My Girl Is FIVE!

Oh my sweet Emery Kate! Five years old? How can it be?? You’re growing up fast, little miss. This was a fun (and at times challenging) year watching you mature and become your own person. 

You love fun, Em. You're always down for dance parties, joke telling, parties, adventures, messes, traveling, and all things SILLY and I think you're part fish. You’re definitely a summer girl just like your Lala. I'm pretty sure your love language is quality time because you love when the whole family gets together and just hangs out. At Thanksgiving you were just giddy and told Uncle Uncle, "I just LOVE everyone all together!!"






You started pre-K in the fall and have loved it for the most part. You started freaking out at school drop off in November for a couple weeks in a row and left us both in tears. One day I got so upset I sat in the parking lot and sobbed for so long a mom stopped asked me if I was okay. We finally figured out it was because you didn't want to get on stage for the Christmas performance. You never even made it to the stage and we left during the first song.


You love books and dress up and our Friday night movie nights. 
You've recently gotten interested in bugs (and catching them) and one day came running inside telling me that there was "some kind of snake!!" that turned out to be a worm. You thrive off of routine and the smallest hiccup can throw you off big time and Lord knows you won't change your mind easily. You're still just as stubborn as I am so we butt heads about that pretty often. But oh, you are so sweet. 

I love listening to you pray and how you talk about God so openly. Even sometimes to strangers. While getting your haircut yesterday you told the stylist, "Did you know God counts every hair on my head? And he has the whole world in His hands." You also told her that you live in America... haha! 

You keep us guessing with your introvert/extrovert style. If we ask you to perform it's always a hard no. You shut down in large group settings, but, if you feel comfortable you shine and won't stop talking/singing/dancing and just hogging the spot light in general. 

I love you, Emmy Lou. Keep your eyes on Jesus. Happy 5th Birthday!!

To My Boy, On His 3rd Birthday

Dear Lincoln,

Somehow you aren't a baby anymore. You've grown ALOT in the past year, even though everyone always comments how tiny you are. This is the year you and your sister started actually playing together. You started out doing everything she said to do but now you make it clear you don't have to do what she says. You tell people that she is your best friend and I love it.

You LOVED the pool this summer. No fear - just like your sister. We went at least four times a week!

Your vocabulary has quadrupled since your last birthday, and you're constantly saying things that make us all laugh. You like to ask Daddy in the mornings if he's going to work, and when he says yes you slap your hand to your forehead very dramatically and say, "A-DIN?!" (again) I think he might be your favorite person.

You aren't potty trained yet, check back next year... :) You only poop in private. Your go to spot is the clubhouse under the stairs. If anyone comes in, including the dog, you yell, "I need privacy!!!" and it makes me laugh every time.

You are super into Toy Story right now which makes me so happy. I love those movies and love watching you love them, too. Paw Patrol, Blaze, and then Incredibles are some other current favorites. You like to pretend to be Dash and run all over the house.

When you're really happy, you say, "I love you" a lot. I often hear you from downstairs say, "Hey, Em? I love you." And I just about cry every time.

You gave me quite the scare this year when you choked and I had to call 911 for the first time. I'd like to say I handle chaos well, but in that moment I was screaming and crying hysterically. I was grilling some chicken and you wanted a bite. I think it was too hot so you didn't chew, just swallowed. Luckily you coughed it up while I was still on the phone with the dispatcher. The firetruck and ambulance came anyways, sirens and all. You were very excited and now anytime you get slightly injured you say we need to call the firefighters.

You haven't dropped your nap yet, which I'm totally fine with. There's been a few times where you skipped nap a few days in a row and I thought for sure that was it, but nope! You still snooze for at least 2 hours every afternoon. Sometimes more!


A funny story from this year is one night after church at Chick-fil-A. You were eating an ice cream cone and it was melting and dripping all over so I grabbed it and took a big bite... you sighed SO LOUD and rolled your eyes and your dad and I just about lost it. All four of us laughed so hard I'll never forget it.

You've got some fire in you for sure, Linc. You're newest thing is to yell "NO THANKS" super angrily when I ask you to do something you don't want to do. While I like how you use manners, your attitude definitely could use some work, haha!

Happy 3rd Birthday, Linky Doodle. (You and Emery think that is your real name.) Your dad and I pray you walk with the Lord for your whole life.

I love you so big, boy.
Love, Mama