My Girl Is SIX!

Wow, girl, what a YEAR!

You graduated preschool and even (reluctantly) walked across the stage to get your diploma! Summer was a blast and just constant swimming! (Oh and that week with lice...)  I love watching you in the pool, Em. You're so confident and truly LOVE it. I learned a lot about Enneagrams this year and read somewhere you aren't supposed to "label" your children with them but OHHHH MY you are a ONE, my friend. This has actually been super helpful, even though we are opposites about a lot of things. I've learned a lot this year and now it all makes sense why we both love routine and are, well, the most stubborn people you'll ever meet. You love My Little Pony, Toy Story, LEGO Friends, Star Wars, and all the princesses. You still go into full character almost daily. It's usually the first thing you tell me in the morning- who you are that day. You suddenly have become a pretty picky eater, almost vegetarian except for bacon!

You continue to amaze us with your artwork! Constantly gluing, cutting, drawing, painting, CREATING things out of any and everything. You absolutely love mess- so unlike your brother.  Multiple times a week I find you digging through the recycling bin for "supplies." Once I absentmindedly called it trash to which you responded, "It's not trash, it's ART!!" And you were right, Em. You have the amazing ability to take anything- yes, even "trash" and make it art. 

I love how much you love numbers, knowing what time it is, and being right. ;) You have the best memory and can recall the tiniest of details. You do things on your own time and can’t be forced into ANYTHING. This year you said you were simply done with sleeping in pull ups and then just never wore one again- and never had an accident! You also told us one day walking out of church that “today was the perfect day” to learn how to ride with no training wheels. And you did just that! You had the best attitude and said “I just have to dust myself off and try again!” when you fell. Kindergarten was your favorite and you did so well. I cried the most about you not being able to go back, but you were just fine- and excited that you get to go to First Grade. Your favorite thing is the whole family being together.

I love the serious face you make when pretending and playing dress up, how you can memorize scripture, how sweet you are with Lincoln (most of the time) and how responsible you are. More often than not on school mornings you would be in the car, all buckled and ready to go, waiting on ME to grab that second cup of coffee on the way out the door. You always wake up and are ready to go at 6am on the dot, and don't slow down until bedtime. 

I loved watching you make your own friends this year, even going to your first birthday party where I didn't know anyone! You absolutely loved it even though you ate too much chocolate cake which later came back up that afternoon. You went on to tell this story to strangers in Target, neighbors, hairstylists, people on the street, etc. And that leads me to the next thing I love about you.. your honesty. You tell the absolute truth most of the time, always factual and point blank. You enjoy doing the right thing the right way. I hope this sticks around for the teenaged years... a mom can dream! 

Your dad and I love you, Emery, and pray that you keep following Jesus forever and ever! 

Love you so big!

Love, Mom

Linc is F O U R!

Dear Linc,

Four?! Really? That can't be right... You had quite the year, bud. We finally got you out of diapers and potty trained over the summer and then moved into a big boy bed in the fall! This summer it was all about the pool, again. You've proven to be part fish just like Em. Every time you jumped in you'd say, "Canon FALLLLLLLLLLL!" You also dropped your nap this year. It was definitely an adjustment at first but we both got used to it and now you love have rest time with your tablet. 

Rescue Bots and Toy Story are your favorite things. You love your Magna Tiles and play with them every single day. Some of the things you build with them really amaze me! You started preschool this year and I was just so sure you were going to have a hard time being away from me but the very first day you told me goodbye and went right to playing! You didn't cry once for school drop off. You absolutely loved it which made me so sad with this whole quarantine that's going on now.

You're still my sweet little shy guy. Always hugging, snuggling, and telling almost everyone you encounter that you love them! You get your feelings hurt really easily- especially by Emery :)

Some funny things you say that I don't want to forget:

When I say, "No way!" you (and your sister) say, "Yes-a-way!" 

Asking all of us, "How'd you sweep??" (sleep)

When telling us something, "A-tully..."
After you tell me you love me and I say it back you always say, "Mooooom you're supposed to say 'I love you, TOO!! Not just, 'I love you.'"
You think "naked" is the same as "Lincoln" and often yell "I'M LINCOLN!" meaning, you're naked.

