As I sit here to write this, I'm pretty emotional just typing the number two. I'm not the best (ok, not great at all) about keeping up with this blog, but I love visiting it every now and then and just reminiscing on the memories that have come and gone with our sweet little one. Life is definitely much different than when I first started this blog, but in such a true and fun way. Gone are the carefree posts about wedding showers or the neighbor's houses being built behind us. Our sweet girl takes precedent. So because it may be a while before I post again, I just wanted to refresh my soon to be fuzzy memory of what our sweet girl means to us.
Emerson, you're sweet smile and perfect, hearty laugh makes our world go around. It feels like every morning that we go in to say good morning, you are picking up new words, reminding us of things that we're certain happened far too long ago for your little memory to hold onto, and just blowing us away with your thoughts. Your daddy and I love to watch you listen to stories both in books and verbally told, because we watch that expression change as you take in every twist and turn. You absolutely ADORE books and that's great, because your mommy was and is (although different books now!) quite the bookworm. I hope you hold onto this love of reading because you can be taken to many new worlds and perspectives without ever leaving your cozy bed or couch, which you love to read in.
Right now you are every bit of a two year old. You love the outdoors, running (and you love to say "I run away mommy!" as you take off down the sidewalk squealing for us to chase after you), jumping, streaking (yep, just like momma!), and all things daddy. It melts my heart to see your relationship with your daddy because I always longed for one like that. He treasures you and you do the same with him and I'm so thrilled God picked such a wonderful man for your first love. What a blessing, sweet girl.
You're gentle, yet sassy. No one's claiming you're perfectly girly. You picked the maroon boy bike to ask Santa for-even after multiple trips to look at them over multiple weeks this November. You prefer shorts and sweats to skirts because let's face it-it's much easier to climb up stairs and chase a soccer ball in the first two than the latter. You don't like your hair being brushed and you're a true booger to brush your teeth. We're still working on the potty training-you do great when things are pretty normal, but on days when friends are in town or a holiday-forgetaboutit! :) You throw a mean baseball and wow, your coordination at soccer is incredible. Since you're our first born-we're not suite sure if that's normal, but wow do we try to hone it and praise you. You love to shout "Go Emmy!" as you race to the soccer net. We try not to beam too much, but definitely chuckle. You have a heart of gold for others, including characters in the books we read. For the longest time, we couldn't read The Rainbow Fish because you would bawl your eyes out when all the fish left the Rainbow Fish alone because he wouldn't share. I think the bath book version spent a few weeks hiding out under the bathroom sink. ;) We include your prayers of thanks nightly in our prayers and you astonish us at what you want to tell God that you're thankful for. You love like crazy, but don't get us wrong-you're full of attitude at times we wish you'd refrain. You've given daddy a dirty look or two, but that strong willed and patient man looks you dead in the eye through it all and won't give in. For your sake, I'm so glad he doesn't.
Food-your favorite things are Chick-fil-a chicken nuggets (you ask for these specifically), grapes, spaghetti, beef stroganoff (who'da thought?), pancakes, oatmeal, hamburgers, daddy's grilled cheese, and high end fish sticks (yep-pure bred). Still no juices and that's going to last as long as mommy has a say. You're drinking 1% milk since about October and you love it.
Sleep. Oh sweet, sweet, sleep. Some nights it's a four letter word around here. You have inherited your mommy's dreadful night terrors, so some nights we wake up in fear of the worst. We're down to about a 1.5 hour nap, although many a day it's shorter. Mommy sure misses those many a day naps...
2012 brought us your aunt and uncle's wedding which you were a flower girl in, our first trip to Sea World, trips to the Abilene, Fort Worth, Dallas, and Austin Zoos which you loved, our first trip to the Grapevine Sea Life Aquarium and Southlake, Dallas Children's Aquarium, our brief visit to the State Fair, trip to the Dallas Arboretum, weekend getaway with our wonderful neighbors to the JW Marriott in San Antonio, and many trips to College Station to see your sweet friend Dade. We fell in love with fireworks, aquariums, giraffes, Max and Ruby, soccer, and chapstick (yes, really). You love the moon, getting cozy in a blanket on the driveway and looking for stars and airplanes at night, and just being outside. You soak up the world around you and we love to show you new things.
We are so blessed to be your parents and we adore watching you grow. We pray each night for guidance to lead you in the right path both emotionally and spiritually. There's not a day that goes by-both tough and fun-that I don't thank God for you. Happy Birthday Emerson, mommy and daddy love you to the moon....and back!
