet ski with me or Daddy. You are a water lover like the rest of us!

I have treasured every moment of these past five years. I love to watch you grow and change.  Four years you were home with me and last year you were in PreK.  You love school and can hardly sleep tonight.  You have come out of your room at least three times to tell me how "excited" you are for tomorrow!

Daddy has taken off the morning to make you your favorite breakfast and to take a bawling Mommy out to breakfast after.  I know you will be fine.  I guess I'm just sad to see you grow up.

Here is a little bit of what you have been up to or what you have accomplished this past year:

You love books and art.  You love music and dance.  You swim like a fish.  You have been swimming since three. This year you really mastered your breath control and can swim the length (vertical) of the pool at the beach and dive to the very bottom to retrieve a diving stick. 

You are reading some, and can't wait to continue reading in Kindergarten.  Your favorite book is an old book I had as a little girl called, "But No Elephants." We read it tonight. 

You are Daddy's girl and are quick to give him affection.  You have just this year started being more affectionate with me and much more cuddly than you ever have been.   Very much like your Dad, you are reserved with affection and words. However, also like him, when you do hug or say kind
words, you really mean it!

You are a free spirit.  You are driven even at this age.  You love people and you love to laugh---we often say you have Grandma Shelley's personality.  She is the life of the party. Your Dad and I looked at each other on the way back to the beach.  I said, "Can't you see us flying to somewhere crazy to visit her when she's an adult, like Zimbabwe or somewhere."  He replied, "Yep."  You are fiercely independent.  You take up for those you love, and you are up for any challenge!

Your buddy in the family is your cousin Braiden.  He is so protective of you.  He watches out for you all the time. When we were at the beach, he was the one pulling you out of the waves.  When we went bowling, he was the one who would go get the ramp and your ball every single time it was your turn, stay up there with you, then put everything back where it was.  He has the kindest heart, and you dearly love him.  He won't let anyone mess with you, including your own brother.  Now . . . .I'm trying to figure out how to send him on dates with you as a teen, and to college with you . .. .

You are anything but predictable and I love that about you. You love Jesus and are usually humming or singing a worship song all day long.  You are a brilliant ray of sunshine every single day.  I will miss you while at school, but I can't wait to hear everything you have learned and enjoyed as soon as you get into the car.  I know you will give me every little detail. 

I love you Emma Moo!  Have a great first day of Kindergarten!!