dear emmy.

dear emmy,

it simply wouldn't be possible for me to love you any more than i already do.

i just love the stage you are in right now and i want it to last forever.  you are just the cutest.  you make friends wherever we go...you're always getting people's attention by your sweet smiles and coy stares.  at bella's gymnastics class every week you're always "visiting" with all the other moms.  last week one mom said "she is always so happy!  is she like that at home?"  yep.  you're just my little cheerful girl.

you're saying lots more words these days.  more, backpack, flower, water, cracker...even "da-tiya" which means (in your language) daniel tiger, which is you and bella's fav show right now.  i get so excited as your vocabulary expands!  it's so cute hearing you say new words, and you always clap for yourself :)

you also love singing.  ever since you were a baby, you've always loved being sung to.  you'd be fussy and the minute i'd start singing, you'd calm right down.  the other night i was rocking you and your head was laid on my shoulder (rare moment...i TREASURE them!)  i was singing all kinds of hymns and other songs to you and when i got quiet, you started singing to me.  for quite a while.  i have no clue what you were saying, but it was one of the best sounds i've ever heard.  you love songs with motions and always imitate them.  itsy bitsy spider, i saw a little birdie and this little light of mine are some of your favs right now.

you are quite a little imp.  you are into everything and drag so much from room to room, alllllll over our house!  if you have something you know you shouldn't, the minute i catch you with it and say your name, you'll turn and RUN away from me as fast as your little legs will carry you!  it makes me laugh!

your dancing just keeps getting better and better.  it's amazing, actually.  you surprise us all the time with new moves.  the other day you and bella were dancing to music on dora.  it was so cute, i came in to film you.  it ended up being a better gem than i could have ever imagined because you started jumping up and landing right on your bum.  over and over.  it was so awesome.  oh emmy, you are always making us laugh!!!!

you've been having a hard time going to the church nursery.  you cry every single time and you cling to me whenever i start passing you to one of the helpers.  it's quite sad.  you're much more clingy to me than bella ever was, and are more skeptical of others.  you have become the biggest fan of your daddy!!  you are a TOTAL daddy's girl and it is just so sweet.  when he leaves for work in the morning, you'll throw a fit and dramatically bend over with your head on the floor.  when he comes home, you're the happiest camper.  sometimes when you're upset and i'm comforting you, you'll turn and put your hands out for your daddy.  today we just got back from the grocery store and he ran back out the back door for something.  you stood there at the door crying "dada!  dada!" until he came back.  it's really so heartwarming; i love that you love him so much!

you are quite the little daredevil, just like your big sis.  you've recently learned to climb up the slide of our swingset.  it scares me a lot because i have to watch you every second.  once you get to the top, you'll slide back down but you'll put your feet on the slide, and then start toppling end over end the whole way down the bottom.  ahhhh.  never a dull moment!

you and bella love each other so much.  it's the sweetest.  you definitely have your moments, but you really do so well together.  there have been a couple of mornings i wake up to find bella in your crib, both of you playing, chatting, singing together.  you love to dance together, and you also love it when she chases you; you giggle and giggle until she inadvertently pushes you and you tumble to the ground.

you rarely ever stop talking.  you are such a little chatterbox!!!!  a few weeks ago, we took a road trip to a lake about two hours north.  we played and played at a state park all afternoon.  once we got to the car, bella was out like a light.  you, however, didn't sleep a wink.  we drove around town for about 45 minutes before making the two hour trip back home and you sang, talked or made some sound with your mouth the ENTIRE trip!!  it was a little annoying, but so hilarious.  you make mama and daddy laugh a whole lot.

you are just the sweetest, my little emmy ems.  i love watching you grow and discover the world around you.  i hope you never lose your sense of humor, adventure and joy!  you are such a gift to this family.

love you to the moon and back (and back and back),
mama