WOW! I can't believe that 4 years ago today I was sitting around talking to my pregnant belly and asking the kid inside to wait a week before joining us in the world. Of course, we all know, she didn't listen! And that's fine. Because I feel so lucky to have such a firecracker of a daughter that I don't even mind she didn't listen! (By the way, today she listens a little better, haha!)
This blog entry is about the past year and how things have changed so much. I have been amazed at the transformation that has taken place before my eyes in 12 months. The first year of an infant's life is amazing - it begins with eating, sleeping, poopying, and doing it all again. But as the year progresses we see physical growth, we add a few foods, cries become sounds resembling words, and infant becomes a baby. The transition from baby to toddler is less dramatic because, well, because it is! That first year is the beginning of a new life for both mother and baby and it is difficult to describe in words. After that we chart milestones and words, and growth. And then Age 3 hits. It kind of snuck up on me. I knew the first year would be full of change and growth but I figured it would slow down and even out after that. I just cannot believe how much happens in the 3rd year of life! So let's take a minute to recap, in both words and pictures:
This was Tiny, enjoying her birthday cookie at her birthday last year. Now, when I start adding more photos you are going to say, "What's the big deal? She hasn't changed at all?!" And you know, physically she has only grown taller and that's it!
The change is all emotional and intellectual.
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We have spent the last several months tackling one letter each week: we practice writing it, we practice saying the sound, and we find words that begin with that letter. She can now recognize every single letter of the alphabet and write them! We are now working on numbers. She has been practicing counting for a couple years so our number lessons consist mostly of practicing writing the numbers and simple adding and subtracting. Adding is much easier, but I think she gets the concept of subtracting as well. Anyway, writing the numbers is not as easy as you would think! But she works hard and enjoys practicing "school work". I am holding on to that love and fostering it for years to come!
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Over the past year Emer has gotten to do a lot of Firsts:
She went to the PartyLite conference in Minneapolis with me and hung out with Auntie Kelli during the days, exploring the city.
She got her own pool!!
She went flying in Poppy's airplane for the first time!
She went to Texas to visit Aunt Connie and Uncle Mike!
She had 2 dentist visits. No cavities at either! But has been advised to ditch the bink. She told Dr. Germain she was going to give it up when she turned 4. Only 2 more days!!!
She was able to meet Condeleeza Rice!
Gigee taught her to cook, heehee!
The Super Bowl came to Indy!! This was the best week EVER!! I was down there working or partying nearly every day and even took Emer down to hang out a bit. Here she is showing off her muscles compared to a running back's arm!
She and I got to go to California for the first time!! And we went to Disney Land. It was awesome!!
We went to PBS Kids Day at the Park again this year and suddenly she was Ms. Brave walking up to WordGirl all by herself! She also enjoyed a giant slide, a blow-up obstacle course, throwing the Colts football, and running around like crazy!
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One big brag I have to share is how far we have come with swimming. Emer has always loved it, but had some fear. This was good but hindered things at time (jumping in, even though I was there to catch her). Over the winter Emer and Hayden took Beyond Parent/Child swim lessons. She had a blast jumping in from the diving blocks! Now that it's summer she has become unstoppable! Auntie Kelli and I are going to the pool every Monday with Ems and today she swam half the width of the pool By HerSelf!!! She's lifting her head out of the water to breathe, kicking, and reaching her arms out as well. I'm so proud of her!!!!
We're going to the lake for her birthday and she got a new life jacket for it. I told her she will be super fast with it on and wear me out trying to keep up, haha!
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I know Emer is growing up. It's going too fast. And it won't slow down, I know. I've watched her go from
"Please don't let her have an accident today!" to
"Oh, when was the last time you went potty? That long ago!"
And
"Having to help with everything from dressing to wiping to cutting up food" to
"Where did Emer go? Oh, just heard the potty flush...and now she's dressing!"
She also has small chores now! She takes her dishes over to the sink after eating each meal. She helps clean up the family room. She often helps feed Max.
She's just so dang independent! I love it and am proud of it. Even when she uses this independence to show me up ("I told you!"). She can entertain herself for hours and that makes for lots of entertainment for me listening to her! I feel like I could just keep writing little things Emer does but it would get long, very long, and I don't have time for all that. Nor do you have time to read through all the very tiny things she does that are so amazing to me, as her mom. So I will conclude with a pic (give me an hour here to pick the best one!...
...Here it is!
Happy Birthday Tiny! I Love You Tons and Tons and Tons!