You truly believe that a kiss can make any hurt better. You'll fall hard and cry and run to me and ask for a kiss and just like that you're back to playing! (And sometimes you just kiss it yourself.) You're constantly running everywhere you go- like Dash from The Incredibles. You earned the name "No Butt Barton" this year because your pants never stay up and your little booty is always showing. You are my touchy feely kid... ask me all day long to "scratch you" which means a back scratch, arm tickles, and even belly rubs! :) You took approximately 364 baths this year. You'll often come down the stairs with a huge bucket of toys and tell me you want to take a bath. You stay in there for at least an hour. You love books and often sneak out of your room after bedtime to get books from the hallway and take them back to your bed. In the car you ask for the "rock and roll" song (Glory to God) and nod your head and pump your first the whole time. So funny!! You tell me that I'm the "bestest" girl in the whole world. 

I love you, Lincoln. I'm a little sad to see three year old you go... but I have a feeling four year old you will be pretty great, too. I can't wait to see who you grow up to be. Keep your eyes on Jesus <3

Love,
Mama

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

Happy 4th Birthday, Emery!

My little Em,

Four years old sounds very old and I’m not sure how you’re not a toddler anymore. I am very excited to tell you that a month into being three you were officially potty trained! It was such a weight off my shoulders to be honest; I really thought you might start kindergarten in diapers.

You continue to amaze us... and make us laugh! All summer, yet again, you lived in the water. Absolutely no fear. For the 4th of July, Daddy, Papa, and Bub literally threw you back and forth all afternoon. (They were all sore the next day.) We laughed so hard at you going into the water with a smile and coming up with a smile too.

This year you've really gotten into "playing pretend." You take on full characters and let me tell you, you do not break character for anything. One morning, I walked into your room and you said, “Hi! My name is Alicia.” And I kid you not, you only answered by that name for TWO FULL DAYS. At MOPs you corrected your teachers when they called you Emery, and even instead that your lunchbox wasn't yours because it said Emery and not Alicia. We definitely all got a great laugh about it! Almost every morning your first words are telling us who you are that day. (Santa, Catboy, Owlette, Gecko, Rapunzel, Elastic-girl, Amaya, and many, many more!)

One of my favorite things about you is that you never meet a stranger. You talk to everyone. (And tell them what name you're going by that specific day...) You love talking to people and telling them all about your life, your family, and your dog Ludo. We had to have a few talks about only kissing family... after you raised your hand in the middle of story time and told the librarian that you needed a hug and a kiss. (Which you then did.)

Emery style in full swing

You do not like loud noises, or if there are a lot of people and they are being loud. For the longest time you either left the room or covered your ears whenever anyone sang, "Happy Birthday" to anyone. I often say that you, "Want the attention until you get it" because you'll shut down once you realize everyone's eyes are on you.

Maybe the most impressive thing about you is your memory. You remember every little detail. If we drive by somewhere you've been just once in your life you can tell me who was there, what you were wearing, what you ate, etc, etc. It's really amazing. The tricky thing about this though is if we tell you were going to do something you don't forget, so if plans change it can lead to a melt down.

You love In & Out, Blaze The Monster Machine, Target, PJ Masks, and checking out movies from the library. You still don't nap but love "rest time" because that is your tablet time.

Pretty girl

You definitely took moving a little harder than Lincoln, and the first few days you kept asking to go back to the old house because "that room has flowers on the wall and this one doesn't."

I love watching your little mind work and how you are so helpful and inclusive of others. Sometimes even with Lincoln! ;) You've recently started dreaming and telling us about them in the mornings and that's been very fun to hear about.

Your dad and I love you so, so much and pray you will follow the Lord for your whole life.


Happy Birthday, my beautiful girl.

Love, Mama

Happy 2nd Birthday, Lincoln!

