New Year's Resolutions

Tis the season to make resolutions, and though I don't often find myself jumping on the bandwagon, there is something appealing about a fresh start and a clean slate.  And so I've decided to make some resolutions of my own this year.  Not knowing how many I can stick to for the duration of the year, I've decided to list several in the hopes of accomplishing at least one or two!

• Track all of my 2012 runs (with the help of www.dailymile.com)
• Drink a minimum of 16 ounces of water per day
• Take a multi-vitamin daily
• Organize our home spaces so that we can better enjoy them
• Spend more time in God's Word
• Tell my husband and my children how much I love and appreciate them on a daily basis
• Stop biting my nails

Whew!  That's a lot to tackle!  Feel free to ask me about my progress and help keep me on track. :-)

Happy 4th Birthday!

Dear Emily,

Happy fourth birthday to you, my big girl! I don't think I'll be able to put into words exactly how much I have enjoyed this past year of your life. Three was an excellent year for you. You morphed into a beautiful, independent, creative, silly, articulate, inquisitive, and caring girl. You learned how to play on your own so well, to make up stories, and to transport yourself into your own little world. For the first half of the year three, playing with your doll house was your absolute favorite thing to do. You love to role play, and I can't tell you how many times we hear you say "okay, you be the little girl and I'll be the mommy" or some variation of that throughout the day. You have turned animals, trains, pieces of food, and even different sized sticks into family members. The second half of this year was all about the crafts, as we learned how much you adore creating pieces of artwork. You can spend hours each day at your craft table, and though we've surely killed our share of trees this year, you delight in all of your new creations. You love drawing families, and even began to illustrate your own books, telling your dad and I what should go on the pages.

This past year you also began attending preschool, and you just love it. You like the structure, I think, and you are quite fond of your teachers. I have yet to hear a negative thing about any part of the experience. You have learned to write about 90% of your letters, you can recognize them all - uppercase and lowercase - can count to 20 (still occasionally skipping a number), and can recognize an alarming number of words by site. You love to be read to, and you also like to read your books to us. You can spell and write your own name, of course, but also mom, dad, and a handful of other words. You blew me away once when you nonchalantly came up to me and gave me a card with my name on it that you had written. You also are using new words all the time, and often correctly. Although one incorrect use that continues to make me smile is when you whine in frustration that Sophie is "recognizing" your projects.

In addition to surprising me daily with how much you know, you constantly blow me away with how much you care about others. You are so very observant, and are deeply affected when anyone else is sad or upset. When we are reading, you study facial expressions, and will ask me why someone in the story is upset, or frustrated, etc. based on how they look. You are normally so great about sharing with your sister, and wanting to make her happy. She is going to have a great role model in you, I am quite certain. You are also learning more and more about God, and beginning to have a relationship with Jesus. Your prayers are very full of energy, that's for sure! And your questions blow me away. The other day we were driving in the car when you asked, "Mom, how does God see everyone at the same time?" You are so eager to figure out how the world works!
You are still a little shy, and pretty cautious of new situations. Your least favorite part of the day is going to bed, but obedient creature that you are, once we can wrestle you into your pajamas and your bed, you always stay there.

I have loved getting to spend this past year with you, Emily, and I am so honored to be your mommy.

Te Amo, Emily!

Mommy

How To Melt a Father's Heart

Tonight I was tucking Emily in bed, and after I gave her a hug she told me:
"I like it when you put your arms around me because it's like a hammock in my daddy's arms."

What else could a father want for Christmas?

I love you Emily,

Daddy

Twelve Months Old!

Dear Sophie,

On your birthday, there are a few things I want you to know. First, we feel so lucky to have welcomed you into our family exactly one year ago. Maybe it's because you have the benefit of having an older sister (and we made all of our mistakes on her - just kidding, Emmie!), but almost everything about your first year has seemed to go pretty well. Yes, there were hiccups along the way, and yes, there were days that most certainly wouldn't qualify as easy by anyone's definition, but by and large I will always look back on your first year of life with a smile.

Second, I want you to know how much you are loved. For me, it has been especially fun to watch Emily grow to love you. And someday - maybe ten years from now - you may not believe me, but you are one of her very favorite people. She adores you, she takes great pride in the fact that you are her sister, and she is always on your side. She loves making you laugh, and you don't disappoint. Your infectious smile and giggle are so much a part of your personality, and we are thankful that you are often such a happy child. You have an entire extended family - aunts, uncles, and grandparents - that think you're pretty great. You have a mom and dad who delight in you each and every day, and you have a God who will always watch over you.

Third, I want you to know some of specific things you do that make you unique. You love to cuddle any and all things soft, and you give phenomenal hugs. You don't like being cooped up, and are always on the go. You have begun pointing to things you want to see, touch, and grab and you squeal like a stuck pig when you don't get your way. You enjoy being read to for short periods of time, and will help turn the pages. You must also believe that every book is supposed to be a "touch and feel" book, and will spend forever combing your fingers over the pictures. You were an early walker, and are pretty athletic. You can go up and down stairs with great ease. You like being outside, in new places, and around people. You have amazingly beautiful eyes, and I can never decide what color they are. You seem to detest getting new teeth, and sometimes will stuff your entire little fist in your mouth to see if that will make everything feel better. You are quick to cry, but easily comforted. You have flaws, of course, but to me you are perfect because you are you.

I love you so much, and I celebrate you today, Sophie Grace.

Love,

Mommy

Frustrations

After listening to several minutes of Sarah venting her frustrations
about trying to order a Christmas gift online, Emily steps in to help:

EMILY: Momma, what's wrong?

SARAH: Oh nothing, Emmy. Mommy's just frustrated about ordering
something with the computer.

EMILY: Oh. One time I was frustrated when I was trying to play the
game I got at the chicken nugget store.

Playing School With Emily

EMILY: Everyone sit down please, it's time for school!
ME: Am I one of your students?
EMILY: Yes, you sit right here.
ME: OK
EMILY: Now it's time for the story.
ME: I want a snack! I want goldfish crackers please! Can I have
goldfish? Can I?
EMILY: Well, you just can't have what you want all the time.
ME: I can't?
EMILY: No, different people bring the snack every time. It's not just
goldfish, goldfish, goldfish all the time Daddy!

Halloween

While trick-or-treating last night, we noticed Emily wasn't saying "trick or treat".

ME: Emmy, don't forget to say "trick or treat" when someone opens the door.
EMILY: But they already know!