11 years

......and one week, that's how long I've been a mom.

All the cliche's in the world came true the minute I saw my baby girl.  The world fell away and I was left with a heart too big for my body.

She was perfect in every way.  She grew quickly and I was so proud of my big chubby baby.  I felt bad for all of my new mom friends because I knew that secretly they wished they had my baby.  Please tell me others have felt this way.  No?  Okay moving on.

She was my one and only and I hung on her every movement, smile and sound.  When she was sleeping I wanted to watch her.  When she was nursing and our eyes met I was in heaven.  Every thing she learned was genius.

She pulled down every single book on the bookshelf.  Daily.  She took apart my purse.  Daily.  She was so full of energy I spent hours at the park watching her climb, run and play.  Nothing made me happier.

On Glenn & I's 5th anniversary Emry was 6 months old.  As a surprise to me he had asked his sister Karen to watch Emry for the weekend so we could get away.

I did not want to disappoint my husband but it took every ounce of strength I had to leave my baby.  I was giddy on the drive home, holding and seeing her consumed me.

I left her again when she was 2 to go to Belgium with Glenn on business.  We had fun but I missed my sweet Emry so much he had to put me on a plane early and send me home.  I still remember seeing her at the airport with her Grandma Wallwork.  It was one of the happiest moments of my life.  Sound crazy?  Pretty much.

Emry became a big sister when she was 2.  And again at 4 1/2.  When I was pregnant with Ethan I was so sick I could barely see straight.  Lila was still in diapers and if it was just pee I would have Emry change it.  Yup I had my 4 year old changing diapers.  She has always been helpful and such a loving big sister.

* 5 yrs old - (straight from a journal entry)  Sunday afternoon was hard, Glenn was going to take Emry & Lila on a nice Sunday walk but Emry was being difficult so her (my) punishment was having to stay home with a cranky Ethan and I.  Emry was tired, emotional etc., etc.  I was trying to get her to clean up the playroom when I just couldn't take her naughty behavior anymore.  I threw all her toys in a box and took it to the garage.  Emry started bawling and when she finally spoke my heart broke at how sweet she was.  "That's Lila's favorite doll, Lila will miss that doll!"

I threw Emry's favorite drawing book away that day but all she thought about was how sad Lila would be.

* 5yrs old - Glenn had taken Emry to the dentist and arriving home she says to me "Mom, don't change your face, just look how you are looking now, don't look different.  The dentist says I have 4 cavities".

Emry is fearless.  She did not get this trait from me.  She got my blue eyes and my thick blond hair.  She loves to read while she eats just like me.  But she is definitely Glenn's daughter.  She wants to try anything and everything.  Be it food, an adventure, a sport, a new experience.  She wants to do it all.

* 6yrs old - Broken bread is being passed at church for our sacrament.  The bread comes to us and Emry       says "That was white bread, it was bleached".

She loves Science and is curious about everything.  Emry loves reading about Anatomy, reptiles, mysteries, brainteasers, magic and everything in between.  We have a game called Mindtrap.  There are hundreds of questions aimed at picking your brain.  Emry stayed up late one night reading them all.  Her quest for knowledge is inspiring.

She lives for the Beach.  She will surf, boogie board, skim board and what she loves the most, body surf.  We are usually at the beach all day and Emry only comes out of the water to eat.   The girl plays hard.

Emry also loves food.  She adores dill pickles and makes her own dill popsicles using the juice from pickles.  She loves sushi and eats oranges 10 at a time.  I call her a fruitarian because she can down the citrus like no other and loves just fruit for breakfast, tangerines & grapefruit don't last long here.  She also loves good cheese, extra sharp cheddar, bleu cheese (eaten by the handful) and Swiss.  She is a normal child and loves her ice cream and candy too.  She is making me proud in the kitchen as she tries her hand at everything from cookies to sorbet.

Emry also works hard and is a great student.  She is very responsible and needs no reminders to finish her homework.

Chores on the other hand need lots of reminders.  But when she finally does decide she'd better do them or spend the weekend  in her room , she does a great job.  Bathrooms, dishes, mowing the lawn, she does it all.

Emry is so good with her brother and sister.  She has been babysitting them both for quite some time (which won't be mentioned here lest CPS pay me a visit).  Lila tends to be shy and I know that having Emry as her big sister has helped Lila to become braver.  Ethan too watches his big sister and luckily for us all she is a wonderful example.

I love that Emry gets A's and 100%'s, but what truly touches my heart and makes me proud is hearing a neighbor talk about what a true friend Emry is for sticking up for her.  Seeing her brain spin when she has an important moral decision and making the right one.  Answering 'my family' when asked what her favorite thing about the holidays are.

To have her as my daughter is the greatest.  I feel so blessed to watch her grow and learn and to become a young lady. I try daily to strengthen her so that her wings will be strong enough to take her all the places she wants to go.

I know this is belated Emry.  With all the hustle and bustle of company I didn't have the time I wanted to devote to such a special post.

So now I say Happy Birthday to my big 11 year old girl.  

I love who you are.  I love your spirit and hunger for life.  I love you.  Everything  about you.