Dear Lincoln,

Happy birthday little man! Today you turn two years old and just like last year, I can’t believe how fast it went. You are such a joy, Linc. You’re always making us laugh. Our favorite lately is how you’ll just plop down next to us on the couch or walk up to us and let out your Ross Geller style, “Hi....”

One difference I noticed this year in raising both genders is that Emery always climbed things just to climb it, but you climb things to jump off! You jump off everything, whether it’s off the top of a playground or just an inch off the ground! 

You have such a sensitive heart and love to be held. “Hold you, mama!” If you get hurt no matter how big or small the injury is you usually just want a hug, almost like you just want us to acknowledge that something happened and then off you go! 

You are so much like your daddy. Super laid back and go with the flow, making us laugh with one liners, and you like things tidy! I know you’ll be such a great husband and father someday. 

If year one was the year of buckets on your head, year two is the year of socks and shoes! You are constantly putting on multiple layers of socks and anybody’s shoes you can get ahold of. You won’t keep your pajamas on so now every night and nap you sleep in the snap bottom onesies. (We had to do this for your sister, too.) 

Emery might be your favorite person ever. In the mornings and after nap she’s the first person you ask for. I love watching the two of you play together and love each other. You fight, too, of course, but it’s usually over as fast as it starts. One thing you picked up from her is you stomp your foot when you’re mad. You’ve got some fire in you, boy! I often ask you when your whiny or cranky if you need to go back to bed and you quickly respond, “no!” And then I ask if you have a happy heart and you’ll say, “hearrrrrrrt” And it’s just about the cutest thing ever. If I say, “Ow!” And you’re anywhere near me you always say, “sowwy mama!” And give me a kiss. One of my favorite things.

I really can’t believe you’re two. We love you so much, Linky Doodle. (Emery thinks this is your actual full name.) 

Your dad and I pray that you grow up to be a man of God full of integrity. 

Happy birthday, my sweet boy!

Love, Mama

PS: You’re still the most ticklish person I know!

Young, Wild, and THREE!!

Dear Emery,

Three? How did we get here? Three sounds so old to me. You are growing so fast, talking so much, and you have not slowed down at all! ;) We had to take your crib apart after we woke up to you knocking on our door one morning, and you transitioned great! I was camped out in the living room that night with a glass of wine, prepared for an all nighter of carrying you back to your room. But you surprised your dad and me! You only came out three times and then conked out. (And the best piece of advice I ever got was to put your doorknob on backwards so it locks from the outside!)

You spent all summer in the pool, such a little water-bug. One day it was pretty cloudy and everyone got out of the pool. But not you. You jumped off the steps into the pool for a solid 30 minutes all by yourself. I love watching you in moments like that. Fearless. You've gained so much independence!

You dropped your nap this year. WOOF. It was a rough go for a while, but now you love "rest time" and you correct us if we dare call it "nap." We also said goodbye to your pacis. You shocked me big time with that, too! For a while you just held them in your hand while you fell asleep, but then one day you just said, "No more pacis."And that was that. (Potty training is a whole 'nother story... check back next year.)

Nap Time Fail

You're funny, Em. You make us laugh all the time. You went through a stage where you insisted on picking out your own outfits, and I ate it up. I love how quirky and fun you are. You love singing, dancing, jumping, running, climbing, spinning, laughing... you just love life, girl. And I love watching you love life.

Top 5 Favorite Pics Ever

You are so much like me in so many ways, especially your stubborn will. Papa used to say my Native American name was, "Woman With Closed Fists" and I think we could go ahead and say you're Part 2. Once you've decided you aren't doing something, there's no talking you into it. But, the positive spin on that is that once you've decided you CAN do something, you won't quit until you achieve it. And that's the good stuff, Woman With Closed Fists Part 2. (Has a great ring to it, yeah?)

One thing that is SO much like your daddy though, is how particular you are. Things have to be done a certain way, and the same way, every time. If things are different or go out of order or routine it can throw you off. As frustrating as it can be it also makes my heart smile a bit, because I love that about daddy, too.

Me + My Girl

Happy Birthday, Emmy-Lou.
I love you big.

Love,
Mama