the first five years

Yesterday was Emma's fifth birthday. I can't believe that my baby girl is already five-it's been so emotional for me. The funny thing is that she seems so grown up all of a sudden. I know that it happens slowly and gradually, but at the same time it feels like it all happens overnight. I can't believe that it has already been five years since she's been born. I feel like I can remember every minute of her as a newborn-her smell, her eyes, her sounds, her wardrobe :) I remember when she was ten months old and she was sitting on my lap while I read her a book and all of a sudden she looked up and gave me her first kiss and I burst into tears. I remeber when she was a year and was talking like a little adult-never any baby talk for Emma, she was always like a little grown up. I remember when she was a year and a half and the highlight of her life was a "cream pop" from starbucks. I remember when she was two and she would show up at ballet and scowl and warn the teacher that she was grumpy that day. I remember when she was two and a half and would scream "I hate you" at me over and over again. ( A little traumatized by the birth of her baby sister, I think!) I remember when she was three and really loved to spend time with her uncle Tim. I remember when she was four and she really started to be eager to learn about God and to have so many questions about heaven. I remember throughout all of these years that she is not always kind, often shy and withdrawn, but also gentle and nurturing and loving and smart and artistic and creative and the first baby I ever had and the one it felt like I waited a lifetime for. Happy Birthday, Em!